Construction of the town of Mount Beauty commenced in 1946 and continued until 1952. It was built to provide family accommodation for workers engaged in the construction of the hydro electric power scheme. As well as housing, there was an administration building, staff hostel, merchandising centre, workmen's camps, base stores and workshops and the Mount Beauty Terminal Station. The first house was occupied in November, 1946 by the then manager of the trading store, with a frontage onto Hollonds Street. The total number of houses erected was 488, 162 custom built and 326 prefabricated. The main workmen's camp can be seen just left of the centre of the photograph and accommodated 144 men at the time of the photograph. By 1950 it could accommodate 1200men. Photo No. 1 is taken in 1947/early 1948 as there is no evidence of the staff hostel under construction. This hostel was commenced in August/September 1948 and is clearly shown in photograph No. 2, dating this photo as 1948 as it is before the completion of the bypass road connecting to the main (high plains) road. This road was constructed in 1939 and in 1948 followed the route of Tawonga Crescent. This remained in use until the bypass construction was completed in early 1949 and does not appear to be finished in this photograph.. Both photographs are taken from the power line easement adjacent to the Bright road.Significant historical pictorial record of the development of a town from grazing land. The type of terrain that had to be surveyed and then to construct roads and other infrastructure, with very little machinery, is also of prime significance in the development of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.Two photographs, both hand painted to show colours, and both of Mount Beauty c 1947/48 not long after commencement of construction of homes and facilities for workers.Photo No.1 - on back of photo, left upper corner, faintly in pencil, SPIKE, underneath this is written T Pay,. Photo No. 2 - on back of photo, left upper corner, faintly in pencil, Jmount beauty, housing, accommodation

A photo of Beauty Avenue houses looking south. A good example of the garden's created very early in Mount Beauty's history. Photo circa 1947These houses were built for the workers and their families during the construction phase of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.Large coloured photograph with mountains in the background, houses,and SEC poles in the centre, and gardens in the foregroundOn the back in pencil 13411mount beauty housing, kiewa hydro electric scheme, mount beauty gardens, mount beauty township

Tawonga South was situated between the rural township of Tawonga and the State Electricity Commission of Victoria's construction town of Mt Beauty. The building in the fore ground of the photo was built before the Mt Beauty township was built as the occupier was working on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.The Barters came to work on the State Electricity Commission of Victoria's Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme before housing in the town of Mt Beauty was built. The Barters rudimentary dwelling was probably not a legal building. The photo was taken by Vera Hore (nee Ryder), the publican at the Bogong Hotel near Tawonga South where the photo was taken. Vera, 1909 - 2000, was a keen amateur photographer.Colored photo of Tawonga South with a dwelling in the bottom of the right hand corner and Mt Bogong, covered in snow, at the top. Framed with cream card board 1 cm wide and a metal decorated frame surrounding it.On the back - "Vera Hore"tawonga south; vera hore; mt beauty

Bogong Village was used between the 1930's -1950's by S.E.C.V. to house workers and their families on the Hydro Electricity SchemeState Electricity Commission of Victoria (S.E.C.V.) construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. Housing for workersBlack and white photograph of House Number 1 at Bogong Villagebogong village, secv, bogong huts

Hume and Hovell discovered the area in 1824 and by the end of the 19th century the valley was transformed by logging, dairy and beef cattle properties and tobacco farms. The logs could have been milled for timber at the State Electricity Commission's mill at Howman's Gap which provided a much needed source of timber for construction of McKay Creek Power Station which began construction in 1951 and also the camps and houses for the workers and their families. There was a need for housing and infrastructure for an increasing population of workers for the hydro-electric scheme as there was a general shortage of this commodity. A timber mill was started in Tawonga by Mates, of Albury, in 1945, and electricity became available in 1946 the S.E.C. bought the mill, and enlarged it. In 1960 it was purchase by a local family, they also started a timber mill in Mt Beauty worked both until 1980 when they closed it. The Tawonga mill and enlarged the mill called Mt. Beauty Timbers Pty Ltd employed approximately 50 people. An historical pictorial record of the general working conditions, type of machinery and vehicles in use in the 1950’s. Note the lack of protective clothing!Black and white photograph of the logging camp at Mountain Creek. November 1955Handwritten on the back of photograph - MOUNTAIN CREEK LOGGING CAMP NOV 55mountain creek logging camp, timber industry, tawonga

