The first engines to run on the Colac-Beech Forest line between 1900 and 1902 as work trains were A Class locomotives, otherwise known as 'Coffee Pots'. They were based and serviced at Colac, but coal stages were erected at Barongarook and Wimba water tanks because of the lengthy periods of waiting time required to unload sleepers and rails or to load ballast.An A Class train on a revetment hauling timber and men to build the Colac-Beech Forest railway, with a steep hillside in the background.. B/W.colac; beech forest; railway; timber;

B/W. In c.1920 at Lavers Hill, the Webster sisters and friends separated by the mother, with a man in behind. An NA engine and van on the right.lavers hill; railway;

B/W. A mixed goods train headed by an NA class locomotive taking water at Kincaid, the fireman looking at the camera, the driver hanging from the entrance to the enging, and a boy standing in front of the engine. kincaid; colac; beech forest; crowes; railways;

The Victorian Railways "G" class Beyer-Garratt locomotives had 2 foot 6 inch gauge engines of the 2-6-0 + 0-6-2 wheel arrangement, that is it had a tender in front of the engine and a tender behind. Two people are riding on the tender in front while a crewman is mounting the engine.B/W. Engine G42, with a crewman entering, and a NUU louvre van, in front of a pulp wood stack. Two people are mounted on the articulated section of the locomotive. Two empty tracks in front.beech forest; railway; loco g42;

B/W/ "NA" class locomotive, NQR wagons and NC guard's van hauling timber near Gardner's property in Beech Forest in 1912. Note the workmen clustered on the engine and wagons.beech forest; railway;

Laurie McCabe was in charge of Beech Forest Station until October 1929. When the timber industry went into decline because of poor markets and the crippling effects of the 1929 strike, and when road haulage signalled the beginning of a new transport era it was the beginning of the end. As a result staffing levels were severely cut over the period 1927/29 with the two station masters at Beech Forest and Gellibrand replaced by caretakers in October 1929. The line was then supervised by travelling station masters of whom Laurie McCabe was one of two.B/W. Laurie McCabe in charge of Beech Forest Railway Station in the 1920s, pictured on track one just down from the station buildings. Note the slight snow covering on the tracks.beech forest; railways; laurie mccabe;

The last goods train ran from Beech Forest and Weeaproinah on Wednesday, 27th June 1962, laden with NQR wagons full of timber and a guard's van. The crew was driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence.B/W. 195mm x 267mm. Locomotive G42 bearing the inscription " 27th June 1962, Last train from Weeaproinah" traverses the point, the crew, driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence looking at the camera.colac; beech forest; weeaproinah; railways;

Commercial realities and bushfires caused the Beech Forest community to re-establish itself around the railway station, away from Gardner Hill. This caused John W. Gardner to subdivide his land on the north side of the railway station. One subdivision was created near the Ditchley railway station on the old racecourse site, and another of 25 allotments forming what became Southorn Street. There were very few takers for these lots nor any buyers for the Ditchley subdivision.Photocopy. 260mm x 159mm. An advertisement for the sale of the Ditchley Park Estate, Beech Forest. Under instructions from Mr. J.W. Gardner Dalgety & Co. Ltd. will sell the subdivision of the Ditchley Park Estate on Tuesday, March 30, 1909, at 2 o'clock. A map of Beech Forest township and the Ditchley Park Estate is attached, as are the terms of sale and a description of the area.. beech forest; ditchley park; land sale; advertisment;

During construction of the railway in 1901 a ballast siding was originally opened 4.5 km south of Barongarook but the ballast proved inferior and a new ballast siding was opened 4 km south of Gellibrand to provide material for track construction. A spur siding, with points facing Beech Forest and a capacity for six trucks, was cut into the side of a slope. Above this was erected a loading bin and chute. This stone was of durable quality so the siding continued in commission after 1902 for periodic track re-ballasting. By the mid-1920s Victoria Railways found it more economic to use ballast from elsewhere so the siding was closed by 1925 and the rails lifted.B/W. Gellibrand Ballast Siding loading ballast down the slope, with five workmen watching at the base.gellibrand; ballast; railways;

Beech Forest was the principal despatch centre for split timber and mining laths in 1906, most of which was carried to the railway yards by bullock wagons, or a horse-hauled wooden tramline along the Olangolah Road to the east of the town. At the yards it awaited trans-shipment by rail.B/w. 190mm x 265mm. Timber stacked in the Beech Forest railway yard. Four roads passing. A goods shed in the background. beech forest; railways;

