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;

B/W. Two inspecting officers examining newly built lines near Wimba in 1902.wimba; railways; beech forest; colac;

On 15 January 1964 the Shire of Otway was going to poll its ratepayers about a loan required to build temporary municipal workshops and a Shire Engineer's office in the Apollo Bay Riding. This led to a number of objections at public meetings in the west and central ridings, such that a Committee of protest was formed, with a nominated Chairman, Secretary and members, to put to ratepayers their considered point-of-view of disapproval. After drafts the Committee produced a printed flyer for distribution to ratepayers summarising the Committee's position. The Committee knew and agreed with a Council Sub-Committee's recommendation to Council of a new, adequate building on one site of suitable size. However, this did not happen. Instead Council moved for loans for temporary renovations of existing buildings. This the Committee objected to believing that Council must decide on a final location before any consideration is given to borrowing money for temporary repairs. This was the opinion the Committee put to ratepayers.B/W Flyer. Otway Ratepayers' Poll on January 15. This concerns YOU. To the Ratepayer as addressed. Details on Ballot Paper.ratepayers; shire of otway;

Derryl Towers wrote to the editor of the Colac Herald about his concerns about the proposal for a loan to create a new municipal workshop and Shire Engineer's office in the Apollo Bay riding. He made several points: a lack of attendance at the poll could bring the matter back to the Council table again; the representative of the Regional Committee is exploring some downward adjustment in Shire contributions; 2/3 of the Shire is reserved for water catchment or timber purposes, in effect a national asset; that the Council Sub-committee's report was sound; all Councillor's agree that new buildings are a necessity; and if we spend money on the loan to renovate old buildings what happens to the proposal for new buildings? Derryl Towers, Letter to the editor. Handwritten, 4 pages, draft, quarto. shire of otway; ratepayers;

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;

Lavers Hill Cheese Factory operated from 1906 until about August 1913. It consisted of a factory and a residence, with the managers B. Philbrick, D. McRae and D. McDonald. The ledger, covering the period 1910 until 1913 when the factory closed, deals with cheese sales, local sales, milk purchases and journal entries for this period, as well as wages, cartage and other operating expenditure. The Lavers Hill Cheese Factory closed when it became more advantageous to send their cream into Colac. Ledger. Lavers Hill Cheese Factory, 1910-1913.Loose leaf: Lavers Hill Cheese Factory; Purchases Butterfat, 1910-11; contents; Manufacturing A/c.lavers hill; cheese; factory; butter;

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;

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;

In February 1959 eight NBH carriages were tranfered from storage at Newport to Colac in time for the first tentatively organized trip over the Colac-Beech Forest railway line. Eventually seventeen excursion trains ran, with carriages and an NC guard's van, usually hauled by G41 or G42, but occasionally 14A locomotive. The train run by 14A ran soon after the carriages were delivered.B/W. At McDevitt station locomotive 14A passes through on a rare NA-hauled eight excursion carriage and NC guard's van train. The front of the engine is labelled "The Ridge; 21 M(arch) 1959; ARHS", the Australian Railways Historical Society.colac; beech forest; railways; mcdevitt;

B/W. Aerial view of Beech Forest showing the complete station yard including the balloon loop (incorporating the two tennis courts), two ex-departmental residences, the station building and where the Colac and Crowes lines diverged. As well Beech Forest Hall, council offices and Shire Secretary's house, Denherts Track, and Main Road are shown.beech forest; railways; township; aerial;

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

Colac was the centre of a spidery rail network over which were carted anything and everything by Victorian Railways, the common carrier throughout the area. The main line through the region was the 35 km rail route from Birregurra (and thence to Geelong) though Colac to Pirron Yallock (and thence to Warrnambool and Port Fairy) from March, 1877, to July, 1883. The first branch line ran from Irrewarra to Beeac in 1889, which then extended in stages to Cressy and on the Ballarat. The second branch line was the 31 km long Birregurra to Forrest in 1891. The cost of building railways into mountainous terrain meant the third branch line was a narrow-gauge 2 foot 6 inch line, first of all to Beech Forest in 1902, and then to Crowes in 1911, for a total of 71 km. The final rail connection was the 16 km branch from Colac to Alvie to facilitate the transport of onions, opening in 1923. Each line had its own character and peculiarities derived from its foundation, geography and economic base. As a general rule, the loadings on the branch lines had greater output tonnage than inwards, the reverse of the main line. The lines traversed agricultural and timber areas where inputs like seed, grass, fertiliser and labour were minor, compared with the output, timber, wool, cream, butter, cheese fruit, potatoes, onion, grain and livestock.Rail Centre Colac. Rail stations in the Colac Otway Shire, 1877 to 2014. Norman Houghton. 1st ed. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); 2014. vi, 262 p.; illus., maps, index. Soft cover.colac; cressy; forrest; beech forest; crowes

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.