Hume and Hovell discovered the area in 1824 and by the end of the 19th century the valley was transformed by logging, dairy and beef cattle properties and tobacco farms. The logs could have been milled for timber at the State Electricity Commission's mill at Howman's Gap which provided a much needed source of timber for construction of McKay Creek Power Station which began construction in 1951 and also the camps and houses for the workers and their families. There was a need for housing and infrastructure for an increasing population of workers for the hydro-electric scheme as there was a general shortage of this commodity. A timber mill was started in Tawonga by Mates, of Albury, in 1945, and electricity became available in 1946 the S.E.C. bought the mill, and enlarged it. In 1960 it was purchase by a local family, they also started a timber mill in Mt Beauty worked both until 1980 when they closed it. The Tawonga mill and enlarged the mill called Mt. Beauty Timbers Pty Ltd employed approximately 50 people An historical pictorial record of the general working conditions, type of machinery and vehicles in use in the 1950’s. Black and white photograph of logging at Mountain Creek November 1955Small typed note attached to the back of photo - Logging Mountain Creek November 1955mountain creek logging camp, tawonga, timber industry

Hume and Hovell discovered the area in 1824 and by the end of the 19th century the valley was transformed by logging, dairy and beef cattle properties and tobacco farms. Timber was required for construction of McKay Creek Power Station which began construction in 1951 and also the camps and houses for the workers and their families. There was a need for housing and infrastructure for an increasing population of workers for the hydro-electric scheme as there was a general shortage of this commodity. A timber mill was started in Tawonga by Mates, of Albury, in 1945, and electricity became available in 1946 the S.E.C. bought the mill, and enlarged it. In 1960 it was purchase by a local family. They also started a timber mill in Mt Beauty and worked both until 1980 when they closed the Tawonga mill and enlarged the mill called Mt. Beauty Timbers Pty Ltd which employed approximately 50 people. A pictorial record of the development of the Mt Beauty community and the local timber industry.Colour photograph of aerial view of Mt Beauty Timber Mills and surrounding area including pondage and part of airfield. Photo taken in 1960’s (estimate only)Handwritten in ink on back of photograph in very faint writing – Recent photo of Mt Beauty Timber Industries Mt Beauty Operationsmt beauty timber industry, timber industry, timber mill, secv

Hume and Hovell discovered the area in 1824 and by the end of the 19th century the valley was transformed by logging, dairy and beef cattle properties and tobacco farms. Timber was required for construction of McKay Creek Power Station which began construction in 1951 and also the camps and houses for the workers and their families. There was a need for housing and infrastructure for an increasing population of workers for the hydro-electric scheme as there was a general shortage of this commodity. A timber mill was started in Tawonga by Mates, of Albury, in 1945, and electricity became available in 1946 the S.E.C. bought the mill, and enlarged it. In 1960 it was purchase by a local family. They also started a timber mill in Mt Beauty and worked both until 1980 when they closed the Tawonga mill and enlarged the mill called Mt. Beauty Timbers Pty Ltd which employed approximately 50 people. A pictorial record of the development of the local timber industry in the Kiewa Valley showing equipment used in timber milling.Colour photograph of Mt Beauty Timber Industries Mill. Photo taken inside the workshop showing saw blades and equipmentmt beauty, mt beauty timber industry, timber mill

The townships of Mount Beauty and Bogong Village were constructed by the Victorian State Electricity Utility Commission (SEC) from the 1930’s to the 1950’s to house workers on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. At its peak the Kiewa Scheme employed around 4000 people. Although the towns were built as temporary accommodation for the workers and their families, many stayed and even retired there after the scheme had finished. The Bright Council, now the Alpine Shire took over the control of the township in 1960 and today Mount Beauty is one of the most complete company towns in Victoria.The SECV provided several standard designs for the housing of workers and management in Mt Beauty. At the completion of the scheme the housing was retained and Mount Beauty now exists as one of the best examples of a company town in Victoria.There are many examples of the original houses remaining around the town. This is significant as the houses were only built as temporary accommodation and still remain functional after over 60 or more years of use.Set of 6 black and white photographs of original SECV temporary house designs in Mt Beauty.Written in blue ink on front of photos 1. Winwood 2. Winwood 3. K Type 4. K Type 5. English Precut 6. Cube mt beauty houses, secv housing