Originally known as Smith's Siding, in November 1914 the siding was renamed "Pettits" following the sale of a nearby mill to the north. The sawn timber was initially carted out by bullock wagon but the mud and slush caused such difficulties that Pettits caused a thirty chain incline to be built from the mill to a tramway. The tramway connected the mill to the railway until 1924. An annual average of 2,450 tonnes of timber was despatched from the siding. No provision was made for passenger traffic. After ten years Pettit Brothers had cut out the area and moved on, abandoning the siding which was put out of commission on 23 September 1924. However, local residents, not wishing to suffer the loss of railway facilities, managed to have the siding reopened in February 1925 for goods and passengers. It was lightly patronised until all traffic ceased in 1936. B/W. Sam Knox, timber loader and tallyman, and George Pritchard, a teamster, resting at Pettit's Siding after delivering a six-horse-drawn load of timber to the Siding. Stacks of wood awaiting transport by rail are in the background.pettits siding; wyelangta; railways; smith's siding; sam knox; george pritchard;

J.W. Gardner erected premises in Beech Forest which formed the core of a village. No further progress was made until access was facilitated though the development of a narrow gauge railway approved by the Victorian Parliament in 1898. Construction commenced in 1900. From this time Colac and Geelong business interests began investment in Beech Forest and established various retail and service establishments over the next few years. In 1902 three early settlers, Gardner, Charles Buchanan and John Cockerill, divided part of their land or bought land which was sold to businesses. On these subdivisions were created saleyards, general stores, a post office, bakery, blacksmithing, banks, a police station and lock-up, a public hall, churches, a state school, bootmaker, butcher, solicitor's office, hairdresser, billiard's saloon and newsagency.B/W. 188mm x 266mm. A general view of Beech Forest township in c.1903.beech forest; township;

B/W. A train for Beech Forest between Dinmont and Beech Forest in c.1915.beech forest; dinmont; railways;

In 1898 a recommendation for a railway of 2 ft 6 in gauge was handed down by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, to cost $138,000. Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line began in 1900. About 100 men were employed in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The earthworks of gravel ballast 150 mm deep were formed by horse and scoop or by shovel. Once the bed had been laid surveyors went along to check the layout, particularly all check rail curves and all 100 metre curves which the surveyors in the picture are doing.B/W. Three men surveying the construction of a curved bed on which track will be laid, near Barongarook, Victoria.colac; beech forest; barongarook; railways;

Plans for a rail connection between Colac and Beech Forest had been drawn up in 1884 and 1889 but proofed inconclusive because of the enormous cost involved in building a railway in such difficult terrain. Because of the financial depression in the early 1890s such expenditure went of hold. Towards the end of the decade planners recognised that a narrow gauge could be a viable alternative and it was taken up by the community, Parliamentary representatives and the government, although Victorian Railways administration was against the idea. This was overridden. The 1898 Parliament approved a 2 foot 6 inch gauge from Colac to Beech Forest although strict financial limits were set. The route was to be the most direct and the infrastructure the most basic. Construction began in 1900 entailing very steep grades and myriad curves until it finished in 1902. Surveyors and their assistants came before and during the track laying for the whole distance.B/W. Survey camp for the Colac-Beech Forest railway in 1901, showing nine tents, ten men including a cook, survey instruments, and three bicycles. Note the cooking fire on the right.colac: beech forest; railways; survey;

While the first train arrived at Beech Forest on 17 February, 1902, as a special train for a race meeting at Beech Forest Turf Club, two special trains ran for the official opening of the railway by the State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, KCMG, R.E., F.R.S., that took place on 27 February, 1902. After seeing round the area the guests attended a celebration of the opening at a banquet at Beech Forest. The menu included four impressive courses, coffee and cognac, and included a number of toasts - The King, the Governor, the Minister and the Parliament of the State, Success to the Beech Forest Railway, the Colac Shire Council and the Railway Trust, and the Railway Department, a total of 19 people speaking. The official guests then returned to Colac.B/W. Opening banquet for the Colac-Beech Forest railway line in 1902. The State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, KCMG, the Premier of Victoria, Hon. A.J. Peacock, MLA, and a number of other important people seated at the top table, with other guests seated to the left and right.beech forest; railways; banquet; colac;

B/W. A reverse or S curve on the Colac-Beech Forest railway line, taken in 1901.colac; beech forest; railways;

B/W. Beech Forest railway terminus showing two inspecting officers upon a railway trolley on No.2 track near a shed..beech forest; railways;

