Yields information about the appearance of Sturt St c1950 and the Lydiard St intersection.Black and white photograph of a single trucker west bound in Sturt St at Lydiard St North. Note the bus alongside the tram. Has the National Mutual building and Commonwealth Bank buildings. Sign on the National Mutual building advertising Commercial Union Insurance and Doepel and Lilley Real Estate. Bracket arms are of the type that required the pole to be cut into. c1950. Item donated comprised negative 1095, A4 print and laminated A4 print. Negative scanned at 2400dpi. On the top edge of one of the prints "same as 1094"trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st, secv, lydiard st, tram 30

Yields information about the appearance of Bridge St and the use of the trams c1950.Black and white photograph of a bogie tram 22 west bound in Bridge St. Has a group of ladies on either side of the road waiting to board? Note the signs on the poles on either side of the roadway. Has the Waratah Motors, Roger David stores on the west side of the street. c1950. Note the road lifting over the Yarrowee River bridge. The two signs on either side of the road "No Parking over 1 hour Park 1 Foot from kerb" Negative number 1140. Negative scanned at 2400dpi. On the top edge of one of the prints "same as 1094"trams, tramways, ballarat, bridge st, signs, tram 22

Yields information about the appearance of Sturt St and Lydiard St intersection c1950 and the use of the trams.Black and white photograph of No. 12, Sturt St West in Sturt St at Lydiard St North. Has the National Mutual building and Commonwealth Bank buildings. Bracket arms are of the type that required the pole to be cut into. c1950. Has the Boer War Memorial in the view. Item donated comprised negative 1141, A4 print and laminated A4 print. Negative scanned at 2400dpi. On the top edge of one of the prints "Sturt St Ballarat 1950 no print required"trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st, secv, lydiard st, statues, tram 12

Yields information about the appearance of the Sturt St intersection with Grenville St.Black and white photograph of No. 28 passing the Grenville St shelter with many motor cars in the view. c1950. Tram has the destination of View Point Item donated comprised negative 1145, A4 print and laminated A4 print. Negative scanned at 2400dpi. Photographer not known - c1950's On the top edge of one of the prints "Sturt St Ballarat 1950"trams, tramways, sturt st, grenville st, view point, tram 28

Yields information about the appearance of the view looking west on the south side of Sturt St from the Titanic Bandstand.Negative (120 size) of the intersection of the south side of Sturt St from near Grenville St looking west with tram 26 climbing the hill. The tram has the destination of View Point. In the background is the National Mutual building advertising C Marks Jewellers, the Commonwealth Bank, Beachams Hotel, Hollands Cycle and the Ballarat Mechanics Institute building. Shows the median strip Gardens in Sturt St. Item donated comprised negative 1143, Negative scanned at 3200dpi. trams, tramways, sturt st, view point, gardens, tram 26

Demonstrates an aspect of Ballarat where trams crossed the railway level crossing in Lydiard St Nth.Black and White photograph of No. 39, north bound in Lydiard St Nth, mid 1960s, crossing railway level crossing. Tram has SEC roof advertisement of "Electric Cooking" and destination of Lydiard St Nth. Note the two numbers on the front of the tram - see also reg item 3601 for a 1969 photograph in the same location. Moody's Provincial Hotel in the background and the railway level crossing. in pencil on back "04381003"tramways, trams, railway station, level crossings, lydiard st nth, provincial hotel, tram 39

A four-wheeled, two-horse buggy and, further along, two men standing on a railway embankment before laying the track, near McDevitt in 1901A horseshoe curve near McDevitt during the course of construction of the Beech Forest railway, 1901.beech forest; mcdevitt; embankment; railway;

Snow at Beech Forest, taken before 1910 approximately from Ditchley around to the train yards at Beech Forest. B/W. beech forest; snow; ditchley;

Railway bridge over the Gellibrand River, 1902. Note the people on the roadway bridge in the top left corner. B/W.colac; beech forest; gellibrand; railway;

The Webster family disembarking from a 7 NB passenger carriage at Laver's Hill in c.1920. B/W. lavers hill; colac; beech forest; railways;

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