: Hume and Hovell discovered the area in 1824 and by the end of the 19th century the Kiewa Valley was transformed by logging, dairy and beef cattle properties and tobacco farms. The logs could have been milled for timber at the State Electricity Commission's mill at Howman's Gap which provided a much needed source of timber for construction of McKay Creek Power Station which began construction in 1951 and also the camps and houses for the workers and their families There was a need for housing and infrastructure for an increasing population of workers for the hydro-electric scheme as there was a general shortage of this commodity. A timber mill was started in Tawonga by Mates, of Albury, in 1945, and electricity became available in 1946 the S.E.C. bought the mill, and enlarged it. In 1960 it was purchase by a local family, they also started a timber mill in Mt Beauty worked both until 1980 when they closed the Tawonga mill and enlarged the mill called Mt. Beauty Timbers Pty Ltd which employed approximately 50 people. An historical pictorial record of the type of machinery and vehicles in use in the 1950’s to harvest and mill the logs from surrounding forested areas.1. Colour photograph of large logs being milled for timber at a timber mill 2. Colour photograph of heavy machinery being used to harvest large logs for milling timber; timber mill; kiewa valley; forests; logging

The township of Mt. Beauty was built to provide family accommodation for personnel working on the construction of the Kiewa Scheme. construction commenced in 1946. Photo 1 is looking towards the corner of Lakeside Ave. and Kiewa Crescent. The Post Office is on the corner and the original building housing the Co op store was in Kiewa Crescent. Photo 2 is taken at a later date as the garden in front of the Post Office is well established. The Community Centre is centre left of the photo and the back buildings are the staff accommodation called "The Chalet". Photo 3. Farming country taken from Wallacedale. The Wallaces were one of he early farming families in the Kiewa Valley. Photo 4. This photo is of Junction Camp at Bogong Village and was commenced late in 1939 and by 1940 accommodated 96 men who were engaged in work on Junction Dam. Sleeping accommodation was provided in hutments, each of four rooms, each room being approx. 12 feet by 10 feet and provided for the accommodation of 2 men. This camp remained in use until November 1962.These photos have both historical and social significance. They show the type of accommodation available for workers during the construction of the SEC Kiewa Hydro Scheme as well as early streetscape views of Mt. Beauty. The Junction Camp photo also shows the state of the forest following the 1939 fires in the area.4 Black and white photographs of various sizes.Photo 1. On back, hand written in pencil: top left hand corner: "Sept 1950". Centre of photo: "Return to Gibson Envelope". Right hand side: "Cooper". Bottom left corner: "Mt. Beauty Camp SEC Kiewa Scheme". Photo 2. No inscriptions or markings. Photo 3. Back of photo handwritten in pencil: "In W>T> June 14. 1961 page31. Some of the farming country in the Kiewa Valley. This taken from the home of Mr. Geoff Wallace Wallacedale, Kergunyah where some of his 600 cattle were rounded up." Bottom right corner "Return to Gibson Envelope". There is a copyright stamp belonging to "the Herald & Weekly Times Ltd. also on the back. Photo 4. Typed on a sticker on the back of the photo "Stable attendants Cottage and Camp Sept. 1940".camp, sec kiewa scheme, kiewa, cattle, mt. beauty

Mt Beauty was a construction town built from 1948. The houses were English Pre-cut Types - several of each type were erected with several variations. This house had 3 bedrooms and is dated as 'traced on 18 Dec. 1956'. Mt Beauty is a construction town built by the SECV during the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme for workers and their families. Houses were provided along with many other facilities eg. schools. This house plan is a good indication of the quality of housing provided at the time eg. laundry, toilet etc. Large sheet with title at top "State Electricity Commission of Victoria" showing 'front', 'right' and 'left' elevations and the 'floor plan'. Printed at the bottom - 'Kiewa Scheme / Mt Beauty Housing / English pre-cut Type 3B ILA /. There are further notes printed at the bottom of the sheet.mt beauty housing, english pre-cut type housing, house plan, state electricity commission of victoria