The official opening of the Colac-Beech Forest railway took place on Wednesday, 26th February, 1902. On a typical Beech Forest wet day the train halted at the bottom of Gardner Hill for the opening party led by the State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, to walk up to the Ditchley Park Hotel for the official banquet in the adjoining hall. The menu of four courses plus coffee was assembed by the caterer, Chas. D. Straker. The toast list was led as usual by a toast to the King, followed by 18 toasts concluded by the Acting Commissioner of Railways.B/W. The menu and toast list at the opening of the Colac-Beech Forest Railway on Wednesday, 26th February, 1902, at Beech Forest. 128mm x 264mm actual

B/W. Tracks 1 to 4 at Beech Forest, an NA-class locomotive and goods on No.1, an NQR wagon on No.4, and a station building in the right, in the early 1900s. 167mm x 280mm print.beech forest, train, wagon, railway, tracks, train station

For two years after the opening of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line trains were preceded by a ganger on a trolley to ensure no landslips or wash-a-ways created a danger to the trains. Afterwards the trains continued on their own. The line was built as cheaply as possible, "a mere skeleton of a railway" as one Victorian Railways spokesperson commented. With earthworks specified to the bare minimum landslips in the cuttings and wash-a-ways in sloping areas were always a problem, particularly in the early years before the works had time to settle. The line to Crowes was built to open in 1911 and a wash-a-way between Lavers Hill and Crowes was only to be expected. B/W. 8A locomotive, with driver and fireman, and a mounted repair gang attending a wash-a-way just past Lavers Hill in 1913.183mm x 260mm print.

John Cronin was Principal of Burnley School of Horticulture between 1908-1910.John Cronin. Photocopy only of digitised copy on the internet.principal, burnley school of horticulture, john cronin

"From the beginnings of European settlement on the dry plains of Melton, the community became all too familiar with the destructive power of bushfires. Fires spread rapidly through the parched landscape and were difficult to stop. Small villages in the district were practically wiped out by different fires at various times, important buildings and valuable haystacks were lost, and most chaff mills were burned down more than once.110 A local bushfire brigade was established in 1935, with Constable Roy Corbett elected Captain. This formed the basis of what would later become the Melton Country Fire Authority (CFA) branch". During 1935 a Fire Brigade was organised by 1942 it had been registered with the BUSH FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE and a Certificate of Registration No 425 was issued. The Officers were as follows:- 1st Lieutenant E.W. Barrie 2nd Lieutenant T.L. Barrie 3rd Lieutenant Tom Knox Captains who followed Roy Corbett List of known Captains 1935 – 1975 Jack Wallace Roy Corbett Bon Barrie Edgar Barrie Steve Hirt In 1945 the C.F.A. became the controlling authority. Prior to this date D24 was the Nerve Centre of the Fire Fighting System with representatives of Country Fire Brigades, Forests Commission and D24. This information was in a typed document prepared by Edna Barrie 1975 Melton Fire Brigade yearly calendar emergency services

