George Sydenham was appointed as Colac Shire Valuer and rate collector in 1890 which threw him into direct contact with the Otway people at a time when the first selectors were suffering badly. He would have heard their frustrations and grievances in great detail. When Secretary to the Colac Committee for the Railway Extension to Beech Forest he used his magic lantern slide shows from 1896 to support his case for a railway, by lauding the place and its potential, both for settlement and for timber production.The Otways through the magic lantern: commentary and glass slides of George Sydenham - lecture held in 1896. George Francis Sydenham. 1st ed. Colac (Vic); Colac and District Historical Society; 2013. iv, 118 p.; illus., map. ISBN 9780 6469 122 02 Soft cover.colac: otway ranges; history; coasts;

The Heytesbury Settlement Scheme in the area west of Colac and bordering the Otway Ranges. The Settlement was established in 1960 as a dairying area and was one of the largest post World War Two farming settlements. This cow tag has been broken at the top and detached from the animal.The item is of some interest as coming from the Heytesbuty Settlement. Dairying is of major importance in the Warrnambool area and this extends to the Heytesbury area. These cow tags have now been superseded by more improved technological equipment. This is a brass cow tag. It is semi-circular with a ring top, broken or worn through at the top. ‘1292’ ‘Heytes East’ heytesbury settlement scheme, cow tag

Days gone by: Lavers Hill Centenary. M.P. Heffernan. 1st ed. Colac (Vic.); Lavers Hill Centenary Committee; 1994. iii, 41 p.; illus, maps. Soft cover. ISBN 0 646 18493 8days gone by; m.p. heffernan; lavers hill; lavers hill centenary; great ocean road; otway ranges;, days gone by; m.p. heffernan; lavers hill; lavers hill centenary; great ocean road; otway ranges;

The last train to Beech Forest ran on 30 June, 1962. The train had a particularly motley look to it; 180 passengers were loaded into NU goods vans which had been hastily fitted out with temporary seats and tarpaulin roofing. The train was hauled by the dilapidated G42 locomotive, kept alive through patch-up repairs and cannibalised G41 parts, which intending travellers looked at with some trepidation. The train made it without mishap. When it returned to Colac on that cold, gloomy June day it signalled the end of narrow gauge operations in the Otway Ranges.B/W. Locomotive G42 with the sign " Australian Railway, Last Train to Beech Forest, 30-6-62, Historical Society" is departing Colac. NC guard's van and NU louvred van are attached. A woman and man watching. .colac; beech forest; railways;

The last train ran to Beech Forest on 30 June 1962. It had a particularly motley look: 180 passengers were loaded into a series of NU goods wagons hastily fitted with temporary seats and, given the time of year, tarpaulin covers. The G42 locomotive had patched-up repairs and cannibalised G41 parts. Intending travellers faced up to the trip with some trepidation but the train made it with no problems. On this cold, gloomy day when it got back to Colac it signalled the end of narrow gauge operations in the Otway Ranges.B/W. Locomotive G42 with the sign "Australian Railway Historical Society, Last Train to Beech Forest, 30-6-62", an NC guard's van, a NU louvred van and many NQR open wagons, at a photostop near Tulloh. Several passengers taking photos while the driver is waiting to proceed.colac; beech forest; railway; tulloh;

Beech Forest and Lavers Hill Events / Beech Forest Farming / Colac Kanyana / Otway FootballHome videos of People and Events in the Otway Ranges. Taken between the late 1950's and early 1970s. Original footage taken by Mary Dow.beech forest / lavers hill / otway football

index, ill, maps, p.262.non-fictionAn history of the rail stations on the Victorian Railways lines in the Colac Otway Shire including the lines to Forrest, Alvie, Cressy and the 2'6" narrow gauge railway to Crowes.railroad construction - victoria - history, logging railroads - victoria - otway range - history