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Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Knox Collection, Last train from Weeaproinah, 1962, 27 June 1962
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; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Knox Collection, Sale of the Ditchley Park Estate, Beech Forest, 1908
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; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Albert Denning, Colac track gang near Kawarren, c.1950
In 1955 staff numbers were reduced to an absolute minimum with one track gang at Beech Forest and one at Colac, one of whose members resided at Gellibrand. No new sleepers were issued to the track gangs after 1955/56, cut down ones being used instead. Albert Denning, the son of a Gellibrand selector, worked at Driver's planing mill and Hitt's Lardner mill before joining Victorian Railways in 1928 as an engine cleaner at Beech Forest and Crowes, the last one in both places. He later became a track repairer at Gellibrand and worked with this and the Colac track gang until 1962. Bill Jamieson was a track repairer on the Colac-Gellibrand gang from the 1950s until 1962, and witnessed the official policy of minimum maintenance in the last years of the line.B/W. 201mm x 254mm. In c.1950, the Colac track gang near Kawarren, featuring, from left to right, Bill Jamieson, Albert Denning, and Don Loury on an NKS motor trolley..colac; kawarren; railways; track gangs; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Birnam Station, c.1926, c.1926
After a nearby mill closed down the Cashin family, who lived south of the mill site, requested Victorian Railways to keep the siding open for passenger use, which it did, but changed the name to Birnam in 1926. In 1927 it was moved south a little distance, closer to the houses it served. From left to right, awaiting the train, are the people it served, Tom Cashin, Ted Cashin, Arthur Cashin, the child Eva Facey, Jim Cashin, Sarah Cashin, the second child, Doris Hansen, Beatrice Hansen (nee Cashin), Bert Hansen, Jim Facey and Percy Facey. It was regularly patronised until 1939 after which it saw little use.B/W. 195mm x 250mm. At Birnam Station in c.1926, seven men, one with covered axe, three women and two children, awaiting the train.birnam; railways; tom cashin; ted cashin; arthur cashin; eva facey; jim cashin; sarah cashin; doris hansen; beatrice hansen; bert hansen; jim facey; percy facey; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, R. Preston, Kawarren: Down goods with G42 shunting, 1955, 14 December 1955
Originally known as Loves River it became Kawarren station on 16 June 1902. It consisted of a loop siding and combined office and passenger shelter. Goods loading was sawn timber (brought in on four tramways operating between 1905 and 1939), firewood, charcoal and limestone. In 1920 the limestone company built a store shed and a covered loading area at the terminus to assist operations. The company also requested the siding to be extended by three metres, which Victorian Railways did in the same year. This gave the loop a capacity of 21 trucks. Around 2,000 tonnes per year of limestone traffic kept the station busy until trade ceased in 1957. A postal motor started in October 1938, Kawarren being a point where the postal motor and trains were permitted to cross.B/W. G42 with a Down goods train at Kawarren on 14 December 1955. On No.2 Road empty NQR wagons proceeding to get filled at a covered lime loading operation. A three workmen are checking aspects of the train while a group appear to be clustered at the guard's van around an NKS motor trolley.kawarren; railways; limestone; timber; charcoal; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, R. Preston, Kawarren: an UP goods train, 1958, 14 December 1958
Kawarren was an early timber and limestone loading point. Timber was shipped in by Watson and Facey, Condon Brothers, and Coppock, amongst others, some of which had tramways up to 6.5 km long to the station. Bushfires roared through the area in 1939 and made the area unworkable. An outcrop of limestone existed near Kawarren but it was not until the railway was built that it became workable. 360 metres north of Kawarren station two then three kilns were erected, and later a shed and covered area over a short length of the rail siding in order to prevent rain damage to the lime while it was being loaded. Sluicing was introduced, and the tramway was extended further when the quarry ate deeper into the hillside. Limestone traffic of around 2,000 tonnes each year kept the station busy until the trade ceased in 1957.B/W. On the 14 December 1958 at Kawarren an UP goods train shunts on the siding. A man is talking to the engine driver while another man approaches the engine.kawarren; railways; timber; lime; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Narrow gauge construction camp near Colac, c.1900
Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line commenced in 1900 and the first activities were the work gangs and their camps. About 100 men were engaged in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The first camp was established eight kilometres from Colac, the second 12 km south, and the remainder spaced at similar distances as the work progressed. The camps were served by butchers and bakers from Colac that visited them as many times each week to satisfy the mens' requirements. Many of the men had their families with them. They all lived in tents that consisted of a wooden floor around which the canvas cover was built. A calico partition divided the eating and sleeping quarters, and all cooking was done in camp ovens or at open fires.B/W. 158mm x 203mm. Near Colac, a narrow gauge construction camp comprising 21 workmen, a horse, and two tipping trays.construction camp; railways; colac; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Knox Collection, Surveying construction near Barongarook, 1900, 1900
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; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Knox Collection, Survey camp for Colac-Beech Forest railway, 1901, 1901
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; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Victorian Railways, Gellibrand ballast pit siding, c.1902
In 1902 a ballast siding was opened 4 km south of Gellibrand to provide materials for track construction. A spur siding with a capacity for six trucks was cut into the side of a slope. Above this was erected a loading bin and chute. The stone proved to be of durable quality so the siding continued after 1902 for periodic track re-ballasting works. The points were set for the main line and spiked shut when the siding was not in use. By the mid-1920s the Victorian Railways found it more economic to use ballast from Penshurst, so the siding was closed by 1925 and the rails lifted.B/W. Gellibrand ballast pit siding at 19 miles (30.6 km) south of Colac. gellibrand; gellibrand siding; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyBook, Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Here comes Puffing Billy!
The Puffing Billy Preservation Society came into existence by a popular desire to retain something of our narrow gauge railway past, leisurely in this age but a boon to the sparsely settled areas it served in the past. It served the Wangaratta-Whitefield line, the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line, the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line, and the Moe-Walhalla line, the last railway line served being the Colac-Beech Forest line. None of these railways were a paying proposition but they played an important part in the areas they served. Nowadays, the last bit of line is a portion of the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line, from Belgrave to Lakeside, run by the Society. The Engine Shed has several small NA-class locomotives with NBH excursion carriages, and at the moment the Garratt G class in pieces. Here comes Puffing Billy! Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); nd (after Aug. 1962). 18 p.; illus., maps. Soft cover.puffing billy preservation society; railways; wangaratta; whitefield; upper frentree gully; gembrook; colac; beech forest; crowes; moe; walhalla; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyBooklet, Judy Simmons Publications, The Ballad of Cliff Young. Al Simmons, May 1983
At the age of sixty-one Cliff Young, an unassuming potato farmer of Beech Forest, captured the imagination of the Australian people for his record-breaking five days, fifteen hours and four minutes it took him to run the 875 kilometres from Sydney to Melbourne. The previous record was one day, eighteen hours and forty-three minutes longer. Cliff runs with a shuffling gait, his arms hanging by his side, yet he waved to well-wishers throughout the journey. He's a country man with the dry humour of the bush. He trained by herding his brother's cattle on foot, wearing gumboots, and when he needs be he bamboozles experienced comperes with his succinct and witty answers.The Ballad of Cliff Young. Al Simmons. Judy Simmons Publishing; Cheltenham (Vic); 1983. 16 p.; illus. Soft cover.cliff young; athletics; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyBook, Rigby Limited, Great Ocean Road. K.G. Stepnell, 1972
The Great Ocean Road may be the only road in the world which was built as a war memorial. In 1916, much of Australia was poorly served by roads, and it was suggested that returning servicemen could be given worthwhile employment by building roads in isolated areas. The plan was taken up for the Great Ocean Road, and work was dedicated to the memory of men who had fallen in World War 1. The road itself is a great feat of engineering. It wind around some of Australia's most rugged coastline. Now it is one of the world's most scenic routes, crossing gorges, along precipitous cliffs, through dense forests, and over steeply rolling coastline country.Great Ocean Road. K.G. Stepnell. 1st ed. Rigby Limited; Adelaide (S.A.); 1972. 36 p.; illus., maps. Hard cover. ISBN 0 85179 371 1great ocean road; roads; fishing; timber; twelve apostles; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyRecord, The Puffing Billy song / The local baby show
