Photographs, Black and White, Group Photo of The North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Co (NMETL) Power station at Essendon Depot. Has the power station, chimney and cooling tank in the view along with Saloon motor No. 9 with a trailer and a toastrack type tram, possibly No. 15. Dated 1906. Toast rack. Mt Alexander Road. Photo from an illustration with "The Power House" along the bottom edge.In ink on the rear: Keith Kings stamp and number S-A-482 "NMET&L Co. Saloon motor No. 9 and trailer and toastrack motor (No. 15?) outside depot showing Power House, Tank and Offices. 1906"trams, tramways, nmetl, depot, mt alexander road, essendon depot, power station, tram 9

Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Co. Bell Punch No. D382. A heavy nickel plated steel ticket or fare strip cancelling / registering mechanism used on Melbourne cable trams. When a fare was sold, the bell would ring advising the passenger that their fare have registered. "An ingenious device resembling in principle the ticket punch of a railway porter. It is carried by the conductor who wears pinned to his coat a 'trip-slip'. He punches this once for every fare received; the action is simultaneously registered on a dial inside the punch and bell rings to appraise the passenger of the fact. The punch is provided with a patent lock, the secret of which is known only at headquarters and effective system of check is thus secured." (" A story of the Melbourne Cable Tramway System" - page 54). Used by the MT&O and MMTB until 1922/23 when replaced by the check ticket system. Manufactured by the Railway Register Manufacturing Company. Lock code IDMA. Has "MT&O Co. ..." stamped on one side along with patent dates.Has "D 382" punched above ticket entry slot (both sides), "335" on handle, "MT&O Co." stamped on numbering registering face.trams, tramways, ticket punch, bell punch, tickets, fares, cable trams

Bottle of Port Wine in a cream round ceramic vessel with a small handle and black seal over the cork. Commissioned by the staff at the Kew Tram Depot to celebrate the 75th Celebrations of the depot. Top part is coloured brown. Has a brief history of the Kew Tram depot, its place in Melbourne's public transport and that it is an A Class depot. Has the logo of the Mt Aitken winery on side.trams, tramways, crockery, kew depot, pmtt, anniversary, wine

Cream China cup with cream handle with a line drawing in brown of the outer part of the PMTT logo with an A class tram inside with the destination of Kew Depot. Has a brief history of the Kew Tram depot, its place in Melbourne's public transport and that it is an A Class depot. Has the manufacturers detail on the base of the cup - "National Ceramics Australia 03-5552777" on the base. Made to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Malvern Depot - 1991.trams, tramways, crockery, kew depot, pmtt, anniversary

Set of three colour prints taken at the site of the Newcastle Tramway Museum 26/4/2002 by Colin Rough. .1 - W2 432 with the side cladding removed. .2 - ditto .3 - W2 245 in poor condition, with a coal loader conveyor in the background.In ink on rear of each "W class tram Mt Dee, Maitland 26/4/02"trams, tramways, maitland, newcastle, w2 class, tram 245, tram 432, scrapped trams, sw2 class

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of Freight car No. 17 in Mt Alexander Road Essendon, south of the Essendon Depot. Has a motor cycle alongside. Photo dated, 26/5/1941 in the Wal Jack album. Wal describes the car speeding along Mt Alexander Road.trams, tramways, freight tram, essendon, ascot vale, mt alexander road, tram 17

Pamphlet - A4 sheet single sided, titled "Passenger Bulletin - Track works in Mt Alexander Road and Fletcher St Route 59" for dates 26/5 to 27/5 2007, published by Yarra Trams, gives details of bus replacement and tram stops.trams, tramways, yarra trams, essendon, trackwork

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of W5 811 using the cross over in Mt Alexander Road in front of Essendon tram depot, c1946. Tram has the destination of Racecourse. The trams in the depot still have white fronts. Photo taken prior the construction of the new tracks on the north side of the depot.trams, tramways, essendon depot, w5 class, mount alexander road, tram 811