Post Card: Melton Railway Station 1909 Mattie to Fred My Dear Fred I received your letter and the L2 10/- I was very pleased to hear that I could write again. You say you will come home after the last shead. I should think so. I had a letter from E Jenkins so I am going down to see her next week we call the baby Fernie now I hope you will agree. Dear Fern has got the whooping cough. Written on the side: I suppose you will be away four weeks yet. Love from Mattie will write on Sunday. This letter appears to be connected with the post card Barwonleigh Saturday October 1908 handwriting My Dear Mattie I received your letter and was sorry to hear of our dear little babys misfortune how did it happen do you know what was the cause of it Mrs Watts must be a blind old fool not to have known what it was when you took him to her the first time poor dear you must be worried to death with all this trouble tell me what the doctor thinks of the rupture. I do hope dear he will get over this all right you must be nearly dead going without sleep for so long I had a bit of misfortune myself on Thursday the machine locked and jumped out of my hand and stuck in my bone I kept on working but it was very painful as all the holding is done with the..next page ..knee the boss also has been chipping a good deal this week he says the next time he has occasion to speak to me I will have to go he is very particular. I would like to go through if possible even if I do a lot less. I have about sixteen hundred done up to now and would get another nine hundred if I was let alone but I suppose we will live lovie even if I go do you know if they are full handed at Eynesbury if I thought I could get a week there I would cut myself out here quick. Well dear lovie I am sending you a couple of pounds as I suppose you will want it to get a truss. I don’t think they are very expensive and hope things will find this better with you. Well my dear love I must close with fond love for you and baby from your loving Husband Fred Post Card: 16 Aug 1909 - Mathoura The card depicts a small sailing boat laden with blue flowers. Well Dear Wife you see I have kept my promise. I rode all the way up here and also carried all my luggage with me it came in handy as I had to camp on the road last night between Rochester and Echuca surrounded by water. I had to walk all the way pretty well from Rochester to Echuca. I am now waiting for the train to Deniliquin. Love to you and my little son Fred. From you loving Husband Fred Written along the top and side of the card. what do you think if the card comes in all right as I have been wading through water all day yesterday and this might be …? will write when I get to the Station, don’t forget to look after the little Freddie and remember me to mother. Post Card: 1909 - view across the Flat from the Creek looking to the Presbyterian Church in the distance with some small dwellings in the foreground. To Mr Fred Myers Wandook Stn Denniliquin NSW Dear Fred, received your letter I am sorry to hear you are having such wet weather I will write a letter tomorrow baby is better With Love from M Post Card: 1910 Postmark Stamp 1d Aug 12 1910 Moama NSW Melton postmark stamped Aug 25? Hare Street, looking south Echuca Mrs F Myers, Melton P O Vic Dear Mattie, Just a line to let you know I got here all right I go to Pericotta tonight and to Cobran to morrow best love to all from yours Fred Letter Cobran Stn Via Deniliquin N.S.W. Sunday 21st Aug extract I am having a good time here, a good cook and the best of everything no fires to light or kettles to boil just get up and wire in… plenty hard work the sheep are pretty tough but much better than Wandook. I am well among them here we had a little rain on Friday but not enough to stop us so we have got one full week in .. the weather is lovely. I have been basking in the sunshine mainly in the morning and feel strong and fit a as fiddle, they are a grand lot of men here I only knew one out of the lots but know them all pretty well now, we have a bit of a concert here every nights almost there are a few good singers here and we also had a phonograph up from the station with all the latest records we have two dancers among ourselves very boisterous affairs indeed thy do make the dust fly. I have not ventured to take part in it and don’t think I will either. I get enough dancing all day long and besides I have to furnish the music you ought to see them going when I rattle up the concertina. Letter Cobran Stn via Deniliquin Thursday Sept 1st 1910 [abbreviated] My Dear Mattie, I received your welcome letter today. I though I was never going to get one as it was Sunday fortnight when I wrote to you but we only the mail here twice a week so it takes a long time to write and get an answer. I also got a reply from Eynesbury and a favourable reply it starts on the 13th Oct. …. I have 800 sheep shorn up to date and am fifth among about 30 men. I am sending two more [Ls] this time which I drew on Saturday. I don’t like sending too much more this time as there is a chance of it going astray and it is not very easily earned…. Things must be humming in Melton with all them babies coming and people getting married… I suppose we will be having new neighbours soon. If Mr Watts is selling out he was getting more property then he could keep. I hope you will soon have rain…. you will have to watch our little boy the dear little rascal he must be getting very cute opening the gates he will be tumbling into the tank …. I love to think of the happy times we have had together and hope that we will love one another to the end .. the mail will not leave here until Monday Love to you dear wife and baby Fred Post Card: – I Cling to you like Ivy Cobran September 18th 1910 Fred awaits a letter from Mattie I still have three weeks here yet.. I am sending L2 tell if you got the other 1L 1911 Letters Fred to Mattie October Spring Plains Oct 1911 Mia Mia Post Office I had a great job to catch the train at Diggers Rest as after I turned off the Keilor Rd it was very way