The Working Forests – mission accomplished.

With the generous support of Eucalypt Australia and the Dahl Trust, I have been busy over the last year writing and compiling a free eBook titled “The Working Forests”.

The notion of Working Forests sits at the very heart of traditional forest management and the long-term approach to sustainability. It conjures up an image of a continuous cycle of harvest and renewal, of balance and multiple use of a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits, while growing, and protecting forests for the future.

This eBook comes in two volumes and aims to capture the story of Victoria’s State Forests from the earliest days of the Colony in the 1800s through to the present.

Hundreds of small, stand-alone snapshots give a glimpse into specific times and events. They draw heavily on the substantial and diverse collection of stories published over a nine-year period on my Facebook page, “Victoria’s Forest and Bushfire Heritage”. The eBook is more a compendium of related stories which attempt to “join-the-dots”, rather than a linear chronicle, so there is some unavoidable duplication.

I’m unashamedly an amateur forest historian and have deliberately attempted to write in an easy-to-read and conversational style, rather than pursue a deeper scholarly work. I also have tried to use neutral language, to remain objective and avoid expressing biased opinions, but that’s for others to judge.

Volume 1 covers the period from colonisation of Victoria through to roughly the end of World War Two, while Volume 2 covers the remaining period to the present. But there are inevitable overlaps with some topics.

It doesn’t delve into Victoria’s rich indigenous past, nor does it cover in any detail the gold mining era and relics in the bush. And I have only touched-on steam sawmills and timber tramways because there are many enthusiast groups such as the Light Railways Research Society of Australia (LSRSA) which have covered this subject matter much better than I ever can.

It has been written from a forester’s perspective and captures the stories of people who worked in the forests, earned a living from them and enjoyed them as a place of recreation.

It’s also a tribute to foresters who managed and protected the State’s forests and plantations over many decades, and critically, worked to save the forest from permanent alienation and loss.

A large part of this document outlines the accumulated wisdom, achievements, planning and preparations undertaken by the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) to build an effective organisation.

In documenting the history of the forests and the key roles that foresters played as early stewards and advocates for forest conservation and land managers, it taps into networks of retired and practicing foresters, as well as many others.

But there remain significant gaps and sadly many of the key FCV figures are no longer alive or available to give their version of events.

This project is timely and significant because the management of Victoria’s eucalypt forests are at a dramatic turning point. The recent cessation of timber harvesting in Victoria’s public native forest in 2024, is raw and remains controversial, but is at the conclusion of a long and complex backstory – one which needs to be told.

Some have suggested publishing a hardcopy book, but I have never sought to profit from my work and wish to share it freely. The costs of printing so many colour images are prohibitive. Besides, an eBook is easier to skim, search and scroll.

My main hope is to record some of the rich story of Victoria’s State forests and bushfire heritage and place it on the public record within the security of the National Library.

A lot has changed over my 40-year career in forestry but importantly the foresters and the Forests Commission left a strong legacy of tradition, camaraderie and a spirit of innovation which remains deeply embedded in the DNA of the current land management agencies.

Looking back, many things are apparent, like stable leadership, staff having pride in their work, and a strong “can-do culture” of getting the job done, consistently shines through.

There were many “firsts”… and a lot to be proud of…

Thanks once again for your support and encouragement.

Volume 1 – 168 MB

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BlMyfqgaGbUlqDk-MaO3BM-xfM27Czjf/view?usp=sharing

Volume 2 – 191 Mb

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ASGSl36kVuNeG-3X56PEToBYOGstTqW1/view?usp=sharing

Email address: theworkingforests@gmail.com