Photo - see pdf file for further information. Number Brief Description RT123 1971 Convention - 9.4.71 - tram 610 - "Special" - Wattle park terminus RT124 Mt Alexander Road - 980 - "Special" RT125 St Kilda Jct - 7.4.71 - "St Kilda Beach" - route 16 RT126 North Balwyn Terminus - 9.4.71 - tram 840 - "Nth Balwyn" route 79 RT127 Preston - tram 980 - "City - Spencer St" - route 9A RT128 St Kilda Jct - "E Brighton Malv Burke Rd" - route 64 RT129 St Kilda Park St Terminus 12.4.71 - tram 394 - "Special" & tram 1017 - "West Preston - Northcote" - route 10 RT130 Carnegie 9.4.71 - tram 106 - "St Kilda Jun" - route 17 RT131 High St - tram 980 - "East Preston" - route 98 RT132 St Kilda Park St Terminus 12.4.71 - tram 894 - "West Preston" - route 10 RT133 St Kilda Park St Terminus 12.4.71 - tram 894 - "West Preston" - route 10 RT134 Wattle Park - 9.4.71 - tram 610 - "City" - route 70 RT135 Wellington Parade - 9.4.71 - tram 840 - "City - Flinders & Spencer St Cnr" - route 23 RT136 Melville Rd West Coburg 12.4.71 - tram 787 - route 55 Demonstrates the work of Robert Thomson in photography, collection and/or production of slidesAssembled album in a black presentation folder of 14 colour slides, collected or produced by Robert Thomson. All photographs have been scanned and placed on the Museum's G drive. A list of all photographs with details has been compiled. melbourne, tramways, trams

Article written by Kate Herbert of the Herald Sun about Mirka Mora's angel tram, W2 243 part of the 1978 Transporting Art project, and the other associated artists, the sale of them, their painting, and demise including the Peter Corrigan tram - Mother Knows. Includes a photo of the front of the tram in Mt Eliza by Norm Oorloof.Yields information about Mirka Mora Transporting Art tramNewspaper part - page 50 from the Herald Sun 26/3/2000.transporting art, tram 243, w2 class, mirka mora

Provides a list of the lettering to be painted on the cable trams operated by the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co. (MTOCo) including horse trams and horse omnibus routes. Dated 14/0/1898. Yields information about the signage applied to the Melbourne cable trams by the MTOCo. in 1898.Drawing or list black ink on linen.tramways, cable trams, mtoco, signs, grip car, dummy, trailes, horse buses, horse tram

Rose Series postcard No. P 3034 titled "Flinders St Railway station Melbourne" - with a W2 class tram about to cross Swanston Street. Some motor cars are in the view, some waiting to do their hook turns. A Policeman on point duty can be seen. The station has a large sign advertising Springtime at Mt Buffalo National Park.Yields information about the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Sts.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.trams, tramways, w2 class, flinders st station, flinders st, swanston st

Colour slide of VR class tram 53, route 59 Essendon Aerodrome in Mt Alexander Road just to the north of Shamrock St, North Essendon. Has the Ambasador Motel in the background. The tram was built for the Victorian Railways St Kilda - Brighton tram line in 1942 and sold to the MMTB when that line closed. On display at the Melbourne Tram Museum.Yields information about VR tram 52 in Mt Alexander Road c1975.Kodachrome colour slides, cardboard mount.Has "MP146" in pencil and stamped "Tramways Museum Society Victoria" on rear.tramways, vr class, tram 52, route 59, mt alexander road

Poster - printed on paper with an adhesive backing titled 'MMTB Band Recitals" or "MT Band Recitals" gives dates and times and location. .1 - for 1981 and 1982 .2 - for 1982 and 1983 .3 - for 1984 and 1985trams, tramways, bands, wattle park

Sheet music printed on folded quarto paper titled "The Pacific Electric Trolley Waltz". Music by Miss Eliza Mahala. Greenough, originally issued by the Pacific Electric Railway Co. Los Angeles California. Reprinted by the Electric Railroaders Association Inc in 1956. Has an image of the Mt Lowe Incline track on the front cover. Peter Waugh of the Ballarat Tramway Museum has recorded the music in a midi file: see \documents\htd580-pacific-electric-waltz-music.midiHas AETA stamp on front cover with the letters "4J13"trams, tramways, music, pacific electric railway, electric railroaders association.