45 rpm stereo. Side 1: The Puffing Billy song: Victoria's famous narrow gauge train. Alan Rowe (pianist); Tom Mitchell (organist). Side 2: The local baby show. Alan Rowe (comedian, pianist). Fidelis Records; Vermont (Vic); nd. comedy; music; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyBook, Government Printer, Potato diseases in Australia, 1911
Potatoes are known for their great liability to disease, suffering more from the ravages of fungi than any other crop, and this is largely owing to the fact that they are propagated from tubers which are just swollen portions of underground branches of the stem. Portions of the parent plant in the form of tubers or cuttings are planted year after year, so that any inherent weakness in the original is transmitted to the offspring, and therefore, without a process of selection, deterioration is sure to occur sooner or later. When the tubers are raised from seed and a good selection made from them, they are less liable to disease at least for a number of years. Handbook of fungus diseases of the potato in Australia and their treatment. D. McAlpine. 1st ed. Department of Agriculture, Victoria; Melbourne (Vic); 1911. x, 314 p.; illus., map. Hard cover.potatoes; disease; fungus; agriculture; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyBook, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Schedule of prizes, RASV, 1936, 1936
Schedule of prizes (including Champion prizes of Australia), Sixty-fifth Grand Agricultural Exhibition, 17th to 26th September, 1936. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria; Melbourne (Vic); 1936. 336 p.; illus.; index to advertisers. Soft cover. agriculture; horses; cattle; sheep; pigs; poultry; birds; farm produce; machinery; dairy produce; wine; fruits; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyCertificate, Australian Natives Association, Certificate of Membership, 1906, November 1906
At the beginning of February 1903 a few men covered the district to see whether the time was ripe to form a Beech Forest branch of the Australian Natives Association. They were surprised at the response from intending members so they contacted the Colac branch who sent up some members as a follow-up. 51 said they would become benefit members and 5 would become honorary members. As a result on the 26 February 1903 a branch of the Australian Natives Association was established in Beech Forest. At a meeting where 40 people were present, Mr. T.M. Burke, the Victorian President, spoke to the meeting, outlining the aims, objects and benefits of the ANA and saying that the Victorian membership was 22,000. He then installed the several officers of the newly constituted Beech Forest branch. By August 1906 the Beech Forest branch membership was moving ahead with sixteen new members being proposed. Mr Fred Cookson was one of them, and he and the other new members were given their Certificates of Membership on the 14 November, 1906.Australian Natives Association, Certificate of Membership, certifying that Mr Fred Cookson of Beech Forest was elected a member of the Beech Forest Branch No.211 on the 14th day of November 1906. Signed by Arthur D. Freeman, President of the Association, and F.C. Wainwright, General Secretary.australian natives association; ana; beech forest; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPrize, Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society, Potato Show, 1927, 1927
A particular triumph for Alfred Joseph Towers was his win at the Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society's Annual Potato Show in 1927, taking the trophy from the best potato growers in Victoria, and from the Romsey district in particular, which at that time was famed for its potato production and quality. His father, David Towers, came second in the cup competion. Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society, Annual Potato Show, 14 June 1927, Second Prize, for Cup Competition, exhibited by D. Towers (Beech Forest). A.R. Wilson, President: H.M. White, Secretary.romsey; west bourke; potatoes; prize; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPrize, H. Hearne & Co. Pty. Ltd, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Prizes, 1927-1933, 1927-1933