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)

June 2012 represented 50 years since the Colac to Beech Forest to Weeaproinah narrow guage railway was closed. The last goods train ran on 27 June 1962, and the last passenger excursion train on 30 June 1962. The railway was the lifeblood of the West Otways for several decades, enabling farmers and saw millers to bring into economic production the natural wealth of the region. Timber, butter, wool, livestock, potatoes, fodder and minerals flowed out for the benefit of Victorian consumers.Closed 50 years ago. The Colac to Beech Forest narrow guage railway. Commemorative booklet - 30 June 2012. Norman Houghton. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); 2012. iv, 52 p.; illus., maps. Soft cover.colac; beech forest; weeaproinah; railway;

The terminus of the railway, and the southern-most station on the Australian mainland, was Crowes, approximately 2 kilometres from Lavers Hill. The line ended at "The Black Stump". Crowes was designed as a fully functioning terminus and received a complete instalment of facilities. The site was laid out with three roads plus a dead end siding for a locomotive shed and ash pit. Goods sheds, a platform and livestock ramps catered for freight loadings, while on the north side was a station office, waiting room, parcels shed and passenger shelter. Three departmental residences were also provided. The resident Station Master was withdrawn in November 1916 and the station closed with the line on 10 December 1954.Photograph. Terminus of the Colac-Crowes at Crowes.crowes; terminus; "the black stump";

William Evans, being born in Anglesea, Wales, in 1829, migrated to Australia in 1857. He was appointed Assistant Lighthouse Keeper at Cape Otway Lighthouse in 1858, and married Catherine Carmody on the 14 May,1860. William and Catherine spent 22 years at Cape Otway. From this union, until August 1998, eight generations of children were recorded. The book explores the lives of these children.William Evans (1829-19 Jun 1885) and Catherine Carmody (1833- 14 Jan 1909), Doris Robbins. Self published; Colac (Vic); c.1998. 238 p.; illus, maps. Soft cover.william evans, catherine carmody, cape otway, lighthouse

James Robbins and Mary Jane Ellery were married on 23 April, 1829, in Stoke Lane, St Michael, Somerset, and had six children. James died aged 51 on 7 December, 1845. Mary married again to John Boyce less than twelve months later, and they had a further three children. John and Mary Boyce (Robbins nee Ellery) came to Port Adelaide, South Australia, on the "Flora Kerr" on the 4 March, 1855, with eight of their nine children. Hannah Robbins stayed in England, probably married. On the same ship another daughter, Ann Robbins, came out with her husband, John Treasure, who had already been to Australia searching for gold. From these unions, several generations of children were recorded, the book exploring their lives. James Robbins, 26 November 1794-7 December 1845, and Mary Jane Ellery, 1810-5 September 1889. Doris Robbins. Self published; Colac (Vic); February 1998. 560 p.; illus. Soft cover.stoke lane; st michael; somerset; port adelaide; victoria; tatura; castlemaine;

James Robbins was born on 9 February, 1869. He married Martha Owen (nee Burch) on 9 October, 1889, in Adelaide, South Australia. After having two children by her first marriage James and Martha went on to have seven children of their own, all except one surviving. James settled in Beech Forest in 1887, travelling to and from Tatura for two years before finally settling in Beech Forest. He had a number of jobs including Director of the Beech Forest Butter Factory, farmer, bullock wagon driver, and butcher. He died in Colac. James' predecessors and his successors are spelt out.Ancestors and descendants of the family of James and Martha Robbins, 1760-1990. Doris Robbins. Self published; Colac (Vic); 1990. 67 p.; illus. Soft cover.james robbins; martha owen; beech forest; tatura; colac; rushworth;

Beech Forest and Lavers Hill Events / Beech Forest Farming / Colac Kanyana / Otway FootballHome videos of People and Events in the Otway Ranges. Taken between the late 1950's and early 1970s. Original footage taken by Mary Dow.beech forest / lavers hill / otway football

Old film of Beechy Line shot from Train and from near the line.History of Narrow Gauge Lines in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s. They include the Colac and Beech Forest lines. Shot in the 1960s.beechy line

Sikh hawkers were a regular sight throughout the Wodonga and Upper Murray district in the early 20th century. The regular visitors to the area included Pola Singh and Gambil (Gamble) Singh. Gamble Singh often camped on McKoy’s Moorefield property in West Wodonga and several other places around the district. Gamble was also a horse breeder and had several draught horses to pull his wagon. Like many of the hawkers he worked hard to send money back to support family in India. He apparently returned to India about 1950, but left some money in the Bank of NSW in Wodonga in case he returned. He allegedly died soon after and the money was eventually able to be claimed by his nephews in India. A small overlooked park in Wodonga is named the “Gamble Singh Park” in his memory. J. Flanagan who operated the Halfway Hotel commented on having as many as seven or eight bullock teams “yoked” overnight to the fence outside the hotel as well as 100 or more Indian hawkers – led by the fondly known Pola (Pollah) Singh. The hawkers returned to Wodonga annually to renew their hawkers’ license and camped on the flats, or also came to Wodonga to collect orders at the railway station to stock up their supplies. Pola Singh was often based at the Colac Colac reserve near Corryong and had on board his compatriot Isar Singh. He often acted as an intermediary between the individual hawkers and the authorities. Unfortunately, it was Pola’s habit to walk in front of his wagon at the start of each day. On the morning of 23 June 1923 his horses were restive and hard to control. They took flight and ran Pola down on the road near Cudgewa. He was rushed to the Corryong Hospital but died there a few days later, aged 65. Pola was cremated, with some of his ashes scattered in the Murray River and some returned to his homeland to be scattered in the Ganges River. His cremation was listed in the Obituary page of the Weekly Times, Melbourne on Saturday 14 July 1923. A small memorial to Pola Singh is located in the Corryong Cemetery.These images are significant because they help to document the history of the Sikh Hawkers who plied their services to Wodonga and throughout rural Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.A collection of black and white images featuring Sikh Hawkers Gamble Singh and Pola Singh take in the Wodonga area.indian hawkers, sikh hawkers, gamble singh, pola singh