Black and white photograph of the Essendon tram depot, taken from the western side of Mt Alexander Road, looking north east. Shows the various buildings of the depot, has l1 trams in the view. Photo taken late 1950's to early 1960's. The tram stop pole fitted with a set of traffic lights, "Warning beware of Trams Crossing" sign and a box located by the pole for tramway paperwork collection. First four trams are: 836, 474, 766 and 817. Printed on Fujichrome paper. Not known who took the photograph or when it was printed.Stamped in black ink on back "TMSV Sales"trams, tramways, essendon depot, mount alexander rd, tram 837, tram 474, tram 766, tram 817, w5 class, w2 claas

Situated at the top of the hill in Arthur Street, the former Jelbart residence and barn were part of a major change that transformed Eltham's character in the late 1960s. Built from the mid 1940s through mid 1950s when Eltham was a rural community, the Jelbrat residence and barn are all that remain of a family property of some 250 acres (100 ha). With growing population pressures, in the late 1960s, owners Ron and Yvonne Jelbart decided to subdivide their property creating the Woodridge Estate in the early 1970s, a major factor towards the transformation of Eltham to the suburb it is today. The Jelbarts had moved to Eltham in the early 1940s when they purchased a poultry farm in New Street, now Lavendar Park Road. (The local Black Friday bushire of January 13, 1939 had started at C.A. (Clarrie) Hurst’s Eltham Poultry Farm and Hatchery in New Street.) Jelbart was primarily a businessman importing office machinery but desired farm beef and dairy cattle so the couple purchased the virgin bushland at what was then at the end of a dirt road, Arthur Street. With post war shortages of most building materials, they followed the example of the Eltham Artists' Colony (later called Montsalvat) and built thier home from mud-bricks and recyclked materials. The barn was first to be completed in 1945 which they made their home whilst building the main residence. It took eight years to complete the two buildings. Both the main residence and the barn are now separate homes, and along with the remaining property being sub-divided further in 1998 are now part of the Kinloch Gardens Estate at 93 Arthur Street. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p139 Standing on a hilltop at Arthur Street, Eltham, the Jelbart residence and former barn were part of a major change that transformed Eltham’s character in the late 1960s. Built from the late 1940s to the mid 1950s when Eltham was a rural community, they are all that remain of what was once a family property of around 250 acres (100 ha). As population pressure increased in the late 1960s, owners Ron and Yvonne Jelbart, decided to subdivide their property. The break-up of this property into the Woodridge Estate in the early 1970s, was a major factor towards transforming Eltham into the suburb it is today.1 Although standing only a few minutes from Eltham’s busy hub and hundreds of houses in Woodridge, scarcely any urban sound disturbs the peace. Views from the two buildings are almost exclusively of trees and extend to Mt. Dandenong to the south-east, the Great Divide to the north, and Melbourne city to the south-west. The Jelbarts had lived in Eltham since the early 1940s when they bought a poultry farm in New Street, now Lavender Park Road. Although Jelbart was primarily a businessman importing office machinery, he was keen to farm dairy and beef cattle, so the couple bought rough bushland at what was then the end of Arthur Street. But a shortage of building materials following World War Two hampered their plans to build their new home, so they followed the example of the Eltham Artists’ Colony (later called Montsalvat) and used mud-bricks and recycled materials.2 With great determination the family and friends constructed their house. Massive timber frames and huge quantities of mud-bricks were made on site. The barn was built first in 1945, and two years later, while camping inside, the Jelbarts started building their house. It took eight years to construct the two buildings, even with the help of professional tradesmen. The buildings, with timber frames infilled with mud-brick and plastered, are reminiscent of the English Tudor style. The Jelbarts are of Cornish stock. Much of the timber framework came from demolished bridges or warehouses, and recycled slate was used for roofs and floors. Quality second-hand materials were readily available in the late 1940s and 1950s when there was much demolition in Melbourne and little respect for heritage. A former 19th century Toorak mansion Woorigoleen provided the magnificent stone fireplace, the timber panelling and the parquetry floor in the living room. The large stone gateposts at the entry of the property came from Melbourne University. Almost no mechanical equipment was used to build the 55 square house and the 25 square barn. Massive timber frames were erected using block and tackle pulleys and timbers were shaped, sawn and drilled by hand. Son and architect Ian, with his family, have lived in and extensively renovated both buildings since the early 1970s. Ian transformed the steep ridge of the property into a plateau, where the main house Kinloch stands, surrounded by terraces and lawns. The grounds retain many native plants, including massive yellow boxes – some nudging 80 years. Ian attached 70 metres of pergolas draped with wisteria, roses and grape vines, to three sides of the house. The beautiful garden is featured in the book Through the Rose Arbour by Rosemary Houseman. The two-storey barn – now a house – retains traces of its original use. The cow-shed with milking and feed-rooms, and the machinery-shed remain. The house, separated on the ground floor by a breeze-way, soars two storeys and includes a mezzanine. These are connected by spiral staircases, to timber-beamed and plaster-lined high-pitched ceilings. The house also descends to a wine cellar. Curiously the roof is of corrugated iron on the south and slate on the north, to save costs. Small-paned windows and three French doors open onto the front lawn, which extends to Jelbart Court.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, arthur street, jelbart barn, jelbart home, kinloch gardens

