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

Part of Tools used for making charcoal during WWIIPurpose made Steel Clamp for attachment to to round shaft up to 5cm. Threaded section with "T" bar for tightening: Height 16cm Width 11cm, Depth 5cm Dia of shaft 3.5cm Thickness 1.8cm Plain steel, badly rusted, thread seized upNil

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

Dates to the charcoal making period in the 1940sBlacksmith Tongs, 51cm long, jaws 8cm by 2cm. Diameter of handles 1.2cm. Handles badly bent and rusted.

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

According to Les Solomano this unitoriginally belonged to the Hendricks brothers of Talbot. It was mounted on the front bumper of their 6 ton truck used for general cartage.The Unit shows the wide range of Gas Producers constructed during the war years to drive with charcoal fuel. This Gas Producer unit appears to be home-made mild steel construction for a specific purpose. The assembly sits on a welded frame, the hopoper on one side, the filter drum on the other and the radiator in between.there are no specific markings visible

Les Solomano tells us this unit was made by their cousin Frank Solomano and mounted on the passenger side running board of his A Model Ford, Spare bads of charcoal were tied to the rear door, so passengers had to get in and out through the driver side doors. It is the smallest Gas Producer unit we have seenThis Gas Producer unit is obviously a home made construction for a specific application. Absence of any air-cooling facilities suggests these may have been fitted separately inside the engine compartment.No specific marlings

In conversation with Mr Tibbett we found out that he obtained this particular unit at an auction in Sydney and brought it home with the intention of one day getting it going again. 'One day' never seemed to come, so he decided to let us have it for our display, rather than jjust collecting dust in his shed.This unit is again of a different manufacturer and construction, highlighting the versatile nature of charcoal producer gas and its applications. A commercially made cast iron unit with a solid round hopper/boiler on a steelframe base. It has a pressure-cooker lid and a car type radiator. Solid built, but rust affected in partsMake: Tysons Cross Draught Model: Official 30hp Heavy Duty Serial: 1368

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