Author Archives: Peter McHugh

The Marvellous Melbourne we enjoy today began to take shape in 1854 and was paying for it in gold. They were heady times. The MCG, Flinders Street Railway Station, Port Melbourne’s Station Pier, the University of Melbourne, both St Paul’s and St Patrick’s Cathedrals, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Customs House on the Yarra, while theContinue reading “Prosperity – 1854.”

The distance from Melbourne to Sydney often frustrated and delayed important government decision making when Port Phillip was still a reluctantly dependent outpost of New South Wales. It was one of the main reasons that Port Phillip residents passionately advocated for a separate and independent government. A Separation Association was formed following a public meetingContinue reading “Gold – 1851.”

After some years of agitation, Queen Victoria signed the Australian Colonies Government Acton 5 August 1850 to separate the Port Phillip District from NSW to create the new independent Colony of Victoria. When the news reached Melbourne from London on 11 November 1850 it was announced with great flourish under a tree at the northernContinue reading “Separation Tree(s) – 1850.”

1788 to 1851 – reshaping of the forests… The present-day State of Victoria had a hesitant start. George Bass sailed from Sydney in 1797 in an open whaleboat with a crew of six on an epic and perilous journey to explore the southern coast. He travelled around the southern tip of Wilsons Promontory to landContinue reading “The Working Forests – in the beginning.”

Over the last few years I have written nearly 1000 short Facebook stories and lodged eight free eBooks in the state and national library. There are also more than 20 Wikipedia pages. This year will see a shift of focus to writing a book about “The Working Forests” which seeks highlight the importance of ourContinue reading “The Working Forests.”

The fantastic sketch on this Christmas card was done in 1961 by Alan Rawady, the Forests Commission’s graphic artist. It was found in a box of old stuff at the Altona museum. The card was produced at a time when Alf Lawrence was the Chairman with Herb Galbraith and Ben Benallack as Commissioners. It includesContinue reading “Merry Christmas.”

It’s been another busy year on the Victorian Forests and Bushfire Heritage Facebook page. Once again, I have gathered up the main stories into a free eBook and published them in the national and state libraries so they don’t get lost in the Facebook soup. But the biggest achievement for 2024 has undoubtedly been photographingContinue reading “Forests and Bushfire History of Victoria – Series 5.”

Finton George Gerraty was born on 23 September 1899 at Myrtleford. He entered the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick in 1915 and graduated two years later in 1917. His postings with the Forests Commission Victoria included District Forester at Orbost in 1920, DFO Gellibrand in 1924 and then DFO Niagaroon (Taggerty District) inContinue reading “Finton George Gerraty.”

The suggestion of a golf club at Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges began circulating in 1905 and was revived again in 1931 as an idea to celebrate Victoria’s centenary. The land was identified by the local community as a bushfire menace after the 1926 fires and many claimed that a well-maintained golf course would reduceContinue reading “Olinda Golf Course.”

Military training has always been an important activity on Victoria’s State forests and public lands. Probably the most notable example was the takeover of Wilsons Promontory by the commandos in 1941. Forests were used for both target aiming and live firing. The prominent Lollipop Tree on Mt Beckworth, west of Ballarat, was used by RAAFContinue reading “Unexploded Ordnance – UXOs.”

On 5 April 1958, a fire was reported about 5 miles northwest of Wandilo, which is not far from Mt Gambier and the Victorian – South Australian border. The Bluff firetower reported light smoke at 08.25 am on Saturday morning and by 11.40 am the fire was moving quickly and out of control. It hadContinue reading “Wandilo Fire – 1958.”

Made in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, between 1960 and 1962. Rare GS-5020A model. It has a 7.06 cu. in. (115.7 cc), two-stroke motor, which weighed 25 lbs. (11.3 kg) complete. The blade doesn’t stop reciprocating when the saw is running because it’s attached directly to the crankshaft. There is no clutch system. DEECA Altona Museum Collection. 24Continue reading “Wright Reciprocating Saw.”

Phyllis Bromby was born on 10 April 1888 in Armadale as the daughter of Edward Hippius Bromby and Jane Nodin. The Bromby’s were a well-educated, middle-class family living in early colonial Melbourne which brought many important social and professional connections. Her father was the first librarian of the University of Melbourne, and her grandfather, TheContinue reading “Phyllis Bromby.”

Lightning is one of the major causes of bushfires, particularly in the remote mountains. This lightning detector system was developed by Dr. Peter Kourtz at Canada’s forest fire research institute. By 1977, some 300 were in use across the country. The small mushroom antenna could detect short-range (20-mile) changes in electrostatic field associated with lightningContinue reading “Q-Tech Lightning Detector.”