Fern gullies around Jehosaphat Gully Covered under National Estate. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p125 The magnificent Kinglake National Park, fringing Nillumbik’s north, is the largest national park close to Melbourne. Thanks to the vision and hard work of a band of local people, the park was created from what was rapidly becoming degraded land. Seeing a threat to Kinglake’s indigenous flora and fauna, several prominent local people campaigned for a national park, which was established in 1928.1 Since then, the park has grown through donations and acquisitions of land, from around 13,800 acres of land (5585ha) to 22,360 hectares. The Sugarloaf and Everard Blocks – of almost 8000 hectares – stand in Nillumbik and the park extends into Mitchell and Murrundindi Shires and the City of Whittlesea. Mt Everard commemorates William Hugh Everard, State member for Evelyn when the park was established. Before 1928, European settlers had degraded the Kinglake area, which was named after the celebrated English author and lawyer, Alexander William Kinglake. Remains of gold shafts and diggings in the park are reminders of Kinglake’s first settlers, who hoped to strike it rich at the gold diggings. But like other gold fields in this shire, they proved not very lucrative and soon timber cutting replaced mining in importance. However, before long, the accessible timber supply ran out, so in the 1920s agriculture took over – particularly potatoes and berry fruits – which involved large-scale clearing.2 The park’s instigator was retired Melbourne University Professor of Music, William Laver.3 As chair of the Kinglake Progress Association he began negotiations to have crown lands on the southern scarp of the Great Dividing Range reserved as a national park. Even before the park was proclaimed, from 1927, KPA members cut tracks to the major scenic points. Professor Laver was one of several people who gave land for the park, donating around 50 acres (20ha), including the Jehosaphat Gully.4 Laver chaired the park’s first Committee of Management, which raised money to employ a ranger and provide facilities, including tracks and roads for fire protection vehicles, toilets and shelters. The committee charged fees for firewood collection, some grazing of livestock, and visitor entrance, and obtained small State Government and Eltham Shire grants. In 1957 the State Government provided revenue for national parks. Then, in 1975, the State Government took over the management and the Committee of Management became an advisory committee, which disbanded in 1978. Originally, the park covered crown land in the Shires of Eltham and Whittlesea; then Wombelano Falls in Yea and other areas were added. In 1970 the park extended into the Shires of Eltham, Healesville, Whittlesea and Yea.5 Bush fires have been an ongoing problem. In 1939 hundreds of eucalypts and acacias had to be sown around the Jehosaphat Gully to rejuvenate the forest. To manage bushfires, the Committee of Management, then the State Government, worked closely with the Forestry Commission, shire councils and local fire brigades. Early national parks focussed on recreation. But by the 1980s, conservation, education and scientific research became more important, playing a vital role in preserving representative samples of the natural environment. Each year many thousands of people use the park’s extensive network of walking tracks amongst the protected plant and animal life as well as camping, cycling and horse riding. The park, along the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, has lookouts revealing magnificent views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and the You Yangs. Vegetation in the Masons Falls area includes messmate forest, Austral grass-trees, ferns and Hazel Pomaderris. In spring, orchids, lilies, everlasting daisies, correas, grevillea and heath appear. Around Jehosaphat Gully are wet and dry forest, fern gullies and banksia. Animal life includes wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, possums, gliders and bandicoots. Male lyrebirds can be heard mimicking in the Jehosaphat Gully, particularly in the Everard Block in winter.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, kinglake national park, jehosaphat gully

Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Co. Bell Punch No. D406. A heavy nickel or chrome plated steel ticket or fare strip canceling / registering mechanism used on Melbourne cable trams. When a fare was sold, the bell would ring advising the passenger that their fare have registered. "An ingenious device resembling in principle the ticket punch of a railway porter. It is carried by the conductor who wears pinned to his coat a 'trip-slip'. He punches this once for every fare received; the action is simultaneously registered on a dial inside the punch and bell rings to appraise the passenger of the fact. The punch is provided with a patent lock, the secret of which is known only at headquarters and effective system of check is thus secured." (" A story of the Melbourne Cable Tramway System" - page 54). Used by the MT&O and MMTB until 1922/23 when replaced by the check ticket system. Manufactured by the Railway Register Manufacturing Company. Has "MT&O Co. ..." stamped on one side along with patent dates.Demonstrates the equipment used by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Co. to register fares and provide an accounting method.Nickel or chrome plated steel ticket punch, used by the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co. stamped "MT&OCo" and "D406", c1885.ticket punch, tramways, trams, bell punch, tickets, fares, cable trams, railway register manufacturing company

Reports on a significant rear on collision between two Z class trams, Z3 171 and another in Mt Alexander Road at Thorn Street Essendon. Gives details of the event. Story by Graeme Walker and Innes Willox and Age photographer Craig Abraham. In The Age, there is a second item about the rearrangement of Transport Departments - V-line, The Met into the Public Transport Corporation and the formation of the Roads Corporation from the Road Construction Authority and the Road Traffic Authority. Quotes Mr Kennan, Minister, Mr Brown Opposition spokesman and Peter Parkinson of Trades Hall. Item written by John Masanauskas.Yields information about an accident rear on in Mt Alexander Road Essendon and transport management rearrangements.Set of two newspaper clippings; 1 - "Trams crash, 31 hurt" - The Sun 7-2-1989 2 - "A painful end to tram journey" and "Left-wing wins in transport merger" - The Age 7-2-1989tramways, trams, mt alexander road, accidents, z3 class, tran 171, unions, amalgamation, management, the met, v-line, ptc, public transport corporation

Booklet - promoting tram travel and walking trips or "tramps" between various tram terminus. Includes notes on the Board's services, its tourist tram with notes and fares on specific walks. Includes a map and some photos for each walk. 1 - Brighton Road to Hawthorn 2 - Burwood to Mont Albert 3 - Carnegie to Darling Road 4 - Whitehorse Road to East Kew 5 - Glen Iris to Darling Road 6 - Maribyrnong River to Mt Alexander Road 7 - Gardiner or Glen Iris to Burwood 8 - Wallen Road Bridge to Glenferrie Road 9 - Johnston St Bridge to Victoria Bridge At the time, some of these walks would have been through largely undeveloped land and parks.Demonstrates a promotion of the MMTB tram services and leisure activities.Booklet - 16 pages, two colours on light fawn paper, centre stapled.tramways, showgrounds, william st, mmtb

Mary Margaret Baird, born circa 1834, was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Logan, of Butterdean, Berwickshire. In 1860 in Victoria, she married Matthew Hamilton Baird, a well-known pastoralist and grazier, the owner of Mt Bute Station near Linton, as well as other rural and metropolitan properties. Margaret Baird lived at Mt Bute in the 1860s and early 1870s, after which it is understood she lived mostly in Melbourne. She died in 1910 at 'Waratah', Clendon Road, Toorak. Margaret and Matthew Hamilton Baird had nine children born between 1861 and 1877, not all of whom survived to adulthood. They are both buried in the Linton cemetery.Framed, hand-coloured/modified photograph of Margaret Baird. Portrait shows a lady in an elaborate gown, seated at a small, round table, her hands on a book. Two other books also on table. Large, draped window to RHS of sitter shows glimpse of garden. (Backdrop appears to be painted rather than photographed.) Lady wears a ring on her 3rd left finger, and a brooch at her neck. Hair neatly parted and coiled.mary margaret baird, mathew hamilton baird, mt bute station

