Historical information

Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 9 January 1969, page 1

A day of century heat, 13 KILLED IN VICTORIAN FIRES
...About thirty houses and a public hall were destroyed by fire in the township of Diamond Creek. The group officer of the Diamond Creek Fire Brigade, Mr Tom Harrington, said tonight that he thought it was a "miracle" that no-one lost their lives in the fires. A relief centre for the homeless was set up by the Diamond Valley Shire Council.
Mr Harrington said that the first fire call in the town was received at 10.45 am. "Within 20 minutes there were five more fires and it seemed like the whole town was alight", he said. "It was a chaotic day. All our best plans for fighting the fires became disorganised. "As 60-mile-an-hour winds swept fires through different parts of the town many fire fighters were unable to get from one fire to another. ,"

Physical description

Black and white photograph of charred fire remnant Diamond Creek 1969