With the establishment of the large heavy industrial zone at Hastings in the late 1960s, which included the BP oil refinery using the Port of Hastings at the north-western arm of Western Port, a number of environmental problems predicted by both scientists and conservationists arose. The main shipping channel on the western arm of Western Port was dredged, causing suspended particles affecting seagrass beds. With inadequate regulation around discharge of bilge water within the bay, and oil spillage, oil pollution affecting both seabirds and coastal areas was not uncommon. This report of 40 penguins actually known to have been killed by an oil spill event was typical of reports at the time. The 2 men quoted – Vernon Johnson and Ken Pound – were well known conservationists. Vernon and his wife Nora owned the Kingston Gardens picnic and zoo business where they cared for many injured wildlife. Ken was a Phillip Island counsellor for a few years, and instrumental in the establishment of the Phillip Island conservation Society. He also contributed various documents and newspaper cuttings to this archive.This article is significant for being a record of an exact number of penguins found dead from oil spill pollution in Western Port. Also as a record of conservationists in the early years of community and environment movements both locally and in Australia. The article further gives evidence of linking tourism with wildlife.Photocopy of newspaper cutting. Black print with very dark black and white photo of Fairy (Little) Penguin. Poor reproduction due to older photocopy machine.(indecipherable) - late/1960s.little penguins, fairy penguins, eudyptula minor, penguin behaviour, phillip island tourist attractions, phillip island conservation society, oil spills, bp refinery hastings, port of hastings, western port, marine pollution, oil tankers, vernon johnson, ken pound, phillip island promotion association

This letter to the editor of an unknown newspaper probably dates from the late 1960s or early 1970s. At that time the Victorian government’s Liberal Party Premier was Sir Henry Bolte. In a reference to the major industrial valley in Germany, he and his government had a vision to make Western Port and Hastings into “the Ruhr of Victoria”, if not Australia. While this letter does not refer to Western Port, but apparently to Wiliamstown, the situation was similar in both bays. Substantial land was zoned in Hastings by the Bolte Government for industrial purposes, where BP built a refinery for oil imported through the Port of Hastings. The large oil tankers entered Western Port Bay via the western channel, which required dredging to accommodate them. It became a common site to see globules or patches of oil washed up on beaches around Western Port, and oil-affected wildlife. It is impossible to know how many wildlife were affected directly by oil spills and other forms of pollution in the Bay during that era. Sufficient numbers of oiled Little Penguins were found to prompt numerous references to the problem in newspapers, including letters, articles and even major features. The refinery eventually closed, with tanker traffic dramatically reducing in Western Port from the late 20th century.Statement of significance: This letter to the editor is significant in making reference to pollution caused in Port Phillip and Western Port bays by tanker traffic and the presence of oil refineries on industrial land in the bays. It is also indicative of the emergence of many conservation-related community groups of volunteers in Australia during the 1960s and 1970s in response to growing concern around conservation issues. Letters to the editor were a common means for these groups to have their concerns aired in public.Photocopy of newspaper cutting, single column letter to the editor.little penguins, oil spill, western port, port of hastings, henry bolte, "ruhr of victoria", oiled penguins, oiled wildlife, bp refinery, oil tankers, , mrs d waight, williamstown and district animal relief society

Collection of newspaper clippings from a Scrap Book from 1960 - 1973.Newspaper item about the tanker "British Centaur" passing Cowes on its way to BP Refinery at Crib Point in October 1966. Photo of "British Centaur"tanker "british centaur", crib point, cowes phillip island, jean jamieson

From a box of photographs in Nancy U'REN's papers used during research for her thesis, The Early Growth and Development of Sandridge (1976) and/or her book with Noel TURNBULL, A History of Port Melbourne (1983). The print was probably made by her son, Andrew U'REN, and he may have also taken the photograph.Black and white photograph of the corner of The Boulevard and Beacon Road from the foreshore looking towards the city. The flats are on the left and the BP refinery site is on the right. There is a large white border at the bottom.A star in blue ink on the front. Type of photographic paper and exposure details on the reverse.built environment - domestic, the boulevard, beacon road, bp australia, nancy u'ren nee morris

Collection of newspaper clippings in scrap book dated 1960 - 1973Article with photo describing the berthing of the oil tanker, BP Endeavour, at the Westernport refinery wharf."First tanker arrives"local history, newspapers, westernport oil installation, arrival of 1st tanker 1966, bp endeavour, jean jamieson

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a set of seven original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE of C.O.R. trucks in the 1950s: Bedford trucktransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a set of seven original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE of C.O.R. trucks in the 1950s: Fodentrucktransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a set of seven original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE of C.O.R. trucks in the 1950s: Bedford trucktransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a set of seven original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE of C.O.R. trucks in the 1950s: Bedford trucktransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a set of seven original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE of C.O.R. trucks in the 1950s: Leyland Comet trucktransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a set of seven original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE of C.O.R. trucks in the 1950s: Austin trucktransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries

Doug SMALLPAGE worked for C.O.R. and did all of their photography. These originals were donated by his daughter, Ann SMALLPAGE.From a group of original photographs taken by Doug SMALLPAGE in the 1950s - shows C.O.R. planttransport - motor vehicles, industry, business and traders, bp australia, cor, doug smallpage, commonwealth oil refineries