From - theladynelson.org.au T The original Lady Nelson was built at Deptford, in England, in 1799, for service to the Transport Office on the River Thames. She was designed with sliding keels (centre boards), a device invented by Captain John Schank of the Royal Navy to allow surveying in rivers and shallow water ways. On completion she was selected for exploration services in the Colony of New South Wales and sailed for Port Jackson on 18 March 1800 under the command of Lieutenant James Grant. A brig of 60 tons, she carried a crew comprising the commander, two mates and twelve seaman. As she left the River Thames sailors on nearby ships ridiculed her because of her size and shape, calling her, as she sailed past, 'His Majesty's Tinderbox'. At Portsmouth on the 9th February 1800 she was fitted with four brass carriage guns, three to four pounders, in addition to the two guns already on board. Because of the heavy load she was carrying she was very low in the water, having only two feet nine inches freeboard amidships. The ship finally left Portsmouth on 17th March 1800 as part of an East Indian Convoy. From 1800 to 1825 the Lady Nelson operated around the Australian Coast and fulfilled a variety of roles including exploration, surveying, forming settlements, shifting goods and people around the colonies and capturing pirates. She played pivotal roles in the European settlement of Hobart, Northern Tasmania, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Northern Territory. Those onboard charted much of Bass Strait, Port Philip, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and (with the Investigator) the coasts of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. She also has links to other locations around the East Coast such as Trial Bay in NSW and the Mt Gambier area of SA. After 25 years of service while trading on the island of Baba the Lady Nelson was overrun by the islanders, the crew was killed and the ship stripped and later burnt and sunk. A replica of the Lady Nelson was built in the 1980s.Image of a tall ship in sail. The ship is flying both the Aboriginal flag and the Australian Flag. It sails on a calm sea. There are figures on the deck - four in total. The image is mounted on cream board and framed in dark timber. Etching, hand coloured,.Front: 'Lady Nelson A/P BT' - hand written, pencil in between etching and mount Back: Artist's business card glued to back of etching, lower left hand corner:ady nelson, femal artists, female artist, women

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. The communication systems were regarded at the time to be more technically advanced than the police and the military. Pye-Electronic Pty Ltd (which had taken over Radio Corporation after the war) decided to design a transceiver to replace the RC16B. Designated the TRP-1, it was considerably lighter and used less power than the earlier RC16B while offering similar or better performance. This radio was used in the Mt Wombat fire tower which overlooks the Strathbogie Ranges and surrounding farmland.Portable Radio PYE TRP-1. radios, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Victoria once had well over one hundred fire lookouts and firetowers. Fire lookouts, or observation posts, were often just a clearing on a hill or a vantage point, whereas firetowers were definite structures. There are at least three categories of firetowers… (1) tree perches, (2) four-legged towers made of either wood or steel, as well as (3) hilltop cabins and observatories. Many were established by the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) in the 1920s, but the network was expanded rapidly in response to recommendations of the Stretton Royal Commission after the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. The wooden towers were often built by bush craftsmen like legendary FCV overseer Clem Heather from Orbost. But advances in aerial reconnaissance and radio technology led to the gradual reduction in the number of fixed towers. FFMV now operates 72 firetowers. The CFA, Melbourne Water, Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP) also operate some, the Army has one at Puckapunyal overlooking the live-firing range. Only two remaining fire towers of this design remain in Victoria (Mt Little Dick and Big Tower in the Mullungdung State Forest). Mt Nowa Nowa and Stringers Knob burnt down in the 2019/20 bushfiresLarge model of an Reef Hills fire tower. Presumably used for instructional purposes. Traditional FCV four legged design with three landings and closed cabin.bushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv)