Barongarook: a rural portrait. Norman Houghton. John Reid (illus.) Robert Ashley (cart.) 1st ed. Barongarook School Centenary Committee; Barongarook (Vic.); 1979. 52 p.; illus, maps. Soft cover. ISBN 0 9596142 0 6barongarook; norman houghton; john reid; robert ashley; housing; schools; commercial premises; railway; roads; timber; minerals; social history;

This is one of a series of eighteen plaques which commemorated some of the winner of the Grand Annual Steeplechase which is held each year in Warrnambool. The first Grand Annual was held in 1872 as the Warrnambool Handicap Steeplechase. Barongarook was the winner in 1964. This series of plaques were painted by local artist Leslie Lamey and depict the colours of the winning jockey.They originally were in the Members' enclosure at the Warrnambool Race course.These plaques have local sporting ,historical and social significance..1 White painted metal plaque with painting of jockey silks , White jacket front with red Maltese cross and blue sleeves and cap. dabs of black paint .2 Silver metal plaque with engraved black text. .1 " Barongarook" in red texta on back of plaque. .2 Mr R C Williams Barongarook Winner of the Grand Annual Steeplechase 1964," engraved in black text.barongarook, warrnambool, grand annual steeplechase

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;

At its peak the Beech Forest railway employed more than 21 people between Colac and Crowes tending the line the trains ran over. The gangers (the men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked on the original construction gangs of 1900-1902 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (2), and Lavers Hill. The ganger for Beech Forest 2 gang resided at Wyelangta. However, the track gangs lessened as the line shortened. Three men with spades on the line, thought to be at Barongarook, c.1925. B/W.barongarook; railways; track gangs;

By 1960/61 all the factors operating against a narrow gauge railway were in place for the Colac-Beech Forest line. As well as using a 2-6-2 Tank engine over 60 years old, 14A, the train by this stage only had a louvre van, two NQ trucks and a guard's van to bring to Colac. It was very near the end.Locomotive 14A and a mixed goods trucks taking water at 10 mile tank in c.1960=61. The driver controlling the water is W. Brady while the fireman, Les Ogden, peers into the smoke box. B/W.colac; beech forest; ten mile creek; locomotive 14a; w. brady; l. ogden; railway;

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;

Homes in the Hills. Historic glimpses of Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool and Carlisle River. Norman Houghton. Soft cover. iv, 48 p.; illus, map, diagram. Artwork and layout: Desktop Dymanics. otway ranges; norman houghton; barongarook; gellibrand; banool; carlisle river; agriculture; mining; sport; homes; hills;

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;

Leaving Colac the narrow gauge train goes through Tulloh. Coram, Barongarook, Kawarren, Lovat, Gellibrand, Banool, Wimba, McDevitt, Weeaproinah, Devitt Bros., and Ditchley before it reaches Beech Forest, and vice versa. The distance in miles, the height above sea level and the timing from the starting point is given. Note that Weeaproinah W NC changed its name to Dinmont when the Crowes line extension is built. Colac-Beech Forest timetable for May, 1911 showing the DOWN train from Colac to Beech Forest, and the UP train from Beech Forest to Colac plus annotations.colac; melbourne; tulloh; coram; barongarook; kawarren; lovat; gellibrand; banool; wimba; mcdevitt; weeaproinah; devitt bros.; ditchley; beech forest; railway; timetable;

At its peak the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes railway employed more than 21 staff tending the lines that the trains ran over. Gangers (the men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked on the original construction gangs of 1900-02 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line, but these eased out over time. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (where the second Beech Forest crew was based at Wyelangta), and Lavers Hill.Track gang on an NK wagon at Beech Forest, c.1940. Snow covers the ground. B/W.colac; beech forest; crowes; railway; track gangs;

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;

At its peak the Beech Forest railway employed more than 21 staff between Colac and Crowes. Gangers (men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked in the original construction gangs of 1900-1902 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (2), and Lavers Hill. However, track gangs lessened as the line shortened. After 1954, the sole surviving track gang, in charge of Paddy Balcombe, stayed until the line closed.A railway track gang, with helper, trolleying to a work site, on 14 December, 1955.beech forest; railways; track gang;

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

Gradient diagram. Colac to Beech Forest to Crowes. 2'6" gauge.colac; tulloh; coram; barongarook; water tanks; birnam; karwarren; hitt's siding; lovat; gellibrand; banool; wimba; mcdevitt; dinmont; devitt bros' siding; ditchley; beech forest; buchanan; ferguson; weeaproinah; pettitt bros' siding; j & m knott siding; kincaid siding; wyelangta; pettitt's siding; stalker; macknott; laver's hill; crowes; gradient;