The Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) was originally invented by the grandfather of Australian bushfire science, Alan Grant McArthur, during the 1950s and ‘60s. Alan published his landmark paper, “Controlled burning in eucalypt forests” in 1962. Leaflet No. 80, as it was known, proved a turning point for forest and fire managers across Australia. More importantly, Alan was very practical forester and wanted his work to be useful to people in the field, so after several iterations he came up with the now familiar circular slide rule called the Forest Fire Danger Meter (FFDM). The Mk 4 version first appeared in operational use in 1967. This is the Mark 5 from 1992Alan McAthur's scientific legacy with the FFDI meter is unquestionably huge and has served forest firefighters very well over the decades.Control burning meter Series of circular slide rules to calculate Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI)bushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Small eight page document Bendigo United Friendly Societies' Medical Institute and Dispensary, established 1872. Printed by J. Brockley, Printer, Williamson Street. MDCCCLXXX. Inside the front cover are the names of the President - S. H. McGowan, Treasurer - Edward Holton, Secretary - Jas. Watson and the Names of Societies connected therewith, and their Representatives:-;Bendigo Lodge M.U.,I.O.O.F. - James Haynes, S. Johns, Ed. Bastard. Bendigo Lodge, O.S.A.,S.C. - Wm. Taylor. Bendigo Deutscher Verein - H. C. Weibgen. Court Alexandra, A.O.F. - Ed. Holton. Court Bendigo, A.O.F. - J. Anderson, R. Johnston, Thos. Pattinson. Court Pride of the Forest, A.O.F. - E. Darby, N. Longstaff. Court Queen o fthe Forest, A.O.F. - j. Waller, G. Schultz. Gold Miners' Pride Lodge, M.U.,I.O.O.F. - N. Johns, W. P. Conolly. Heart of Friendship Lodge, M.U., I.O.O.F. - S. H. McGowan, C. Houston, Jas. Watson. St. Kilian's Branch, H.A.C.B.S. - John Bartley, J. J. Howard. Sandhurst Lodge, G.U.O.O.F. - W. H. Bienvenue. Quartzopolis Lodge, U.A.O.D. - S. Herman. Document mentions the working of the Societies', fees, where they had saved money, Medical Officer and also mentions Rules and Regulations.J. Brockley, Printer, Williamson Streetsocieties, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no 3770 collection - document, bendigo lodge m.u., i.o.o.f. bendigo lodge, o.s.a., s.c. bendigo deutscher verein, court alexandra, a.o.f., court bendigo, a.o.f. court pride of the forest, a.o.f., court queen o fthe forest, a.o.f., gold miners' pride lodge, m.u., i.o.o.f., heart of friendship lodge, m.u., i.o.o.f., st. kilian's branch, h.a.c.b.s., sandhurst lodge, g.u.o.o.f. quartzopolis lodge, u.a.o.d., s h mcgowan, edward holton, jas watson, james haynes, s johns, ed bastard, wm taylor, h c weibgen, j anderson, r johnston, thos pattinson, e darby, n longstaff, j waller, g schultz, n johns, w p conolly, c houston, jas watson, john bartley, j j howard, w h bienvenue, s herman, a colquhoun, w h frost, friendly societies' medical institute and dispensaries, colonial friendly societies, the bendigo united friendly societies' dispensary, alfred hospital melbourne

An early black and white photograph of the forest near the Cumberland Falls in Victoria.An early black and white photograph of the forest near the Cumberland Falls in Victoria. The falls are located on the Marysville-Wood's Point Road. Cambarville is notable for its giant mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) trees within the Cumberland Memorial Scenic Reserve, and relics from former sawmills and gold mining. The Big Culvert is located nearby on the Marysville - Woods Point Road, which was historically part of the Yarra Track. Cambarville was established as a timber mill town in the 1940s. Timber mill owners A Cameron and FJ Barton named Cambarville. They established the mill to salvage timber from trees destroyed in the 1939 bushfires. Cambarville was impacted by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and any remaining structures were destroyed.ARMSTRONG COLLECTION 42 STATION STREET/ SANDRINGHAM 3191/ TEL. (03) 9521 5442/ IAN M.L. ARMSTRONG OAMcumberland falls, cambarville, marysville, victoria, waterfalls, postcard, souvenir, mountain ash, mining, timber mills, big culvert, yarra track, a cameron, fj barton, black saturday bushfires, 1939 bushfires, eucalyptus regnans

The Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) was originally invented by the grandfather of Australian bushfire science, Alan Grant McArthur, during the 1950s and ‘60s. Alan published his landmark paper, “Controlled burning in eucalypt forests” in 1962. Leaflet No. 80, as it was known, proved a turning point for forest and fire managers across Australia. More importantly, Alan was very practical forester and wanted his work to be useful to people in the field, so after several iterations he came up with the now familiar circular slide rule called the Forest Fire Danger Meter (FFDM). The Mk 4 version first appeared in operational use in 1967. This is the Mark 5 from 1973Alan McAthur's scientific legacy with the FFDI meter is unquestionably huge and has served forest firefighters very well over the decades.Cardboard fire danger meter Series of circular slide rules to calculate Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI)forests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire

Blue paper with Ancient Order of Foresters Heading. Court King of the Forest No. 3770. The applicant is Wm. Joseph Martin of Garden Gully. He declares that he is under the age of eighteen years, and he is not married. He further declares that he is not laboring under any infirmity likely to shorten the natural duration of his life. Signed William J. Martin and dated 13th january 1874. Also signed by the surgeon (name not readable) saying he has examined the candidate. Dated 13 Jan 1874. Paper has decorative scrollwork along the left side and under it: Printed by Bro. Graham Berry, at the 'Observer' Office, Collingwood.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no 3770 collection - application, court king of the forest, william joseph martin

Considered in terms of both loss of property and loss of life, the Black Friday bushfires on 13 January 1939 were one of the worst disasters to have occurred in Australia and certainly the worst bushfire up to that time. The fires burnt 2 million hectares, 69 sawmills were destroyed, 71 people died, and several towns and sawmills were entirely obliterated. Among those killed were four men from the Commission The subsequent Royal Commission conducted by Judge Leonard Stretton has been described as one of the most significant inquiries in the history of Victorian public administration. Its recommendations led to sweeping changes. In addition to building dams and water points, the Stretton Royal Commission recommended expanding and controlling the use of bushfire dugouts at forest sawmills. Well-constructed dugouts had saved the lives of many sawmill workers and their families during the 1939 bushfires. But in some locations, they had proved fatal. Dugouts became mandatory for those few sawmills that remained in the forest after the 1939 fires. Many remote logging coupes and FCV roading camps also had dugouts. The local District Forester was required to make annual pre-season inspections of all dugouts on State forests and those within the Fire Protected Area (FPA). Some were built privately on private land. Most were primitive construction with a log or corrugated iron roof covered with earth. A hessian bag often hung at the entrance to keep the heat and smoke out. But they were dark and damp with snakes and other creepy crawlies often lurking inside. By 1940-41 there were 19 new dugouts constructed by the Commission and a further 128 by forest licensees. Ten years later there were 8 new Commission dugouts and 21 new ones built by other interests. By 1960-61 the rate of new builds was declining but the Commission still managed 103 dugouts while 127 were looked after by others. However, as the forest road network improved and gave all-weather access to modern two-wheel-drive vehicles the reliance on dugouts receded.Large metal sign that was positioned near forest dugoutsbushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv)

From late in 1960 VR took what were the first definite steps to close the Colac-Beech Forest line. 1,101 tonnes of freight per year flowed from Colac to Beech Forest because of increasing competition from the roads. From 1 July 1960 onwards, when pulpwood (hardwood) stopped being shipped from Beech Forest, a maximum of only 7,000 tonnes/year would be shipped to Colac. Including special trips passenger revenue earned a little more than $200 per annum. The issue of second-hand sleepers stopped entirely and the two track gangs only patrolled the track and tightened loose bolts. The line did not earn its way and on 4 November 1960 it was recommended that services over the narrow gauge line be discontinued.The rear of a goods train from Colac arrives at Beech Forest on 9 August 1961. The other line is the former Crowes line truncated at Weeaproinah in January 1955. In the background is the Beech Forest Hall and Shire of Otway offices. Colour.colac; beech forest; railway;

At its peak the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes railway employed more than 21 staff tending the lines that the trains ran over. Gangers (the men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked on the original construction gangs of 1900-02 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line, but these eased out over time. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (where the second Beech Forest crew was based at Wyelangta), and Lavers Hill.Track gang on an NK wagon at Beech Forest, c.1940. Snow covers the ground. B/W.colac; beech forest; crowes; railway; track gangs;

Booklet owned by Arthur Baggaley, Fruiterer, who lived at 15 Forest Street, Bendigo. His business 'C.A. Baggaley & Son' was at Covent Garden, Mitchell Street, Bendigo. Arthur was born in Bendigo in 1903 to Charles Arthur Baggaley and Ada (Mallon). He married Evelyn May Grigg. Arthur died in September, 1993.Six page booklet, on front cover: Laughable Dialogues for School and Public Entertainments, Social Gatherings, &c, &c, (free from objectionable language and incident) by S. Knowles, No. 13 "Is Marriage a Failure?'.Baggaley CollectionOn front cover overwritten on text "A. Baggaley, Forest Street, Bendigo'.fruiterer, confectioner, business, mitchell street, covent garden, entertainment, play script, marriage

Account/receipt written on memorandum paper from A.O.F., B.U.D. Court Happy Valley No. 3544 and dated Oct 10 1890. Paper has logo at the top left side. I beg to forward account of Surgeons fees for 12 months ending Sept 30 1890 as under Court King of the Forest. Dr. To Court happy Valley. To Bro J. Stephens 4 Quarters @ 5/6 £1.2.0. To Bro H. Fisher 4 Quarters @ 5/6 £1.2.0. total £2.4.0. An early reply will oblige. Yours Fraternally E. Richards. Sec. Paid 31/10/90 and signed E. Richards. Has an impression stamp in the bottom left corner. Court Happy Valley Bendigo and in the Centre - A.O.F. 3544 Eaglehawk.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - account/receipt, aof bud court happy valley no 3544, court king of the forest, mr w rowe, j stephens, h fisher, e richards

Translated copy, dated 25 and 28 January 77. Translation refers to the acknowledgement of the receipt of £13.10/- sick pay from the Bendigo German Club and Court of Foresters. Enclosed Doctor's certificate for Mr. Moeckelmann. Because Detlef Moeckelmann was blind, and his sense of hearing was getting gradually weaker, and his old mother had continuous illness, and it was hoped that the German Club and Court King of the Forest could do a little extra for him. The German Club were not in favor of granting extra assistance for an indefinite period. The German Club voted the money, which was dispatched by the next mail. Mr. Detlef Moeckelmann lost his eyesight through an explosion of gunpowder. His left eye was destroyed, and his right eye badly injured to such an extent, that the recovery of sight is an improbability.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, mr weibgen, bendigo german club, mr moeckelmann, court king of the forest, h schott, d brinckmann, schmidt

An early black and white photograph of two men in the forest alongside the top level of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria.An early black and white photograph of two men in the forest alongside the top level of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s.steavenson falls, marysville, victoria, waterfalls, john steavenson