This "coffee" tin has by the "art deco" appearance its origins in the late 1950's to 1960's. This time period was one of accelerated growth both in the physical (housing) sense and the mental (new ideas and inventions) changes in "attitudes". These occurred more rapidly in cities but had its effects on the rural environment. The drinking of coffee was spurred on by easier distribution of imported food and drinks. Advertising by stronger radio links and then by television brought the variety of foods and drinks to semi isolated rural regions. The accessibility through greater information channels becoming available brought with it unbelievable ranges of goods and foodstuffs. Rural regions still relied on bulk supplies and relatively larger storage containers than those in cities. This "bulk" buying and storage "syndrome" was a lingering result of many years of "drought" periods when road transports met delays from flooded roadways in supplying population centres in the Kiewa Valley. The construction phases in building the SEC Vic Hydro electricity Scheme in the eastern sections of the Victorian Alps brought many changes to the quiet rural regions in the Kiewa Valley. Changes in population and social mores. The influx of a varied , mostly temporary, and "European flavoured cuisine" changes the "cuppa tea only" flavour to the have a "coffee break". The subliminal influence of the "American" films changed those children growing up in the post 1950s from the "English tea" to the "American coffee". This "Americanisation process has influenced not only rural Australia but also other areas throughout the world.This "insignificant" coffee tin is very significant as it demonstrates that the Kiewa Valley was becoming more accessible to reliable coffee supplies and general food items.The container was part of a "set" of containers that included tea, sugar,biscuits,flour, rice and other family condiments. This type of kitchen storage containers was brought about through changing patterns in tea and coffee useage and overall consumption. Household demands for faster "self help" cooking especially beveridges and the greater choice of kitchen "utensils" was brought on by easier access to products due to a lessening of the area's "isolation" by having a reliable (all weather) road system and an ever increasing population growth. The need for travelling goods/merchant supply caravans to service the area became a diminishing factor, as a result of the establishment of grocery stores in Tawonga and Mount Beauty in the supply of previously "hard to get" groceries. This transition was precipitated by the SEC Vic Hydro Scheme of the 1940's to 1960's which increased the valley's population level three fold.This cylindrical tin has a pull/push lid(for easy access to the contents). The container is labelled for "coffee" however it has no commercial manufacturer's label to establish that it was bought with coffee ingredients in it. The majority of the container's external surface has a "metallic" light blue colour with two sets of silver rings confining black (horizontal spotted) rectangles. "COFFEE" within an elongated spherical "art deco" four pointed banner of silver and black colouringkitchen containers, domestic food storage, bulk stocks of dried condiments

This item clearly shows the conditions covering both working conditions and housing in the construction of the Junction Dam in the 1940s. Working conditions were extreme and health and safety legislation was at its infancy. The residential buildings were intended to last only for the period of construction, however greater demand for longevity as a tourist haven prevailedThis photo of the construction of the Junction Dam, with The Bogong village as backdrop, details the harsh conditions faced by construction workers, building dams and villages to accommodate workers in the 1940s to the 1950s. Australia at this period in time, experienced a surge of population (influx of World War II refugees), which was the catalyst for developing and undergoing an enormous hydroelectricity program for the Alpine regions, both in Victoria and New South Wales. This program was initiated to supply electricity to the major southern Australian cities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. It was thought that these developments would reduce, if not eliminate, the requirement for coal driven power stations. However time has demonstrated that these power stations have not matched the demand required by the industries and the populations of the major urban and cities.Black and white photo of original photo with a flashlight reflection in the bottom centre. The photo is on Kodak XtraLife II paper. The paper is semi gloss.This photo is of the construction of the Junction Dam Wall with the Bogong Townshiip in the background.Back of photo is printed " Kodak XtraLite II paperdam construction, bogong village, alpine development, junction dam

This photo was most likely taken at the site of the proposed McKay Creek Power Station. Excavation of this site was commenced in 1951 but an access road (a rough, narrow track) was put it in 1948 and widened in 1954. The State Electricity Commission would have milled logs from this area at their mill at Howman's Gap. The timber was used for building of housing and camps and provided a much needed resource as there was a general shortage of this commodity. The power station was relocated underground owing to repeated problems with landslides in the area. Restricted financial resources and the repositioning of the power station retarded construction activities and it was not completed until early 1961. An historical pictorial record of the type of machinery used in the 1950's - logging truck with bogie attached, the bull dozer and winch for hauling logs to the truck and note the lack of protective clothing!Black and white photograph showing a logging truck, bogie and bull dozer with winch for hauling the logs to the truck. Two men are on the truck, a driver on the bull dozer and a large log on the bogie. Hand written on the back of photo "Logging at McKay Creek".logging, mckay creek, timber, machinery

