Historical information
Bogong Village, which was known as “The Junction”, is well recorded. The first tent camp was at the junction of Pretty Valley and Rocky Valley streams in the early 40’s. Further downstream were the sawmill, stables and blacksmith’s forge. Horses were the main mode of transport in the early days. The road to Bogong had reached the lookout spur just beyond Roper’s Spur track just before the 1939 fires. The early forties saw rapid growth of the village, with single and married men’s quarters, workshops, mess huts and administrative offices. The facilities necessary for communal living were quickly in place- a post office, police station, co-op store, medical centre, community hall/theatre, tennis courts and school. Much of the temporary accommodation that housed groups such as the Albion Quarrying Company were in the area now under water.
Significance
Pictorial history of the early years of Bogong Village including one photo taken following the devastating fires of 1939. Photos show the terrain in which Bogong Village was built, the early construction used for the temporary buildings and the housing and the amount of infrastructure required to accommodate the needs of the residents of the area including workers, their families and other support staff.
Physical description
Set of 9 black and white photographs and photocopies of photographs depicting early buildings at Bogong Village . Photos show very early construction buildings as well as the village in various weather conditions, including snowing and after bush fires. (some official SECV photographs)
1. Bogong Village in heavy snow
2. Bogong Township during heavy snow (SECV Official Photo)
3. VIP Lodge at Bogong in the snow
4. Bogong Village - circa 1940’s
5. Bogong Village under street lights
6. Lewis Construction Camp (SECV Official Photo)
7. Albion Quarrying Co. Camp (SECV Official Photo)
8. Tent camp and early buildings following 1939 fires
9. Typical house – Bogong Village
Inscriptions & markings
1. Handwritten under photo – August 1948
2. Printed under photo: STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA Date: 25.8.48 Time: 9am No:K 4680 Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works. Bogong Township
3. Handwritten on back of photo- V.I.P. Lodge, Bogong
4 – 5. No markings
6. Printed under photo: STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA Date: 28.11.40 Time: 1.40pm No:K284
Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works. Lewis Construction Camp
7. Printed under photo: STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA Date: 11.1.41 Time: 10.40am No:K294
Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works. Albion Quarrying Co. Camp – Bogong. Handwritten on back of photo: On the floor of
the present dam
8. No markings
9. Printed under photo: STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA Date: 11.1.46 Time: 1.23pm No:K2181
Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works. Bogong – Typical House
