Showing 1334 items
matching bushfires or Black Saturday or wildfire or Ash Wednesday fires
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Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Base station radio with handset, Mid 1980s
After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the War, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 4G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s.Base station radio with handsetRC-4B Amalgamated Wireless Australiabushfire, radios -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Realia - Sewing Machine, Wertheim
Wedding present to Mr Clive Richard Harrison and his wife Margret Audrey in 1927. Buried to protect it from the 1939 Bushfires - Pomonal. Remained in use until the death of Mr. Harrison in 1982. Home sewing machine Treadle Pre-electricBlack, Rusted. Flywheel has wooden handle. IncompleteName on top in gold, case has a key hole. carving on sides knob on to - light wood -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Ceramic, [Gumnut Vase] by Lorraine Simpson
Lorraine SIMPSON Lorraine SImpson sold most of her pottery to Bangles Gallery in Cobargo NSW which unfortunately burnt in the 2019/2020 bushfire. She was also known for making bonsai pots which were well loved by the bonsai community.Blue hand thrown vase with gumnut and leaf decorative feature.ceramics, australian studio pottery, gumnuts, lorraine simpson -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews
... bushfires...victorian bushfires - 1962 ...Letter from Postmaster-General's Department to J.T. Niclassen of Buttermans Track, St Andrews concerning telephone equipment destroyed in recent bushfires, 22 Feb 1962 Letter, Joan Kennedy to Mavis Gill, 8 Nov 1962 Letter, Dick (Windy) Gale to Mavis Gill, 18 Apr 1962 Letter, Winnifred Whyte to Mavis Gill, 25 Jun 1962 Letter, N. Cleary to Mavis Gill, 18 Dec 1962 Letter, Doris Young to Mavis Gill, 22 Dec 1962 Re-building of Pensioners Cottages, St Andrews 1962c Declaration of Trust, Eltham and Diamond Valley Benevolent Society, c/o Mrs Mavis Gill, 1973Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 Mavis Gill who is known to our 'older generation' of members (oh to be an octogenarian) has given the Society papers and photographs of the 1962 fires in the St Andrews area. Mavis was involved in obtaining funds for "building relief' purposes so that volunteers could rebuild for those who lost their homes in that area. It lists many voluntary groups who were also involved in the rehabilitation of the fire victims in the area.Folder of letters and documentsvictorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, fire damage - buildings, houses, st andrews, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, christmas hills, alistair knox, arthur leonard sloman, brian redmond smyth, buttermans track, con sloan, d. goddard, dick (windy) gale, doris young, e. howard, frederick thomas scott, gaunt henry, grant lane, j.t. niclassen, jack niclassen, joan kennedy, joseph kennedy, kangaroo ground relief committee, molly clark, n. cleary, n.r. cleary, patterson, pmg, postmaster-general, robert barclay, robert william fell, winnifred whyte -
Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre
Bush Fire Working Party Registration Form (Blank), 1962
... St Andrews Bushfires ...In 1962, bushfires in the Dandenong Ranges (Melbourne, Victoria) took the lives of 32 people and saw the destruction of many homes. St Andrews was one of the places affected, and the Melbourne YCW (Boys) contributed to the re-building effort by providing skilled trades on a voluntary basis. In the days before online communication, this proforma was distributed to YCW members either by post or through the channel of the branch meeting to garner volunteers to the bushfire recovery effort. The document reveals the coordinating role of the diocesan team based at headquarters, and how the YCW (Boys) in Melbourne understood it's role as a service organisation. This document is part of a broader set of documents exploring this effort, including a subsequent report evaluating the effort and letters of thanks. Document printed on pink paperycw boys, ycw melbourne, bushfire recovery, st andrews bushfires, volunteering -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Magazine - The Protectors, A Tribute to the Men and Women who Defended Victoria in Fire Season 2006-07