and muddy and I had to walk a lot of the way and got there just in time. I came right into Redesdale by the train and stopped there last night… they had heavy rain on thursday up here and a tremendous fall of hail which covered the ground over a foot deep. There are only 4 shearers here yet.. I saw some of the sheep they look very rough and big so there will be no big tallies done, the men are saying he is giving 2s per hundred extra, so that will help a little. We are going to start Cobran via Deniliquin. Post Card: three scenes of Mathoura 10/9/1914 EB on a photo copy 10/9/12 ? Mathoura Thursday Dear Mattie, Just a line to let you know I got up here all right. I rode the seat out of my trousers. I have done 100 miles on the bike. I met none of the old hands this time so will go out on my own… Your loving husband Fred, did Marjie miss me at all. Post Card: Cobran 15th Sept 1912 Hearts and intertwined flowers and little envelope he has written Marjorie …just a line to let you know I will cut out here Friday next in find, we have had two falls of rain since I wrote and it has bean blowing a hurricane for couple of days and may blow up again however if we are delayed I will send you a card Wednesday I am longing to see you and the two little kiddies again…. Fred Copy only Golf Hill Sep 26th Cut out 31 Oct Total 2332 1913 Post Card: Scene View Street, Bendigo August 1913 Mathoura Tuesday My Dear Mattie Just a line to let you know I got up here all right. Teddy Ginger and another couple of chaps on the way ……. Letter Cobran Sunday Aug 7th 1913 My Dear Mattie Just a line to let you know that weather permitting we will cut out here about Thursday morning….I have not got any more shearing here. I have not heard from the other place…. Expect me about Friday …. I suppose Freddie and Marjie will be glad to see me, Marjie will climb all over me. I will be glad to se you all again you will have a fortnight before Golf Hill starts. I see in the Express you sent that Annie McPherson of (Dunvegan) is engaged to Len Farrell, she appears to be going to take no risks with him she wont let him slip through her hands like the banker did…… Fred Post Card: 1914 Garland of roses Warrambeen Stn Shelford PO October 14th 1914 Birthday wishes. Post Card: Love’s Golden Chain Golf Hill Tuesday Oct 17 1914 Birthday wishes [ this one might be a different year] Letter Cobran Wed 2nd Sept 1914 My Dear Mattie, I received your welcome letter today and also the papers which were very acceptable as we don’t get many papers here we only get see one at odd times as we get none for the hut this year.. I have not seen a bit of butter since I left home as it is too dear for us for sinners here. Poor Marjie had a cold.. so the little kid wants to go to the war, she must think it is good like a picnic. We had light rain on Monday as usual only half a day’s shearing in the shed so that is all we done this week, we took a vote 9 to 6 no shearing so nothing till to morrow morning Thursday so there is still a good fortnights shearing to do, will do nothing Saturday polling day as we have to go 13 miles is near Services where I was last year so we will want the full day 50 men to vote and some will probably have to walk to get there, all solid for Labour. I have just had an interval for lunch, pudding, yeast buns and rock cakes… We are doing nothing but eating and sleeping this week. Fred I am sending L1 in this which will do you till I come back if I keep drawing up I will have none when I finish so make the most of it. Post Card: Two doves with violets 1915 Cobran Wed 18th Sept [could be 1912] Sorry to tell you we are delayed with rain so will not be home till next week… only 3 days of shearing to do…. expect me about the middle of next week….I wish I was with you now and the dear little ones Fred Post Card: Iris Flowers Barwonleigh Stn Tuesday Oct 14th 1918 Happy birthday greetings from Fred Post Card: Irrigation channel Swan Hill 5 Year not shown Swan Hill Tuesday night Just a few lines to let you know I got this far all right. I had to walk nearly all the way to Gisborne and got there last night and took the train here today. It has been raining all the way between Gisborne and here. Moulamein tomorrow. I think it will be another case of walking as it is wet here no metal roads all mud. best love to yourself and the little ones and also mother. will write Sunday Post Card: The White Man’s Burden.The writing on the back rubbed out Mattie has written, I was weighed and I am 8 stone 10 pounds. 14 Post Cards, some have the original dates, others have the date added later by Martha. Two envelopes, one with addressed to Melton postmark Moule, stamp torn off, the other Cards from my dear Fred. The letters and the notebooks can be cross checked according the their contents. Italics show the dates added by Mattie local identities

List of activities at the churchchurches

A calendar from Uniting Church with Revd. Graeme Watkinson's detailschurches

"The Uniting Church and former church hall are historically significant at a Local level (AHC A4). It was built after Melton’s ‘United’ church and school, erected by Protestant denominations in 1857 in an effort to share resources in the pioneering era, was replaced by individual churches in the 1860s. The church became the home of and is expressive of the union of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, begun in Melton from the early 1970s, and formally concluded by the formation of the Uniting Church of Australia in 1977. The new additions and functions of the church are expressive of the increase in Melton’s population especially in the 1970s, and the changing nature of the parish’s ministry. The church is one of only three remaining nineteenth century churches, and one of only two remaining bluestone churches, in the Shire of Melton".Dinner celebrating 150 years of the churchchurches

Order of services at the churchchurches

Melton Uniting Church event held at Melton Central Pre-Schoolchurches

Dockets and envelopes with the church stampchurches