An information brochure on where to see tall trees, Forest Giants, in Victoria, including Marysville, that was published in January, 1938.An information brochure on where to see tall trees, Forest Giants, in Victoria, including Marysville, that was published in January, 1938.Victorian Railways Print January, 1938 469-38 Stamp of Victorian/ Government Tourist Bureau/ 272 Collins Street/ Melbourne C.1victoria, australia, victorian government tourist bureau, betterment and publicity board, victorian railways, white mountain ash, red mountain ash, messmate, blue gum, mountain ash, cumberland valley, marysville, mount monda, healesville, acheron way, alpine highway, omeo, baw baws, strzelecki ranges, otway ranges, warburton, yarra junction, noojee, bulga and tarra valley park, yarram, turton's pass, otway forest, beech forest, apollo bay, information brochure, brochure

Several "Kanyana Special"s ran from Beech Forest to Colac in the late 1950s to the early 1960s. This photograph of the locomotive G41 and carriages was taken in Beech Forest on 1 March 1959. In the background the Anglicn Church and the Otway Shire Hall and residence are shown.Beech Forest. "Kanyana Special" departing. 1 March 1959. Anglican Church and house, Otway Shire Hall and residence in background. Colour.colac; beech forest; "kanyana special"; anglican church; otway shire hall; locomotive g41;

The wood carving industry started out in Switzerland in the Swiss city of Brienz. After a famine in 1816 the Swiss government encouraged the wood carving industry as a way of creating jobs and boosting the local economy. Black Forest carvings were symbolic of luxury and wealth. Common animals that featured in Black Forest Wood Carvings were Bears, Eagles, Stags, Boars and Dogs.Hand carved antique Black forest French wood carved box with two animals on top, and flowers on the side. black forest carved box, carving, animals, flora

Beech Forest: capital on The Ridge. Norman Houghton. 1st ed. reprinted. Geelong (Vic.); Norman Houghton; 2007. iv, 112 p.; illus, maps. Soft cover. beech forest; the ridge; norman houghton; roads; railway; bushfires; weather; governance; commercial life; timber; agriculture; education; churches; sports;

Victoria once had well over one hundred fire lookouts and firetowers. Fire lookouts, or observation posts, were often just a clearing on a hill or a vantage point, whereas firetowers were definite structures. Many were established by the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) in the 1920s, but the network was expanded rapidly in response to recommendations of the Stretton Royal Commission after the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. When a fire or smoke was spotted from the tower a bearing was taken with the alidade and radioed or telephoned into the district office. It was then cross referenced with bearings from other towers on a large wall map to give a "fix" on the fire location. Alidades and telescopes were used in the post war period but were replaced with a much simpler map table and reference string suspended from the centre of the tower cabin. This "Fire Finder" was used in Canadian fire towers to identify the location of wildfires. The unique design was first developed by the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS) in the early 1950s. Close examination of the map indicates that this particular Fire Finder may have been once used at Bluejoint Mountain lookout in Granby Provincial Park. This Fire Finder was a gift to Barry (Rocky) Marsden from the British Columbia Forest Service in the late 1980s in recognition of the close relationships that had been forged with the staff at the Altona Workshops over many decades. Fire Finders were originally painted black but this one was repainted green after it arrived at Altona. The BC Forest Service had a large facility where they manufactured Fire Finders and many other items of equipment, but in the 1980s it was shut down. Heavy cast iron circular object with a paper topographic map mounted on it. The metal dial and ruler works similar to a compass. The sight tube is used to determine the bearing and elevation of the fire on the map. This Fire Finder also sometimes known as an Alidade. Its a different design from the Osborne Fire Finder widely used in North American fire lookouts from the 1920s. British Columbia Forest Service. Model 62A. Serial Number 6308.bushfire