... 2006 - 2007 Bushfires ...The magazine covers details of the 2006-07 bushfires in Victoria. On page 31 Region 24 list includes towns in the Kiewa Valley. The Kiewa Valley is under constant threat of bush fires during summer. Local fire brigades assist in the protection of residents.The Kiewa Valley was affected by the 2006-07 bushfires. Residents are encouraged to have a fire plan, to be knowledgeable about bush fires and to be ready to leave their homes when under threat. The local towns each have a fire brigade which includes volunteers. On page 18, 'The Yellow Line" - Photo of Kiewa Valley (Mt Beauty and Tawonga) Crews.Glossy coloured photograph of firemen on the front cover and raging fire on the back cover. 31 pages2006 - 2007 bushfires, kiewa valley fire crews -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newspaper - Newspaper articles, Sun News-Pictorial, Fires Blazing on 150M. Arc: "Need a Miracle", The Sun News-Pictorial, Tuesday, January 16, p1, 1962
... Victorian Bushfires - 1962 ...Various news articles pertaining to the January 1962 Victorian bushfires in the Dandenong and Healesville districts which by second day had spread on to a 150 mile front fromDaylesford and Kinglake through to the Dandenongs. Specific Eltham Shire districts mentioned include Ninka Road, St. Andrews, Kinglake, Hurstbridge on page 2 • Fires Blazing on 150M. Arc: "Need a Miracle", p1 (Illust.) – Victoria’s worst bushfire day since “Black Friday,” 1939 • Night dash as bushfire sweeps by, p2 (Illust.) • Kalorama Saved: Fire 100 Ft. Away, p2 • Stay away, says police chief, p2 • The Tragedy of the Fires, p3 (Illust.) • Good save by firemen, p4 (Illust.) • S.E.C. Firemen Saved N. Yallourn, p4 • Cherry river of flame, p4 • From the fire front: Fire-fighters are bitten by snakes, p4 • They faced the fury, p6 (Illust.) • The ’39 Blaze, p6 • They fought and failed, p6 • Hills Aflame: 2nd Day, pp16-17 (Illust.) • Respite at Olinda HQ, p16 (Illust.) • Here is Ruin, p17 (Illust.) • This fireman had to work among piled up furniture … p32 (Illust.) tom fielding collection, victorian bushfires - 1962, victorian bushfires – 1962, black friday, victorian bushfires – 1939, c.h. howe, daylesford, country fire authority, dandenongs, yallourn, central gippsland, montrose, olinda, kalorama, healesville, st. andrews, hurstbridge, ninka road, kinglake, yarra glen, a.l. mccutcheon, st. andrews postmaster, eltham shire secretary, max watson, police commissioner porter, observatory road, mt. dandenong, whittlesea, one tree hill, sassafras, the basin, steel’s creek, ruby ryan, the basin progress hall, yaallourn, yallourn north, stet electricity commission (s.e.c.), hernes oak, mcdonalds track, florence milkins, lieutenant-colonel k. leggett, bonza view road, ringwood police station, michael o’connor, volunteers, fire damage - buildings -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Barry Philp, Looking north from Main Road to Storey Avenue, Research, c.1969
... bushfires...bushfires ...Taken from Main Road looking north to the houses in Storey Avenue and the Maroondah Aqueduct. From the appearance of the pine trees along the aqueduct it was taken just after the 1968-1969 fire.research (vic.), bushfires, main road, maroondah aqueduct, pine trees, storey avenue, victorian bushfires - 1969 -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Article, Heed fire warnings, 22/01/1992 12:00:00 AM
... bushfires...bushfires ...Nunawading Gazette 22 January 1992 warning of the fire threat in the area due to excessive rainfall.Article from the Nunawading Gazette 22 January 1992 warning of the fire threat in the area due to excessive rainfall.Nunawading Gazette 22 January 1992 warning of the fire threat in the area due to excessive rainfall.bushfires, nunawading fire brigade, wandinong sanctuary, yarran dheran, antonio park, mitcham, blackburn lake sanctuary -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph, Old Hepburn Hotel, 2019, 06/02/2019
The Old Hepburn Hotel has been a watering hole in Heburn since the 1850s. The original building burnt down in a bushfire in 1906 but was rebuilt in 1912. The freehold on the building has been sold in early 2019, but it is not known what will happen to the venue. The hotel closed in midMarch 2019.Colour photograph of the Old Hepburn Hotel in Main Road, Hepburn, Victoria.old hepburn hotel, hepburn -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, B. Prentice, 21/11/1970 12:00:00 AM
