Edith Perry Collection: History in the development of the Big Hill Tunnel Two typed extracts of articles regarding the history, construction and development of the Big Hill Tunnel, which resulted from the inclusion of Castlemaine on the alignment of the Echuca/Bendigo/Melbourne railway line. Handwritten pages and a hand drawn map of the rail line connection between Ravenswood Estate and Crusoe Reservoirechuca/bendigo/castlemaine/melbourne rail connection, big hill rail tunnel

Although the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme was first proposed in 1911, construction did not commence until 1938. As part of the push to cut electricity costs and diversify supply, the Victorian Government (circa 1930) initiated the conversion from primarily brown coal supply to hydro – electricity. Field investigations during the 1940’s resulted in a new proposal for a scheme that had more than double the capacity of the 1938 scheme. The Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme became the largest scheme of its kind in the State Of Victoria and the second largest scheme in Australia. The number of personnel involved in the planning and construction of the scheme increased dramatically. During the late 1940’s, most activity centered around the construction of the West Kiewa Power Station, Rocky Valley Reservoir, McKay Creek Power Station and the Bogong Creek Aqueduct.A common thread across all the larger hydro scheme constructions was the need for workers, both qualified and unqualified who came from around the world seeking a new life for themselves and their families. New accommodation and facilities were required for the army of workers engaged in construction in often remote and wild areas. The SEC had a high demand for timber, and set up the first of a number of sawmills at Bogong Creek in 1939 and set up the first hardwood logging in the headwaters of the Kiewa River. These new ‘towns’ such as Mt Beauty and Bogong, survived, serving the needs of operational personnel and their families, and expanding with growth of new industries. Mount Beauty, and to a lesser extent Bogong, are among these places. Large A3 size spiral bound display folder containing photocopied black and white photographs of various aspects of the early days of the Kiewa Valley Hydro-electric scheme including equipment, various work sites and photographs of workers and their families. 1-Breakdown in Circuit Breaker (Isolating Contacts) 2-Big Hill Bench- Site of No 5 Devlopment 3-No 1 Power Station 4-No 1 Pipeline, Anchor No 8 5-Push Dozing-RD8 Tractor 6- Tractor and driver at work 7- Workmen in unnamed tunnel 8- Front page of Journal of SECV Vol 15. Photograph of No 1 pipeline viewed from McKay Portal 9-Rocky Valley Dam Core Wall 10-Workmen working inside tunnel loading rocks into a rail truck. 1-Breakdown in (generator) Circuit Breaker (Isolating Contacts) Handwritten underneath (This is not a picture of any part of a generator. It is a circuit breaker Signed Ron White Ron was the Principal Hydro Engineer of the SEC Kiewa Scheme Page number 39 2-Big Hill Bench – Site of No. 5 Development (abandoned) Page number 40 3-No 1 Power Station Page number 41 4-No. 1 Pipeline, Anchor No. 8 Page number 42 5-Push Dozing – RD8 Tractor, 12 cubic yard Carryall and FD Cletrac Tractor Page number 43 6-No marking Page number 44 7-No marking Page number 45 8-Journal of State Electricity Commission of Victoria SEC Vol 15 No… April-May, 19… No 1 Pipeline-A view from McKay Portal G Hempenstall and D Sutton stiffening pipe section for transport during construction (….indicates missing text) Page Number 46 9-Rocky Valley Dam Core Wall Page number 47 10-No markings Page number 48 secv; kiewa hydro electric scheme; construction area; power stations; reservoirs; aqueduct; mt beauty; bogong

''The Construction of the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway' pages 1 and 2 (separate sheets) of a document (laminated) prepared by the Bendigo Historical Society and outlining the history of the construction of the line..Bendigo Historical Societybendigo, history, bendigo railway, construction of the melbourne to bendigo rail line. mr valintine, mr lysaght, dr backhaus, mr bissell, mr harney, dr hunt , mr mackay, cornish & bruce, malmsbury viaduct, taradale viaduct, coliban river, elphinstone tunnel, big hill tunnel, sir henry barkly, mr robert burrowes.

The Mystery of John McMahon's Grave, Big Hill mentions granite stone markers south of the Tunnel. Some believed he was buried there, but further research has found he is buried at the Kangaroo Flat Cemetery in the Roman Catholic section, Grave No. 1134 on 20 May, 1874. Also mentioned is his widow was appointed Gate Keeper at Ravenswood on 2 September, 1874. Also mentioned is the death of Frederick Benton, who died on 24 February, 1860 of peritonitis. There is a sepia? Photo taken of the Big Hill Tunnel (Bendigo side looking south) from Picture Australia c. 1875 and a coloured one of the Big Hill Tunnel Bendigo side (photo taken March, 2008). On page 2 are two coloured views at Big Hill for John McMahon, 850 metres south of Big Hill Tunnel entrance, Melbourne side/east of line (photos taken March, 2008).person, individual, john mcmahon, mystery of john mcmahon's grave, big hill, john mcmahon, big hill tunnel, mrs i marchesi, mr marchesi, mrs ivy irene marchesi (nee bone), sarah mcmahon, sarah mcewan (mckeown/mckeon), ravenswood station, kangaroo flat cemetery, sarah jane mcmahon, frederick benton, pictureaustralia, vic rail, melbourne to mount alexander-murray rail line, stone markers for john mcmahon

Copies of Photographs from - Views of Bendigo by Nicholas Caire No.1 Sandhurst east/ City Reserve x 2 No.2 New Chum Line of reef No.5 Battery of stampers for crushing quartz x 2 No.6 View Sandhurst from top of Masonic Hall x 2 No.7 Excavation Quartz Reef, Ironbark Hill. No 8 St. Paul's Church. No.9 View Camp Reserve from Court House. No.10 View of Nth. Old Chum. No.11 View Camp Hill near the Lodge x 2 No.12 Garden Gully. No.14 View from Court House, east end Pall Mall. No.15 Wesleyan Church, Golden Square x 2 No.16 Savings Bank, Sandhurst No.17 Bendigo District Hospital. No.18 Interior Wesleyan Church x 2 No.19 View Golden Square township. No.20 The Town Hall, Sandhurst. No 23 Sandhurst City Market No 24 Pall Mall looking west x 2 No 25 Camp Hill x 2 No 26 Charing Cross No 27 View Sandhurst. x 2 No 28 Long Gully. No 29 Railway station and sheds No 30 Cemetery Back Ck. No 31 Kock's Pioneer Quartz Crushing Plant Long Gully. No 32 Masonic Hall. No 33 Bendigo Benevolent Asylum. No 34 Bendigo Flat. No 35 Old Chum Hill x 2 No 36 New Chum Gully No 37 Township of Eaglehawk No 38 From St Paul's tower looking west No 39 Tunnel Big Hill. No 40 From St Paul's tower looking south x 2 No 41 From St Paul's tower looking eastward x 2 No 42 From St Paul's tower looking north west x 2 No 43 Great Extended Hustlers Quartz Mining Claim No 44 Big Hill Rail line x 2 No 45 From St Paul's tower looking westward x 2 No 46 From St Paul's tower looking north west No 47 Big Hill Ranges Buick. x 2 No 48 St. Paul's Tower x 2 No 49 Eaglehawk township. No 50 Mitchell Street No 51 Botanical gardens, White Hills x 2 No 52 View Point, Sandhurst. .N.J. Caire.place, bendigo, bendigo area., views of bendigo.