Victoria once had well over one hundred fire lookouts and firetowers. Fire lookouts, or observation posts, were often just a clearing on a hill or a vantage point, whereas firetowers were definite structures. Many were established by the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) in the 1920s, but the network was expanded rapidly in response to recommendations of the Stretton Royal Commission after the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. When a fire or smoke was spotted from the tower a bearing was taken with the alidade and radioed or telephoned into the district office. It was then cross referenced with bearings from other towers on a large wall map to give a "fix" on the fire location. Alidades and telescopes were used in the post war period but were replaced with a much simpler map table and reference string suspended from the centre of the tower cabin. This "Fire Finder" was used in Canadian fire towers to identify the location of wildfires. The unique design was first developed by the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS) in the early 1950s. Close examination of the map indicates that this particular Fire Finder may have been once used at Bluejoint Mountain lookout in Granby Provincial Park. This Fire Finder was a gift to Barry (Rocky) Marsden from the British Columbia Forest Service in the late 1980s in recognition of the close relationships that had been forged with the staff at the Altona Workshops over many decades. Fire Finders were originally painted black but this one was repainted green after it arrived at Altona. The BC Forest Service had a large facility where they manufactured Fire Finders and many other items of equipment, but in the 1980s it was shut down. Heavy cast iron circular object with a paper topographic map mounted on it. The metal dial and ruler works similar to a compass. The sight tube is used to determine the bearing and elevation of the fire on the map. This Fire Finder also sometimes known as an Alidade. Its a different design from the Osborne Fire Finder widely used in North American fire lookouts from the 1920s. British Columbia Forest Service. Model 62A. Serial Number 6308.bushfire

Flag used by Rotary International - Forest Hill.Cream oblong flag with yellow and blue logo 'Rotary International'. On header of flag 'R.C. of Forest Hill' on either end of Header is a gromnet each side.Rotary Internationalflag, rotary international, forest hill

Photo is of Moora Moora in the Victorian Valley. Typical of the time as a promotional image taken by Forests Commission Victoria.View over a large Valley with ranges in the distance. Roads through the valley are visible and a body of water in the middle right of the photograph. A rocky outcrop is in the left side foreground.Publicity & Public Relations Branch. When reproducing please acknowledge Forests Commission Victoria Negative no. 322-26scenery, grampians ranges

Decimal currency was spectacularly introduced in an overnight overthrow on 14 February 1966, but it took another 8 years before metrication finally arrived in the forest and timber industry. Eventually, the measurement of logs and sawn timber changed from imperial, and excruciating, measures such as super feet of sawn timber, billets and cunits (100 cubic feet) of stacked pulpwood and hoppus log volumes to simpler cubic metres. Measuring firewood was a particular nightmare. For example, there were standard chords, stove cords, kitchen cords, running cords, face cords, thrown chords, fencing cords, country cords, long cords, raummeter or steres (1m x 1m x 1m). A standard cord of firewood had a volume of 128 cubic feet, measured as a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide (3.624 m3). And how about this for confusing…. in Victoria, an imperial or long ton (by measure) of green firewood was a stack 5 feet long billets (2 axelengths at 2′ 6″ each), one axelength high (2′ 6″) and two axelengths long (5 feet) equalling 62.5 cubic feet. For added befuddlement, there were three different sorts of tons: Imperial tons or long tons, American short tons and metric tonnes (spelled with two n’s). Not forgetting that a cubic imperial ton of firewood (40 cubic feet) which equalled 1.133 cubic metre. The metrication process began in 1974 and was completed by 1976 but the transition was not without its challenges along the supply chain for foresters, overseers, logging contractors, sawmillers, hardware stores and builders alike. Timber lengths changed from feet to metres but were still sold in multiples of one foot or 0.3 m (1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7 etc) whereas a menacing lump of 4-Bee-2 transformed into a rather less colourful 100mm by 50mm. Measurement and calculations of area also became so much easier in hectares rather than complicated acres, roods and perches. The Forest Metriverter slide-rule was issued by the Forestry and Timber Bureau to make metric conversions easier.Forest MetriverterRoss Pennyforest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Book written for the Historical Society on the occasion of a trip following the wartime wood trail to Glywylln ForestBlue card cover with blue tape over staple on the spine. Handwritten title with Authors name"Wartime Wood Trail" 1942-1945 Italian Internees Glynwylln Forest By J.D. Gillespie Former Divisional Forester Horshamstawell ww2