Colour photograph of the convent at Colac, Victoriacolac, catholic, convent

Colour photograoh of the Colac Catholic Church.colac, catholic, church, st marys

Colour photograph of the former convent at Colac, Victoria.colac, catholic, convent

Colour photograph of the former Oddfellows Hall at Colac.colac, oddfellows, hall

Colour photograph of a bluestone church in Colac, VIctoria.colac, bluestone, church

A black and white image of a church in Colac. colac, colac church of england, colac anglican church

Colour photograph of a brick freemason's lall at Colac. colac, hall, freemasons, masonic, colac freemason's lodge

Colour photograph of the Aleppo Pine planted near the Colac War Memorial.On plaque. "Aleppo Pine (Pine Brutia) From the Original Lone Pine on Gallipoli sown inthe jubilee year 1965 planted in memory of departed comrades "Lest We Forget"colac, colac gardens, aleppo pine, lone pine

Colour photograph of a brick fire brigade at Colac, Victoriacolac, cfa, fire station, heritage

The stained glass windows are a memorial to parishioners who served during World War Two.Colour photographs of two stained glass windows by Alan Sumner in St John's Anglican Church, Colac.st john's anglican church colac, colac, stained glass, alan sumner, world war two

"It has been decided by the managing body of St. John's Church of England to erect a war memorial to commemorate the thirty brave men of the congregation who have given their lives at the front, and the 98 men whom they expect to welcome home again. The memorial will cost from £250 to £300 to complete in its entirety, and active steps have been taken to raise the amount amongst the members and adherents of the church. ... The sanctuary panels will be placed on each side of the altar, and will become the permanent Honor Roll by having the names of the soldiers and nurses who enlisted from the congregation inscribed thereon.The whole scheme when completed will be a noble monument to the loyalty, response to duty, and self-sacrifice of the members of the church who enlisted, and will in years to come remind the worshippers of the response of the young members of the congregation to the call of our Empire in her great need. (Camperdown Chronicle, 20 March 1919) LocationPhotograph of a timber World War One Honour Board at St John's Anglican Church, Colac. Plaster 'Station of the Cross' on either side of the honour board are by Mattei brothers. st john's colac, colac, world war one, world war one honour board, mattei brothers

Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line commenced in 1900 and the first activities were the work gangs and their camps. About 100 men were engaged in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The first camp was established eight kilometres from Colac, the second 12 km south, and the remainder spaced at similar distances as the work progressed. The camps were served by butchers and bakers from Colac that visited them as many times each week to satisfy the mens' requirements. Many of the men had their families with them. They all lived in tents that consisted of a wooden floor around which the canvas cover was built. A calico partition divided the eating and sleeping quarters, and all cooking was done in camp ovens or at open fires.B/W. 158mm x 203mm. Near Colac, a narrow gauge construction camp comprising 21 workmen, a horse, and two tipping trays.construction camp; railways; colac;

Plans for a rail connection between Colac and Beech Forest had been drawn up in 1884 and 1889 but proofed inconclusive because of the enormous cost involved in building a railway in such difficult terrain. Because of the financial depression in the early 1890s such expenditure went of hold. Towards the end of the decade planners recognised that a narrow gauge could be a viable alternative and it was taken up by the community, Parliamentary representatives and the government, although Victorian Railways administration was against the idea. This was overridden. The 1898 Parliament approved a 2 foot 6 inch gauge from Colac to Beech Forest although strict financial limits were set. The route was to be the most direct and the infrastructure the most basic. Construction began in 1900 entailing very steep grades and myriad curves until it finished in 1902. Surveyors and their assistants came before and during the track laying for the whole distance.B/W. Survey camp for the Colac-Beech Forest railway in 1901, showing nine tents, ten men including a cook, survey instruments, and three bicycles. Note the cooking fire on the right.colac: beech forest; railways; survey;

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;

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