More firetowers.

From the Gregor Wallace collection…

Mt Blackwood – 1977.

These photos were taken during a family outing in April 1977 and show Gregor Wallace, his son Neil on the trig station and daughter Kerryn. His wife Norma took the photo.

The old wooden tower (37°33’25.9″S 144°21’37.6″E) had a great view over to the Brisbane Ranges and the plains towards Melbourne, and over much of the Wombat State Forest. The lookout man lived in Blackwood.

It was replaced with the current metal tower in about 1980.

Sulky – 1961.

These photos were taken in February 1961 and the figure on the ladder is Bruce Ross, Norma’s brother. Jack New is behind the binoculars inside the cabin.

Gregor’s camera then was a very basic 35mm Braun Paxette.

The site was on the highest point on the road between Creswick and Ballarat (37°27’13.6″S 143°52’18.3″E).

The metal tower was erected in about 1930 and is long gone but it had a good view over the young pine plantations of the time, which were bordered on their west and north by the railway line to Mildura and frequent steam engine passes.

Sulky is one of the few lookouts actually on the Great Dividing Range. Mt. Skene being another one.

https://www.firelookoutsdownunder.com/Victoria/sulky.html

https://www.firelookoutsdownunder.com/Victoria/mtblackwood.html

https://www.firelookoutsdownunder.com/Victoria/creswick.html