... On rear in black ink "Ballarat / Saturday 21st November... tram 14 On rear in black ink "Ballarat / Saturday 21st November ...Black and white photograph of Ballarat SEC No. 14 decorated for the 1970 Myers Christmas Tram. Photographed at the corner of Macarthur St and Drummond St. North by Bob Prentice, Saturday 21 November 1970. Tram painted white except for the "tiger stripes", decorated with standard Christmas decorations, a large advertisement board on side "Its Christmas at Myers" and roof advertisement "See Santa's Castle Win Fabulous prizes". Destination box has been covered with the words "To Myers". Photographed with blue stone shop on the south west corner and the cemetery gates in the background.On rear in black ink "Ballarat / Saturday 21st November 1970 / Bob Prentice Photo"trams, tramways, myers, decorated trams, depot, christmas trams, tram 14 -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, B. Prentice, 12/12/1970 12:00:00 AM
... On rear in black ink " Bendigo / Saturday 12 December... Trams On rear in black ink " Bendigo / Saturday 12 December ...Black and white photograph of Bendigo Birney SEC No. ? decorated for the 1970 Myer's Christmas Tram. Photographed on the depot entry track by Bob Prentice, Sat. 12 December 1970. Tram decorated with standard Christmas decorations, two large boards on the sides "see Myer Toyland Second Floor" and "hey kids Meet Santa at Myer Bendigo" and on the front of the tram, the front panel has been painted with the words "Santa Special". The roof advertising panel has additional decorations. Photographed with the depot building in the background. See Reg Item 1895 for 1969 version.On rear in black ink " Bendigo / Saturday 12 December / 1970 / Bob Prentice Photo "trams, tramways, myers, decorated trams, santa tram, christmas trams -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Painting, Robert Ulmann, Goat, c. 1974
... books were destroyed by the Ash Wednesday fires at Naringal... Wednesday fires at Naringal in 1983. Rob exhibited in Sydney ...Robert Ulmann was born in Zurich, Switzerland, where he studied sculpture and painting, exhibiting annually with the National Art Society of Switzerland and in Paris, Munich and Stockholm. He migrated to Canada in 1956 and became a Canadian citizen. After working on the restoration of sculpture on the west wing of the Parliament Buildings Ottawa, he took up a Government appointment as one of six artist advisers to the Eskimos, initiating handicraft and sculpture programs in isolated settlements across the Central Arctic. He arrived in Australia with his Australian wife, Helen, in 1969, after two adventurous years backpacking and sketching through the United States, Central and South America and the South Pacific. From 1970 to 1972 he was employed by the Northern Territory Administration as a manual arts instructor to the aboriginal people of Docker River, a remote settlement west of Ayers Rock. A series of drawings from this period was exhibited by the Department of the Interior in Canberra, Sydney and Adelaide. Robert Ulmann’s paintings and prints of wildlife from Australia and overseas fill a beautiful studio overlooking the famous Logans Beach whale nursery at Warrnambool in the Western District of Victoria. His previous studio and home, together with 13 years of field sketches and his best work collected together for two books were destroyed by the Ash Wednesday fires at Naringal in 1983. Rob exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth as well as in the Regional Galleries of Warrnambool, Ballarat, Portland and Horsham, and, among numerous prizes, he won the award for watercolour at six of the annual exhibitions of the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia, between 1978 and 1983. Although his principal interest was in drawing and painting, he retained a fascination with sculpture. His works range from two stone fountains with figures commissioned by the City of Zurich, while he was still a student, to a 4 ½ ton sculpture in bluestone commissioned in 1977 as a memorial to Sir Fletcher Jones., a five metre representation of whale tails in steel, and a life-size bronze of St. John of God commissioned for a private hospital.Image of a goat beginning to rise from a seated position, possible struggling out of mud. Painted in yellow and brown tones, with blue shadows. Earth colours form a rough ground area surrounding the goat. A brown wash provides a cursory background behind the goat's head. Dark cream matt surrounds image. Gold painted wooden frame, with glass.Front: Robert Ulmann (lower centre, paint) Back: (no inscriptions) -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Photograph of Leonard Guy resident engineer for SECV