This SEC cook book was produced circa 1950s when the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme and its Commission was in full swing. The Commission had constructed two settlements, Mount Beauty and Bogong Village to house construction workers and their families in a "closed" community. These "closed" communities were for SEC staff and construction workers only. Entry into these villages was restricted to "SEC pass" carrying construction staff and their families. All facilities such as retail, sporting and other community services was provided by the SEC. This created an isolated community in which limited individual choice or administrative family leeway was available. It was a typical company town (live and work for the company). The Company was in the Kiewa Valley constructing power stations for the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme of Victoria. In one way the individual did not need to be concerned with living costs, educational needs for children, and recreational amenities and therefore "normal" community survival /living methods did not apply. This living, although restrictive, was quite simple. When the scheme was completed, in 1961, marking the end of company town, caused some of the employees, who had enjoyed the "controlled" township environment, a fair degree of angst in having the new 'laissez-faire" controls thrust upon them. This was magnified when both Mount Beauty and Bogong Village became meshed into the Bright Shire, vis-a-vis, local government. This cook book is a prime example of " the company is looking after you" and leave the worrying to us. This environment of a "company town", which creates the atmosphere of minimal personal responsibilities, is still present in a few remote mining towns in Australia at the beginning of the 21st Century.This book is a classical example of the psychological control in which the company had its construction workers families living in. The motto of many companies who had employees in isolated regions was "keep them happy". A happy and contented worker is a more productive worker. This was a period in time (1950s to 1970s) when social psychology was gaining recognition in the Australian workforce as well as internationally. At the end of the construction of all the power stations both the Mount Beauty settlement and the Bogong Village became more integrated into the main stream of rural Australia environment. Development of tourism in the region opened up not only interaction with a greater cross section of the ever expanding type of Australian but also the overseas based non rural culture tourist or immigrant. It allowed the intermingling of ideas in a non company controlled environment. The Mount Beauty and Bogong Village has, and even up to the 3000 Millennium, the same housing construction, as was built by the SEC. There has only been a very gradual change to modern domestic architectural home styles. This SEC cookbook has a folded cover with two staples at the spine, securing eight double sided pages. The white pages contain black print and sketches(3), and one black and white photograph (of the author). The front cover is mainly orange in colour with a gradual fading into yellow(at the top). The cover is approximately 210 g/m2 in thickness and each page is approximately 90 g/m2 thick. Front cover: top of page "SEC Cook Book of Family Favourites", in the middle a sketch, black on orange background, of a smiling mother walking from the kitchen to the dining table with a steaming rolled roast and vegetables in one hand and a gravy pot in the other. The furniture and decor relates to the 1950s. Below this sketch is printed"SEC TESTED RECIPES NO. 16" Inside cover: on top of the page is a black and white sketch of a pineapple, apple pear fish with scales, bunch of grapes with leaves a pork roll (head of pig one end and a roll ending on the other, on top of this food arrangement rests a fruit pie. Below this sketch are printed in black print the books contents.The first side of the first page is a black and white photograph Mary Dunne, the SEC Home Service supervisor who provided a signed foreword. The inside back cover has a promotional segment detailing a black and white photograph of a smiling (and happy) couple in the foreground with an electric stove in the distance. The written motto below this photograph is" to Live better -and save money they'll join the Power People. "the new tariff is(1960s) - First 75kWh --6 cents per kWh Next 435 kWh---2.3 cents per kWh Balance --1.7 cents per kWh The rate per killowatt-hour for the final block drops from 2.1 cents to 1.7 cents --a reduction of 19%.cooking recipes circa 1950s, domestic food, sec victoria cook books, recipes circa 1950s

non-fictionThis booklet is one of several publications from the State Electricity Commission during the period it was responsible for the running of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. It promotes tourism and depicts key features of the region in the 1980s.victoria. kiewa valley, kiewa river valley (vic.) -- description and travel., kiewa hydro