Professor Ernest Edgar Kurth of the University of Tasmania, invented a faster, simpler and cleaner way to produce charcoal on a continuous basis during the second world war. The charcoal was used to produce a combustible gas in motor cars, as a substitute for petrol, which was heavily rationed. The first batch of charcoal was produced in February 1942 and continued until the end of the war. Wood from stringybark trees was cut into lengths and fed into a kiln which converted it into charcoal. The Kiln is located on Beenak Road, 7km north of Gembrook. It has great historical significance, particularly as an alternative supplier of fuel during the second world war. It is a State Registered facility, managed by the Friends of Kirth Kiln and the park is managed by Parks Victoria Green soft covered book of 150 pages, with a photo of 2 men and a boy out in the bush with 3 fires burning.Contains a Prelude about Ernest Edgar Kurth written by Alfred Klink (2013) and a Foreward by John Sullivan (Heritage Officer of Parks Victoria). There is an Acknowledgement page, with recognition given to the grant provided by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. e.e. kurth, kirth kiln, charcoal kiln, parks victoria

Kith Kiln was the site of a short lived charcoal kiln designed to provide an alternative to petrol during World War 11 when there was a fuel shortage. Local history has been told by Genseric (Bill) Parker and the reflections collected by Friends of Kirth Kiln (under the auspices of Parks Victoria).The booklet is significant because it tells the story of the development of the Kirth Kiln Park in Gembrook, from the Friends perspective.The park is not only historical but is also of great environmental significance and it forms part of community life in the district. Green soft cover booklet of 128 pages. The front cover has 2 photos; the top one of the caretakers compound with Forest Commission huts and the bottom photo is of the Lake, taken from the dam on Tomahawk Creek. The back cover has a diagram of the Kiln logo.Fireside Stories with Genseric (Bill) Parker and Lorna Parker. Reflections collected by Friends of Kirth Kiln.kirth kiln, genseric parker, parks victoria, gembrook, charcoal burner

Charcoal Burning in Fyans Creek area. Shows part of kiln formation.stawell

found a Kurth Kiln amongst the charcoal making equipmentV Pulley Wheel 10cm diameter by 4cm wide, on a right angle steel shaft cirved and hooked for hanging. Bearing seized up

Kurth's kiln used creek water in a series of waterpipes to cool the charcoal below the flash point for extraction during the charing processA cylinder of wood fitted on a 1" waterpipe, secured by an elbow and a 1" locknut. A 10cl long piece of pipe is fitted on the other side of the elbow. The assembly could be part of the kiln water-cooling system

The Unit was picked up from a paddock on a farm in Bagshot, near Bendigo. It was donated to the Friends of Kurth Kiln Heritage Collection by the Family of Cyril H Peatling on 23 December 2006.Gas Producer Units are of significance to Kurth Kiln because they demonstrate the enduse of the charcoal that was created at Kurth Kiln. Considerable documentation has been made available to us on its history, including a picture of the truck is was mounted on. A Gas Producer Unit that converted charcoal into a gas suitable for the combustion engine. Used on motor vehicles during WWII petrol rationing restrictions. It consists of a hopper to hold the charcoal and a firebox to generate the gasNameplate missinggas producer, bagshot, wilma