Category Archives: Forests

Photos from the Gregor Wallace Collection The 1960s saw prolonged droughts and harsh water restrictions in Melbourne.  There were also deadly bushfires on the fringes of the city in the Dandenong Ranges in 1962, and again in 1968. Growing concerns about long-term water security led to a Parliamentary Public Works Committee inquiry between 1965 andContinue reading “Yarra Pipeline – 1974”

Gregor Wallace reminisces – c 1968 – 1971. The Wimmera Forest Nursery at Wail, near Dimboola, “phone number Wail # 5”, had been a significant showcase for the Forests Commission since 1946. The nursery was within a large plantation of Sugar Gum (E. cladocalyx) which had been initially planted in about 1909 and was maturingContinue reading “Wail and Dimboola.”

Cork Oak (Quercus suber) is a medium sized evergreen tree which was planted in Australia as a specimen in many parks and gardens from the mid-19th century. The oldest tree is said to be in the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens, which was planted in 1857, and the largest at Tenterfield, in northern NSW, was plantedContinue reading “Cork Oak.”

The economic depression of the 1930s caused a revival of gold mining around Creswick, and this gold fever spilled over to students at the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF), but generally with limited success. However, Harold Beer wasn’t giving up, and one Saturday morning in late March 1931 he went fossicking at Grub Gully, whichContinue reading “VSF Students Strike Gold.”

First Nations and Fire. Victoria’s Aboriginal population prior to European settlement remains very uncertain but is thought to have ranged between 30,000 and 100,000 people. But it’s known that their numbers plummeted primarily due to introduced infectious diseases and displacement from their traditional lands. The Administrator of Gippsland, Charles James Tyers, in his 1846 AnnualContinue reading “Pre Colonial Forests & Fire – Part 6.”

The terrorist attack at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, was one of those significant events that shocked and reshaped the world, and where most people will remember exactly where they were at the time. Today, many people around the world will be quietly reflecting on the tragedy that occurred in New YorkContinue reading “Callery Pear.”

Judge Stretton & Lane-Poole. The 1939 Stretton Royal Commission transcripts reveal debate amongst foresters and graziers about the extent, impact and purpose of pre-colonial Aboriginal burning – a debate occurring decades before current academics and the media popularised their understandings of Aboriginal cultural burning to broader Australia. Charles Edward Lane-Poole, renowned forester and Inspector-General ofContinue reading “Pre Colonial Forests & Fire – Part 5.”

The significance of lightning. The number of bush and grass fires started by lightning varies across Australia, but in the remote mountains of eastern Victoria, they are very frequent – maybe several hundred in a dry summer season. (see: Gippsland Zig – Zag). But interestingly, the early explorers, and even the 1939 Stretton Royal Commission,Continue reading “Pre Colonial Forests & Fire – Part 4.”

Forest Age Structure. It’s often thought that Victoria’s tall and wet mountain forests, which were perhaps not often visited by Aborigines, would have only burned very infrequently under hot and dry conditions, probably when fires spread from the drier adjoining forests and grasslands. Many of the tree species found in these wet forests, such asContinue reading “Pre Colonial Forests & Fire – Part 3.”

Colonial Art. Early colonial art provides some tantalising glimpses into the nature and structure of the pre-European forests and woodlands and the impact of bushfires. While some of the works are topographically and botanically accurate, others are more romanticised and impressionist to cater to the tastes of a British audience. But these early paintings andContinue reading “Pre Colonial Forests & Fire – Part 2.”

This is a hotly debated and controversial topic, and I don’t have the answers, only curiosity and questions. Please moderate any comments you may wish to contribute… Unquestionably, Victoria’s forests have changed over the past two and a half centuries since European settlement. But what were they like, and how, and why, have they beenContinue reading “Pre Colonial Forests & Fire – Part 1.”

The 1st of September marks the official beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere, and wattles are starting to flower in the bush and in gardens around the country. Wattles feature prominently in Australian ceremonies, literature, poetry, art and song from the 1830s to the early 1900s. Noted naturalist Archibald James Campbell established the VictorianContinue reading “Wattle Day.”

The blame-game and climate conspiracies immediately run hot in the press and social media whenever there are major bushfires, floods, storms or other natural catastrophes. Some of the language is toxic. Many commentators quickly find an expert opinion, a slogan, a website, an article in the newspaper, or quote the “settled science“ pointing to theContinue reading “Changing Climate?”

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 RangesContinue reading “More firetowers.”

North America adopted a strident fire suppression and exclusion policy on its National Forests after the Great Fire of 1910, also known as the “Big Burn”. The firestorm razed over three million acres, obliterated several townships and killed 87 people, mostly firefighters. The fire shaped and cemented the US Forest Service for many decades toContinue reading “Let Burn Policy.”

North America adopted a strident fire suppression and exclusion policy on its National Forests after the Great Fire of 1910, also known as the “Big Burn”. The firestorm razed over three million acres, obliterated several townships and killed 87 people, mostly firefighters. The fire shaped and cemented the US. Forest Service, which at the timeContinue reading “Osborne Panoramas.”

All forests change over time, but the changes can be slow and not immediately apparent, unless there is a major disturbance like a windstorm or a very hot bushfire. These photos of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) are from the Bitterroot Mountains in Western Montana. They were taken by the US Forest Service and follow theContinue reading “Forest Succession.”

Desmond (Des) John Collins had never really travelled far from Daylesford until he was conscripted into National Service in September 1965. Sent to nearby Puckapunyal, Des completed his basic recruit training before being posted as Trooper (3787452) to the newly formed 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron (1 APC Sqn). Des trained as a driver ofContinue reading “Today is the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan which also marks Vietnam Veterans Day…”