In 1940 Field Headquarters for the Kiewa Scheme were established at Bogong with office, workshop facilities and accommodation for workmen, staff and some families constructed. (There had been a 'tent camp' on this site in 1939 but was destroyed by bushfires) Construction of accommodation continued until 1947. Lake Guy was named after Mr. L.T. Guy Mr L.T. Guy was placed in charge of Hydro investigations in 1923 and became the resident engineer for the Kiewa Valley Hydro Scheme in 1938. He was the Resident Engineer in charge of construction work and associated activities on the Kiewa area. He held this position from 1939 to November 1946 when he was transferred to Head Office. Black and white photograph of Mr Leonard Guy. Photo mounted on black background with typed information regarding Mr Guy underneath, Printed in black ink, on white paper underneath photograph – LEONARD GUY L.T. Guy was placed in charge of Hydro Investigations in 1923 and made intermittent visits to the area. In 1938 he became Resident Engineer. The lake at Bogong is named after him in recognition of his contribution on the Kiewa Scheme. leonard guy, secv, bogong -
Wooragee Landcare Group
Photograph, circa April 2003
... 2003 bushfires ...This photograph was taken in the Mount Pilot Chiltern National Park. This park is located near Chiltern in Victoria. It's most notable landmarks include Mt Pilot and Woolshed Falls. It also has many mines from the Gold Rush in the late 1800s. It is home to much flora and fauna, including the tiger quoll. The tiger quoll, also known as the spotted-tail quoll, is a marsupial that gives in the Mount Pilot Chiltern National Park. It is also main land Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial. It can weigh up too four kilograms and looks similar to either a possum or a spotted cat. It has red and brown fur with distinct spots. The tiger quoll is found along the Great Dividing Range, which includes Victoria, New South Wales and also near the border of Queensland. It lives in forests, rainforests and coastal heathlands and woodlands. In 2004 a team of volunteers from the Wooragee Landcare group as well as some of the Department of Sustainability and Environment staff set out to find the tiger quoll following the 2003 bushfires. Since the bushfires, concern had arisen for it because it hadn't been seen since the bushfires. They attempted to find traces of the quoll through finding and identifying their droppings as well as DNA testing. This photograph was taken during this search. This photograph represents the work that goes into protecting a important species like the tiger quoll. The tiger quoll is a significant species because it is main land Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial. As a result of this, there has been much work done to preserve and protect it. This photograph was taken when the Wooragee Landcare group went to ensure the survival of this species, highlighting how the tiger quoll is being protected. This photograph also demonstrates the impacts of the 2003 bushfires in the Mount Pilot Chiltern National Park. This is seen through the burnt trees featured in the picture. Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA 0ANA0N0 NNN 0 1636 / [PRINTED] (No.7) / 921quoll, mount pilot chiltern national park, national park, 2003 bushfires, search, endangered, beechworth, wooragee landcare group, wooragee landcare, wooragee, possum, australia, victoria, department of sustainability and environment, photograph, 2004, spotted-tailed quoll, great dividing range, spots, fur, forests, rainforests, woodlands, coastal heathlands, spotted quoll, spotted quoll habitat -
Wooragee Landcare Group
Photograph, 12th September 2004 or 15rh September 2004
... bushfires...bushfires ...This photograph was taken at Wooragee Landcare workshop (Quoll), field day in Mt Pilot park on Bush Recovery: After the Fires. This is part of the Biodiversity Month on September 2004. The Bush Recovery workshop was held on Sunday 12th September 2-4pm with Christine Watson, Sue Berwick and Natasha Schedvin, and another workshop on Wednesday, 15th September, 9am to 12 noon with local biologist Glen Johnson and botanists Gill Earl and Christine Watson. The topics involved in the training involved what species have returned, what species haven't, what recovery studies are being carried out, how are the barking owls and phascogales faring, and why is Mt Pilot important. The photograph shows L-R: Colin Payne; Jerry Alexander; Geoff Galbraith. Bush fires are common in Australia due to several reasons. One is due to the geographic spread of fire's seasons, secondly, the absence of El Nino conditions are also linked to fires. Climate change also affected Australia's hot and dry seasons. Australia's climate began warming since the 1970s. Human-induced fires also contributed to this increase in temperatures across the nation. Bush fires happened in Mt Pilot in 2003 but it has recovered well since. This makes Mt Pilot an important site to understand bushfire recovery. This photograph contributes to the scientific and historical records on bushfire recovery in Victoria. It creates a picture of Victorian community activities and efforts on biodiversity, climate change, and environmental care.Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA 0A2A0N0 NN2 0 163 / (No. 2)wooragee, wooragee landcare group, wooragee landcare, bush fires, bush recover, mt pilot, biodiversity month, botany, botanists, bush recovery, quoll, foxy, fox, forest, environment, climate change, bushfire recovery, bushfires, 2004 bushfire, field work, after the fires, fire, biodiversity -
Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society Inc.
Information folder
Information folder pertaining to Bill Borthwick. Contents: -article, The Age, 2 August 2001, Bill Borthwick: a man of decency, vision and compassion. -obituary, The Age, 11 August 2001 -article, Ranges Trader Mail, 7 August 2001, Tributes flow for politician, friend, Bill Borthwick -article, Ranges Leader, 8 August 2001, "Progressive" Bushfire Bill -letter to editor, Ranges Leader, 8 August 2001, Bill left us a challenge to follow his lead -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper - INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS DELEGATES
Photocopied page from the 'Weekly Times' 24th March 1900 containing a large group photo (106 people) of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Annual meeting of Delegates at Bendigo. Also there is a smaller photo of 17 people consisting of Lodge Officers from the IOOF. At the top of the page, not showing are two photos of the damage inflicted by a recent bushfire at Upper Maffra West, including the death of a young boy. The reverse side, also not scanned, are photos taken of the area and the battle field during the Boer War.Weekly Times 24th March1900.clubs and associations, history, independent order of oddfellows, weekly times, independent order of oddfellows, meeting of delegates -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital image, Marilyn Smith, St Katherine's Church St Helena: Window 5, 29/05/2015
St Katherine's Church St Helena dates from 1858. The Church was built by Major Anthony Beale in memory of his wife Katherine Rose Beale. This photograph shows one of the stained glass windows; dedicated to those who restored this church. The Church had been damaged by a bushfire in 1957 and was rebuilt to the original plan.Digital copy of colour photographst katherines church st helena, anthony beale -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Article, Warning on bushland fire danger, 11/10/1993 12:00:00 AM
... bushfires...bushfires ...Nunawading Fire Brigade were setting up a display with officers from the brigade to show the public how to avoid firesArticle in Nunawading Gazette for 'Fire Awareness Week'. Nunawading Fire Brigade were setting up a display with officers from the brigade to show the public how to avoid fires, how to escape a fire and how to use fire fighting equipment. The fire brigade tends to want more firebreaks cleared and the council to retain more bushland.Nunawading Fire Brigade were setting up a display with officers from the brigade to show the public how to avoid firesbushfires, city of nunawading, nunawading fire brigade, hunter, alan, antonio park, mitcham, fires -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph, Bellinzona House, 1900
Battista Borsa was from Bellinzona in Ticino, Switzerland. He named his house on the corner of Main road and Seventh St in Hepburn Springs "Bellinzona". His daughters ran the house as a guest house in 1900. This house was burnt down in the 1906 Bushfire. it was rebuilt in Edwardian tradition, and was again burnt down and rebuilt on a much larger footprint. A weatherboard house in the Main Road of Hepburn Springs, run by the Misses Borsa. borsa, bellinzona, boarding house, hepburn springs -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, A walk through the cemetery at Kangaroo Ground, Diana Bassett-Smith, 1 October 2001, 2001
A huge warrior of a gum tree still stands sentinel at the wrought iron gates. In the distance some pencil pines. Survivors too of the disastrous bushfires which in the past have swept the district. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newsletter, No. 217 July 2014
Contents: • Fabbro Fields • Next Meeting • Heritage Excursion – Walter Withers drive yourself excursion • July Meeting – Montmorency; The farm on the Plenty • July Excursion • Benjamin Wallis; a prominent early Eltham resident by Russell Yeoman • Fire • Local Bushfire History • Facebook by Jim Connor • Member Subscriptions • And Also • Contacts for the Eltham District Historical Society The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society -
Falls Creek Historical Society
Photograph - Ray Meyer at Roper's Hut
MEYER COLLECTION - FALLS CREEK PHOTOS In 1947 a determined group of like-minded State Electricity Commission (SEC) staff including Ray Meyer, the chief surveyor of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, had a common interest that revolved around the skiing potential of the snow-covered high plains which included what is now the resort of Falls Creek. The six SEC employees, Toni St Elmo, Ray Meyer, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson (together with their families) banded together to secretly build a 'hut' that was the first ski lodge at Falls Creek. Using a road built in 1930s to gain access to Falls Creek, their hut project was carried out in secret as efforts by other skiers were blocked by H.H.C. Williams – the engineer in charge of the Hydro Scheme. In 1946 Ray Meyer made a trip to the Lands Office in Melbourne. He came away with a 99-year lease on three acres that was ideally suited for a hut designed by Lloyd Dunn. Adrian Ruffenacht (Design Engineer for the KHS) had suggested where the group should build because of easy access to a spring for water. Much of the building material required was scavenged from derelict huts on the high plains. Due to the need for secrecy, the determined group worked on the hut in the evenings and weekends to avoid detection. During the building period the group had met at Echidna Rock (now known as Eagle Rock) where Skippy St Elmo announced, "This is my favourite ‘Skyline’.” And so the first lodge in the area at Falls Creek Ski Resort came into existence. With the development of the International Poma in the 1970s, the Skyline Lodge, which was sited between the ski-lift’s pole one and pole two, was demolished. However, the legacy of Ray Meyer, Toni St Elmo, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson and Skyline lives on in the vibrant atmosphere of Falls Creek Resort. The MEYER COLLECTION documents developments on the Kiewa Hydro Scheme and their life at Falls Creek from the mid 1930s to 1960s.These images are significant because they depict aspects of the life of a pioneering family of Falls Creek and the founders of "Skyline", the first lodge at Falls Creek.Two black and white images of Ray Meyer outside Roper's Hut. Frederick Roper and his family grazed the Bogong High Plains from the 1890s until 1908. Frederick "Jack" built three huts. The hut known as Roper’s Hut was built on Jack's new grazing lease after his former run had been acquired by the SEC in the late 1930s. It had become a well-used refuge hut prior to its destruction in the 2003 bushfires. It was rebuilt by Victorian High Country Huts Association in 2008.falls creek, building skyline, skyline founders, toni st elmo, adrian ruffenacht, jack minogue, ray meyer, lloyd dunn, david gibson -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Log bridge over Pheasant Creek, Kinglake, c.1920
Postcard view of pedestrian log bridge in Kinglake National Park. The log bridge over Johnston's Creek is said to have been built to allow the timber tramline to cross the creek. The bridge was destroyed in the 1926 bushfires. Other sources describe this bridge being located at Pheasant Creek (between Kinglake West and Kinglake Central) and that it was built by Mr Munro, the owner of the sawmill.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg 1 printshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kinglake, log bridge, bridge, mr. munro, timber tramway, pheasant creek -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Dugout sign, Post 1966
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 -
Mt Dandenong & District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, George Dodd With Daughter Jessie 1890, 1890
1890 picture of George Dodd and his daughter Jessie (Mrs Ebbels) with the Dodd home in the background. The descriptive text on the reverse of this photograph was hand written by John Lundy-Clarke.1890 picture of George Dodd with his daughter Jessie (Mrs Ebbels) with the Dodd home in the background. Remains of the house were burned in the bushfires between 1910 and 1926 when Alan grandson of George and his wife Vera, nee Devine, started to build their home on the same spot and developed the present extensive flower farm “Rainbow Gully”.george dodd, jessie dodd, jessie ebbels -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Album - Photograph, J.A. McDonald, Salters Rush Road, Smiths Gully, Aug. 1962
... bushfires...bushfires ...Salters Rush Road, Smiths Gully Burnt out culvert following bush fires 15-16 Jan. 1962Record of various Shire of Eltham infrastructure works undertaken during the period of 1952-1962 involving bridge and road reconstruction projects, sometimes with Eltham Shire Council Project Reference numbers quoted. It was during this period that a number of significant improvements were made to roads and new bridges constructed within the shire that remain in place as of present day (2022). In many situations, the photos provide a tangible visible record of infrastructure that existed throughout the early days of the Shire. The album was put together by or under the direction of the Shire Engineer, J.A. McDonald.H941 stamped on reverse (film processing #)infrastructure, shire of eltham, bridge construction, road construction, 1962-08, bushfires, salters rush road, smiths gully, victorian bushfires - 1962 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Album - Photograph, J.A. McDonald, Salters Rush Road, Smiths Gully, Aug. 1962
... bushfires...bushfires ...Salters Rush Road, Smiths Gully Bridge over Salters Rush Creek following bush fires 15-16 Jan. 1962Record of various Shire of Eltham infrastructure works undertaken during the period of 1952-1962 involving bridge and road reconstruction projects, sometimes with Eltham Shire Council Project Reference numbers quoted. It was during this period that a number of significant improvements were made to roads and new bridges constructed within the shire that remain in place as of present day (2022). In many situations, the photos provide a tangible visible record of infrastructure that existed throughout the early days of the Shire. The album was put together by or under the direction of the Shire Engineer, J.A. McDonald.H941 stamped on reverse (film processing #)infrastructure, shire of eltham, bridge construction, road construction, 1962-08, bushfires, salters rush road, smiths gully, victorian bushfires - 1962 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Album - Photograph, J.A. McDonald, Black Cameron Road, Smiths Gully, Aug. 1962
... bushfires...bushfires ...Black Cameron Road Bridge over Salters Rush Creek following bush fires 15-16 Jan. 1962Record of various Shire of Eltham infrastructure works undertaken during the period of 1952-1962 involving bridge and road reconstruction projects, sometimes with Eltham Shire Council Project Reference numbers quoted. It was during this period that a number of significant improvements were made to roads and new bridges constructed within the shire that remain in place as of present day (2022). In many situations, the photos provide a tangible visible record of infrastructure that existed throughout the early days of the Shire. The album was put together by or under the direction of the Shire Engineer, J.A. McDonald.H941 stamped on reverse (film processing #)infrastructure, shire of eltham, bridge construction, road construction, 1962-08, bushfires, victorian bushfires - 1962, black cameron road, smiths gully