Cards. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Grand Annual Exhibition: (a) 1927; First Prize; D. Towers; Potatoes, Class 1289 No.5562, Henry Schwieger, Secretary. (b) 1927; Second Prize; D. Towers; Potatoes, Carman No 3, Class 1271 No.5437; Henry Schwieger, Secretary. (c) 1929; Third Prize; D. Towers; Potatoes, Carman No 1, Class 1329 No.6186; Henry Schwieger, Secretary. (d) 1930; Third Prize; D. Towers; Potatoes, Class 1349 No.61217; Henry Schwieger, Manager. (e) 1931; Third Prize; D. Towers; Potatoes, Class 1352 No.6456; Henry Schwieger, Manager. (f) 1932; First Prize; D. Towers; Potatoes (1 standard sack), Class 1367 No.7380; Louis Monod, Secretary. (g) 1933; Second Prize; Mrs L. Towers; Potatoes, Carman No 3, Class 1352 No.7434; Louis Monod, Secretary. (h) 1933; Second Prize; Mrs L. Towers; Potatoes, Class 1356 No.7445; Louis Monod, Secretary.the royal agricultural society of victoria; rasv; show; exhibition; potatoes; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyDocument, Norman Houghton, A bite on the Beechy. Norman Houghton, c.2011
A bite on the Beechy. Norman Houghton. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); c.2011. 7 p.; refs. Paper.beech forest; colac; railways; gellibrand; wyelangta; lavers hill; crowes; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyDocument, Australian Electoral Commission, Victoria: 1988 Electoral Roll: Polwarth, September 1988
Document. State of Victoria. 1988 Electoral Roll for the State Electoral District of Polwarth. State Electoral Province of Western (part).electoral roll; polwarth; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyDocument, Instructions to Bailiffs of the County Court, 1978, 1 January 1978
Bailiffs are officers of the Court and as such play an important role in the overall administration of justice. This booklet has been prepared as a guide to Bailiffs of the County Court of Victoria in the performance of their duties. The principal functions of the Bailiffs are the issue and service of summonses, and verdicts and judgements given effect by the execution of warrants. In any case where Bailiffs are uncertain or unsure of what to do the Registrar of the Court to which they are attached should be consulted and their directions followed.Document. Instructions to Bailiffs of the County Court. State of Victorian; Melbourne (Vic); 1978. 28 p. Soft cover.victoria; bailiffs; county court; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Locomotive 8A and its mixed train at Colac Railway Station, c.1920, c.1920
Station facilities for the travelling public on the narrow gauge line at Colac Railway Station were non-existent for many years. Tickets were purchased from the broad gauge booking office and the travellers then had to walk with their luggage over the rough, potentially ankle-twisting, stone approaches, through the goods yard and wait in the open amongst the mud holes alongside the narrow gauge departure track. In 1922 a footbridge was erected over the broad gauge lines, and a passenger shelter and small goods shed were built on the departure track.B/W. At Colac Railway Station, an locomotive 8A with five NQR wagons, an NM livestock wagon and a NBDBD combined passenger and brake van destined for Beech Forest, with either the driver or the fireman peering out of the engine, three youths standing at the front of the engine, and a group of people, including a woman, standing near the livestock wagon. A multi-storied shed and two houses are in the background. 179mm x 280mm picture.colac; railway; narrow gauge; na locomotive; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, R. Preston, Weeaproinah mallee shed, c.1920, c.1920
Originally named 'McInnes' after a local selector, this station opened during construction of the Crowes railway on 1 May 1911. The name was altered to Weeaproinah, the second station of that name, on 9 December 1912, after the parish in which the station was situated. (The original 'Weeaproinah' on the railway became earlier 'Dinmont' in the Olangolah Parish.) The station comprised a passenger shelter and a loop siding with a ramped platform for a sheep and pig race. A departmental residence was built for a track repairer based at the station, but no station or caretaker staff were employed there. The residence was burnt down during the 1919 bushfire but it was replaced and remained in use as a departmental residence until 1930. Weeaproinah became an unattended crossing station in December 1927 under the Train Section Order system.B/W. Weeaproinah mallee shed. In the shed there are five large wall-mounted posters and a cream can. An unlocked door with a "Skins / Hides" poster gives access the inside. A tree trunk stands to the right.weeaproinah; railways; shed; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, R. Preston, Wimba Tank Stand, c.1960, c.1960
Wimba station opened with the line in March 1902 as an unnamed stopping place, and a water tank for locomotive requirements was placed on the side of a hill about 100 metres south of the station. Locos bound for Beech Forest stopped at the passenger shelter at the station, uncoupled, and moved forward to the water tank. Goods were loaded and unloaded during this pause. The station and the tank closed with the line.B/W. Engine 14A, an NUU louvre van and an NC guard's van at the Wimba Tank, with fireman L. Moore on the roof of the cabin running water into the engine's tank. The guard returns to his van.wimba; railways; water tank; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, R. Preston, Banool: Locomotive G42 and goods, c.1960, c.1960
