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)

bushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Foresters usually measure the diameter of trees at Breast Height – traditionally 4 foot, 6 inches – now 1.3 m – which is termed Diameter Breast Height Over Bark (DBHOB). Basal Area is the cross section of the tree trunk at breast height, and the sum for the stand or group of trees is expressed square feet per acre (after 1973 it was expressed in square metres per hectare). Lots of skinny trees, or a few fat ones, can have the same Basal Area, but when combined with the number of stems, Basal Area is a good indicator of stand density. Two common methods are used to measure of Basal Area – fixed area plots and angle count sampling. 1. Fixed area plots require setting out a small area, commonly 50 m x 20 m, and measuring all the trees at breast height, and doing some quick sums. 2. Angle count sampling involves a simple sweep of the forest from a fixed sampling point using a relascope, dendrometer sight, angle gauge, or glass wedge prism. This wooden builders ruler has been shaped at one end to create a shallow angle (usually less than 3 degrees). Standing in one spot, a sweep is made with the wedge held to the eye, and trees are counted as either “in” or “out”. The number of trees is multiplied by conversion factor of the wedge (10 in this case) to estimate basal area. It’s very quick and effective.Basal Area Angle Gauge The two ends fold up and one end (on the right) has been reduced in width to create a shallow angle for the viewer Home made by cutting down a wooden builder's ruler Many forestry students made their own Basal Area Angle Gauges and its thought this may be oneforest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Signs were erected around the forest to restrict the use of firearms.Shooting Prohibited sign - canvasbushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Bushfire awareness gallows signs were common features during the summer fire season and hung outside both FCV offices and on major roadways This large metal sign has different text on each side and the text and lettering is simple enough to be read from a moving vehicleBushfire Awareness - gallows signbushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv)

The relief workers as shown in the photograph were used in the Grampians for logging & road maintenance. After the Depression many hundreds of men worked on building and maintaining roads &: tracks. Some were employed by the Forest Commission of Victoria.people, road gang, structures, tents

Photo is of the "Victoria Valley" taken from around the area of Reed's Lookout. The body of water is Moora Moora Reservoir. The background range is Victoria Range. Photo is typical of promotional photos taken by Forests Commission VictoriaRocky outcrop in foreground and a large, thick tree covered valley, with mountain ranges in the background. A body of water (near top, middle) and some roads can be seen c1960sscenery, grampians ranges

Photo is of Victoria Valley with Moora Moora Reservoir and the Victoria Range in the background. Photo would have been taken from around Reed's lookout area. Photo typical of promotional photos of the time by Forests CommissionLarge, densely treed valley with a body of water in background. Some roads can be seen particularly right foreground. There is a mountain range in the background. c1960sscenery, grampians ranges

A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria, illuminated at night.A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria, illuminated at night. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. This postcard was produced by Nucolorvue Productions Pty. Ltd. as a souvenir of Marysville.NU-COLOR-VUE/ OF/ AUSTRALIA MARYSVILLE, VICTORIA. The Steavenson Falls illuminated at Night by its own hydro-electric/ power. (Ministry of Tourism and Forests/ Commission of Victoria) PLACE/ STAMP/ HERE POST CARD NCV.167 - NUCOLORVUE PRODUCTIONS PTY. LTD./ COPYRIGHT Printed in Australiamarysville, steavenson falls, victoria, postcard, nucolorvue productions, souvenir, john steavenson

A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria, illuminated at night.A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria, illuminated at night. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. This postcard was produced by Nucolorvue Productions Pty. Ltd. as a souvenir of Marysville.NU-COLOR-VUE/ OF/ AUSTRALIA MARYSVILLE, VICTORIA. The Steavenson Falls illuminated at Night by its own hydro-electric/ power. (Ministry of Tourism and Forests/ Commission of Victoria) PLACE/ STAMP/ HERE POST CARD NCV.167 - NUCOLORVUE PRODUCTIONS PTY. LTD./ COPYRIGHT Printed in Australiamarysville, steavenson falls, victoria, postcard, nucolorvue productions, souvenir, john steavenson

Two vehicles, possibly 1929 Chryslers negotiate a forest track, probably in the Kinglake National Park. Front vehicle has sign: Goodwood Powelltown Melbourne daily". Source: Forests Commission of Victoria. Ref. JJ 397This 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 '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 imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kinglake, goodwood powelltown melbourne daily, automobile, forest track, chrysler, kinglake national park

The Forests Commission had a large engineering branch that assisted districts with road construction works This scale model (with engineering calculations) was used to assist in the design and construction of commonly used timber bridges This model comes from Orbost Last remaining model known. Most crossings are now either concrete culverts or steel and concrete bridge spansModel timber bridge showing elements 1:50 scale for 10 metre spanforests commission victoria (fcv), road and bridge construction, engineering

This sign is believed to have hung outside the Benalla Forest District Office. The sign features a pine tree (so probably made before the 1956 restructure). In 1956, the new Chairman of the Forests Commission, Alf Lawrence, introduced a major restructure of the organisation to create 56 Forest Districts. The process included amalgamating the plantations and hardwood divisions, which had been separate and rival entities up to that time. Things remained largely unchanged for the next three decades until the early 1980s. The iconic Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) “two-tree” logo was designed in the early 1960s by graphic artist, Alan Rawady.Benalla Forest District Office Sign

Two cars, probably 1929 Chryslers navigate the forest track probably Kinglake National Park. Front vehicle has sign: "Goodwood Powelltown Melbourne daily". Photo sourced from the Forests Commission of Victoria. Ref. JJ 399This 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 '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 imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kinglake, goodwood powelltown melbourne daily, automobile, chrysler, kinglake national park, forest track

Australian Forestry School. Handed onto the ANU in 1965. Covering: rainforests; botany; erosion; Murray River; USA Forestry services; Pine plantations; Forests Commission Victoria;Tasmania forest scenes. 500 slides in 10 wooden boxes and 16 small cardboard packets.Glass lantern slide collection - approx 600 slidesMultiple boxes of glass slides. Many are in 'Hammer Lantern Plates' slide boxes.

