Peter McHugh

World’s first bushfire reconnaissance flight.

On 29 June 1915, 108 years ago today, what is believed to be the world’s first forest patrol flight was made at Trout Lake in Wisconsin. Aviation pioneer and wealthy Chicago sportsman Logan “Jack” Vilas made the initial flight to demonstrate the viability of using aircraft in fire prevention. He took Chief Forester, Edward Griffith,Continue reading “World’s first bushfire reconnaissance flight.”

Thomson Reservoir High Water Mark.

The decision to build the massive Thomson Dam in Gippsland was a result of a State Government inquiry into Melbourne’s water security in the late 1960s. The dam wall and diversion tunnels were built in three stages between 1969 and 1985. But unlike the Upper Yarra and Maroondah catchments which were “vested“ in the MelbourneContinue reading “Thomson Reservoir High Water Mark.”

Yarra Tribs.

The 1960s saw more prolonged droughts and water restrictions. There were also deadly bushfires on the fringes of Melbourne in 1962, and again in 1968. Growing concerns about long term water security led to a Parliamentary Public Works Committee inquiry between 1965 and 1967. In response to the inquiry, the Bolte Government immediately approved worksContinue reading “Yarra Tribs.”

Jackie Lewis – MMBW Ranger.

Jackie Lewis began as a Ranger in 1924 with the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) and worked in the remote Upper Yarra water catchments beyond Warburton and Woods Point. The legendary “Iron Man” of the bush enjoyed the solitary nature of his work. As a champion long-distance runner Jackie was selected for theContinue reading “Jackie Lewis – MMBW Ranger.”

O’Shannassy Aqueduct.

Melbourne grew rapidly after the 1851 gold rush and struggled to maintain adequate water supplies and sewerage disposal. All the night soil, trade waste, as well as waste from kitchens and homes was just thrown into open channels in the street and it simply flowed wherever gravity took it… mostly into the Yarra River. TheContinue reading “O’Shannassy Aqueduct.”

Notre Dame.

Up to a thousand Sessile oaks (Quercus petraea) were felled to reconstruct the ancient 800-year-old timber roof and fallen spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was destroyed by fire in April 2019. A nationwide tree hunt began soon after French president, Emmanuel Macron, decided that the iconic Cathedral would be rebuilt exactlyContinue reading “Notre Dame.”

Butter Boxes.

Warrnambool in southwest Victoria has a strong dairy industry that once boasted two factories making thousands of wooden butter boxes. The first factory was opened in 1896 near the railway station by Welsh immigrant Henry McGennan. The second factory owned by the Western District Co-Operative Box Company, came a few years later in 1912, onContinue reading “Butter Boxes.”

Sleepers

The figures for railway sleepers produced from State forests are simply astounding. More than 26 million were cut between 1919 and 1986, primarily from the red gum forests along the Murray, the yellow stringybark forests of Mullundung near Yarram and greybox from East Gippsland. Sleeper cutting began around Orbost in the 1920s and there areContinue reading “Sleepers”

Footy and Rabbits.

For many years, the number of students at the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick was too small to field its own competitive football team. In 1942 there were only about 17 students, but in 1944 the annual intake increased, with the result that by 1946 the number in residence had more than doubledContinue reading “Footy and Rabbits.”

South Cascade Bridge.

In the wake of the 1939 bushfires, a major log salvage program was undertaken by the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) across the Central Highlands. Logs salvaged from the Thomson Valley and destined for sawmills at Erica travelled on a complex network of timber tramways. Before the fires, the well-established Ezards company already operated several sawmillsContinue reading “South Cascade Bridge.”

Yellow Gum – VSF.

The grounds at the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick have many significant trees, some dating back over more than a century. When Prince Charles stayed overnight at VSF on 28 October 1974 he planted a Yellow Gum (E. leucoxylon) near the science lab. The tree survives but it’s a bit overshadowed by someContinue reading “Yellow Gum – VSF.”

Poverty Point Bridge.

Also known as the Tramway Bridge or the Old Steel Bridge, Poverty Point Bridge was designed by Mr. Timmins, an engineer from the Victorian Railways. The prefabricated steel components were manufactured by Dorman Long and Co and erected in 1900 by Austral Otis Co from South Melbourne. Dorman Long and Co was a Middlesborough firmContinue reading “Poverty Point Bridge.”

Tom Crosbie Morrison.

Philip Thomas Crosbie Morrison, sometimes known as PTCM, but more commonly as just plain Tom, was born in 1931 and grew up in Brighton. It’s alleged that on New Years Eve, Tom, and his younger brother James, climbed the statue of Victoria’s infamous and colourful Premier Sir Thomas Bent, which overlooked the Nepean Highway, andContinue reading “Tom Crosbie Morrison.”

Forests Commission Logo.

The iconic Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) “two-tree” logo was designed in the early 1960s by graphic artist, Alan Rawady. The modern logo replaced the circular emblem with myrtle beech fronds that had been in service for many decades. Alan had the grand title of Artist and Display Designer and was part of the three-person PublicityContinue reading “Forests Commission Logo.”

Yes Minister.

Forty years ago today, on 4 May 1983, the Minister for Forests, Rod Mackenzie, announced in Parliament the State Government’s intention to “shake up” the forest service. The Forests Commission Victoria (FCV), and its predecessor the State Forests Department (SFD), had been stable and relatively autonomous authorities responsible for management and protection from bushfire ofContinue reading “Yes Minister.”

Star Wars.

Jim Hickman, a Fire Management Officer from Tasmania, first suggested using lasers for slash burning in the late 1960s. Inspired by US weapons research, Forestry Tasmania wanted to ignite logging slash from 4 to 5 km away. The idea was further promoted by Phil Shepherd in a series of reports in 1973. In 1975, PhilContinue reading “Star Wars.”

Gallipoli Oak.

Most Australians would have heard the legendary story of the solitary Turkish Pine (Pinus brutia) that grew on the slopes of the Gallipoli Peninsula made famous as marking the site of the Battle of Lone Pine in August 1915. But few may have heard about the Gallipoli Oak (Quercus coccifera subsp. Calliprinos) that grew along the ridges and valleys.Continue reading “Gallipoli Oak.”

Macedon Avenue of Honour.

On ANZAC Day we gather to remember those who served our country. We may attend a dawn service, go to a march, wear some precious family medals, or lay a wreath at a cenotaph. We may even follow with a cold frothy or two and a game of two-up at our local RSL. But acrossContinue reading “Macedon Avenue of Honour.”