This original station on the Colac-Beech Forest line was first known as "Moorbanool" after the local parish, and then shortened to "Banool" on 1 November 1904. At first facilities consisted of a passenger shelter, a loop siding for 11 trucks, plus a residence for the ganger of the track gang based there. By 1912 with the extension of the line to Crowes increased train services on the line required a crossing station in this section of the track, and therefore Banool became a staff and ticket station with a crossing loop and home signals. However, this only lasted for two years and was abolished as an economy measure in 1916. Loading figures show that in most years the outwards tonnage at Banool was less than 150 tonnes. The station was reduced to a passenger shelter and goods loop only by 1929, and by the time of closure in 1962 most trains were steaming through.Colour. Locomotive G42 and its NQR goods wagons, loaded and unloaded, steaming past Banool station passenger shelter. 143mm x 274mm print.banool; moorbanool; railways; locomotive g42; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, R. Preston, Tulloh: Last NBH excursion carriage train on the line from Beech Forest, 1962, 31 March 1962
B/W. Led by locomotive G42, the last NBH excursion carriage passenger train near Friend's Road, Tulloh, on 31 March 1962.tulloh; railways; loco g42; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyPhotograph, Kevin L Holmes, Driver Bill Brady with Train Staff, 1961, 1961
Railway systems have methods by which trains can proceed in safety from station to station, free from the risk of collision with other trains. These methods are generally known as "Safeworking" and they particularly apply to trains on single lines where trains run in opposite directions. The stations between these two sections are called crossing stations. A "Train Staff", a thick, round metal rod, bearing the name of the two stations is issued and these places are designated as Train Staff stations. No train is permitted to proceed through the section unless the train driver either takes the staff for the section into his possession or personally sights the staff. (Note that every station on the line is not a crossing station. These roles were performed at Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest, Wyelangta, Weeaproinah and Crowes.) Except for the period 1927-1939 when Train Section Orders were applied instead, due to declining business Train Staff and Ticket working was used throughout on the line.B/W. Driver Bill Brady holding the Train Staff in the cabin of Garratt locomotive G42, at Weeaproinah 1961 railways, bill brady, train driver, weeaproinah, train staff -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyBook, Everbest Printing Company Ltd, 250 Victorian waterfalls, 2011
Victoria is not noted for its waterfalls but in fact there are many hundreds of beautiful waterfalls scattered throughout the state. Each waterfall is different from the next, some remarkably so. Consider the amazing Hopetoun Falls surrounded by lush rainforest ferns near Beech Forest, compared to the often snow-covered Piemans Falls crashing down to the bottom of Bryce Gorge. This publication documents many of the more accessible waterfalls of Victoria, some for the first time, and many close to Melbourne. Ideal for bushwalkers, photographers, campers, or those who are interested in a healthy walk or looking for somewhere to enjoy a pinic lunch. There is nothing better than doing so at the base of a majestic waterfall with the spray drifing across the rock face and the unique sound of the water tumbling into the drop pool below.250 Victorian waterfalls. Ray Barber. Ian Wacey. 1st ed. Ian Wacey; Eltham North (Vic); 2011. 320 p.; illus., map, references, index. Soft cover. ISBN 978 0 646 54331 4waterfalls; ray barber; ian wacey;, victoria; -
Otway Districts Historical SocietyDocument, Victorian Parliamentary Papers, Minutes of Evidence, Beech Forest Narrow-Gauge Extension, July 1896
From the 9th April until the 8th July 1896 the Victorian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, chaired by Mr. Cameron with members from both houses, took evidence on three narrow gauge extensions from broad gauge railway stations in the area, the Beech Forest Extension from Colac, the McDonald's Track Extension from Warragul, and the Drouin and Poowong East Extension from Drouin.Minutes of Evidence, Beech Forest Narrow-Gauge Extension. Minutes of Evidence, McDonald's Track Narrow-Gauge Extension. Minutes of Evidence, Drouin and Poowong East Narrow-Gauge Extension. Victorian Parliamentary Papers; Melbourne (Vic); April-July, 1896. 60 p. (VPARL1896-97 No 42)