Used in the 1930s in the Forests Commission's Erica Forest District by a rigger for cutting the top off spar trees to be used in high-lead logging. The advent of crawler tractors after the Second World War brought about the end of high-lead logging. The saw was adopted in the 1940s by the-then Assistant Forester of Erica (James McKinty) for cutting firewood for domestic purposes; this use continued until about 1987. One-person cross cut saw with riveted handleforests commission victoria (fcv), hand tools

After the 1939 bushfires the Forests Commission placed orders for 130,000 feet (nearly 40 km) of 1½ inch canvas hose in Britain to accompany over 200 new pumps of various types. The Altona workshop became a major centre for fabrication, repair and storage of hose, pumps and specialised equipment.Underground peat fires are very difficult to extinguish Water tends to just run off and not penetrate when sprayed onto the surface Peat spears are driven into the ground and connected to high pressure hose to inject waterforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, fire pump, fire tanker

The Forests Commission took safety very seriously, long before it became standard practice in the bush. The Chairman of the Commission, Alan Threader, personally chaired the safety committee. Sandy Dobbin was appointed as the first "safety officer" in the early 1970s. There were many innovations including safety boots and safety hardhats.Various hardhats. Later version had reflective safety tapeforests commission victoria (fcv), protective clothing, bushfire

The Forests Commission took safety very seriously, long before it became standard practice in the bush. The Chairman of the Commission, Alan Threader, personally chaired the safety committee. Sandy Dobbin was appointed as the first "safety officer" in the early 1970s. There were many innovations including safety boots and safety hardhats.Various types of safety smoke gogglesforests commission victoria (fcv), protective clothing, bushfire

The Forests Commission took safety very seriously, long before it became standard practice in the bush. The Chairman of the Commission, Alan Threader, personally chaired the safety committee. Sandy Dobbin was appointed as the first "safety officer" in the early 1970s. There were many innovations including safety boots and safety hardhats.Hardhats designed for use by bulldozer operators. Has inbuilt small battery operated fan to push a screen of air in front of drivers face to keep dust away. Made redundant with the advent of closed, air-conditioned cabins. Made in UK c 1981RACAL Benalla T120forests commission victoria (fcv), protective clothing, bushfire

The Forests Commission took safety very seriously, long before it became standard practice in the bush. The Chairman of the Commission, Alan Threader, personally chaired the safety committee Sandy Dobbin was appointed as the first "safety officer" in the early 1970s There were many innovations including safety boots and safety hardhats. Safety hardhats. One new hat with "two trees" FCV logo. One with hat with older style FCV sticker belonging to District Forester Col Almond (decorated with logos from the amalgamated CFL agencies).forests commission victoria (fcv), protective clothing

A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph 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. This postcard was produced by Nucolorvue Productions Pty. Ltd. as a souvenir of Marysville.MARYSVILLE, VICTORIA The Falls are a spectacular feature/ of the Marysville district. From/ dusk to Mid-Night the falls are/ illuminated by its own Hyrdo-/ electric power. (Ministry of Tourism and Forests/ Commission of Victoria) NU-COLOR-VUE/ OF/ AUSTRALIA PLACE/ STAMP/ HERE POST CARD NCV. 173 - NUCOLORVUE PRODUCTIONS PTY. LTD./ COPYRIGHT Printe in Australiasteavenson falls, marysville, victoria, nucolorvue productions, postcard, souvenir, john steavenson

A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph 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. This postcard was published by Nucolorvue Productions as a souvenir of Marysville.NU-COLOR-VUE/ OF/ AUSTRALIA MARYSVILLE, VICTORIA. The Falls are a spectacular feature/ of the Marysville district. From/ dusk to Mid-Night the falls are/ illuminated by its own Hydro-/ electric power. (Ministry of Tourism and Forests/ Commission of Victoria) PLACE/ STAMP/ HERE POST CARD NCV.173 - NUCOLORVUE PRODUCTIONS PTY. LTD./ COPYRIGHT Printed in Australiamarysville, steavenson falls, victoria, postcard, nucolorvue productions, souvenir, john steavenson

Forestry House was the fist time that Forests Commission Head office staff had been housed in a purpose built building in Melbourne 601 Bourke street is on the corner of Bourke and King streets The building opened in the late 1970s but staff relocated in the late 1980s after the formation of the Department of Conservation Forests and Lands (CFL)Large wooden sigh from outside Forestry House at 601 Bourke Streetforests commission victoria (fcv), forest signs

Preservation of the Bendigo Whipstick'' (Third Edition of a Submission by the Bendigo Field Naturalists' Club 1971). An application to the Forests Commission for two areas to be declared Forest Parks under the Appropriate Act. (The two areas are indicated on a map submitted under separate cover). Supportive material includes listings of various categories e.g. flora i.e Whipstick native plants; Additional Plant Species; Species of Birds; Mammals of the Whipstick; historical summary; Whipstick nuggets; Bendigo Whipstick 'Statistics'. .Bendigo Field Naturalist Club.government, state, whipstick, bendigo whipstick, the bendigo field naturalists club. shire of lodden map.