Category Archives: Forests

Ever wondered about Chains, Links, Yards, Furlongs, Miles, Acres, Roods and Perches? Before metrication was introduced into Australia during the 1970s, distance on parish plans was shown in chains and links while area was in acres, roods and perches. Gunter’s chain was used for measuring distance in surveying. It was designed and introduced in 1620Continue reading “Gunter’s Chain.”

The first “road” to be built in Victoria by European settlers was on Phillip Island, more than two centuries ago. The “project manager” was the Commander of HM Brig Lady Nelson – John Murray – who was surveying the Bass Strait area in 1801 on behalf of Victoria’s first road authority – the Government ofContinue reading “Country Roads Board (CRB).”

Even before the gold rush of the 1850s, timber splitters invaded Victoria’s eastern forests including the Dandenong Ranges which were close to the city. Mr. J. W. Beilby established a sawmill at Ferntree Gully in about 1850 and a small township sprang up around it. He later claimed that his was the first sawmill establishedContinue reading “The Dandenong Ranges Timber Reserve – 1867.”

Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides all provide great outdoor adventure and leadership opportunities for young people. Major-General Robert Baden-Powell started the movement in 1907 at a time when explorers were reaching the north and south poles, the Wright brothers were taking off at Kitty Hawk, and the first Model T Fords were rolling off theContinue reading “Giddy… Giddy… Gouts…”

Milk comes from cartons and water comes out of a tap… doesn’t it? I wonder how many people stop to think about where their water comes from? The MMBW catchments supply Melbourne, but State forests have always been an important source of clean water for rural communities. One of the more innovative and unusual waterContinue reading “Rural Water Supplies.”

The Australian Seasoned Timber Company (ASTC) operated in the Mount Disappointment State forest, 37 miles north of Melbourne, between 1880 and 1902. It was said to be the largest sawmilling and timber processing company in the southern hemisphere at the time. It owned several sawmills, along with an extensive network of tramlines supplying timber directlyContinue reading “Australian Seasoned Timber Company – Mount Disappointment.”

The Otway Ranges is characterised by steep terrain, wet weather and thick forest. An early but unsuccessful attempt was made between 1854 and 1861 to bring Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) railway sleepers to Melbourne in small coastal ships from the Otway Ranges. The voyage was perilous because there were no suitable harbours, and relics ofContinue reading “Henry’s sawmills – Otway Ranges.”

The battle of Lone Pine at Gallipoli is deeply etched in the psyche of Australians, New Zealanders and the Turks. It took place between 6 and 10 August 1915 with tragic losses of over 2,000 ANZACs and a further 7,000 Turkish soldiers. Over the decades the battle became increasingly symbolic and many memorial parks inContinue reading “Lone Pine tree – Victorian School of Forestry (VSF).”

The austral grasstree (Xanthorrhoea australis) is commonly found growing in heathlands on poor sandy soils along the east coastal strip from NSW to SA, as well as Tasmania. They are highly susceptible to the soil-borne disease Phytophthora cinnamomi. In 1882, the Victorian Inspector of Forests William Ferguson made a field survey of the Heytesbury ForestContinue reading “Grass trees.”

Just about every Forest District had one… the State forest drive. Most people enjoy a leisurely drive in the country, or through the bush, which includes a scenic spot for short walk or a picnic. Staff have always taken pride in their patch of forest and were keen to make the bush available to localsContinue reading “Forest Drives.”

The timber industry in Victoria was arguably very lopsided with the Forests Commission, as a large government-owned monopoly, controlling forest licencing, allocation and supply of timber to sawmillers. In most cases the relationship between sawmillers and the local District Forester were cordial and business like, but it was clearly an uneven one at times. It’sContinue reading “Julia Hale – an extraordinary sawmiller.”

Imagine a machine that uses solar energy to remove carbon from the air and turns it into a beautiful, strong and sustainable building material. Oh wait… that’s what trees are… Today is World Forestry Day and what better way to celebrate than to acknowledge this magnificent Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) which grows in front ofContinue reading “World Forestry Day.”

A large granite outcrop at the headwaters of the Mississippi Creek in the Colquhoun State forest, just west of Lakes Entrance, was identified in the early 1890s. It’s said to be of the same geological formation as the pink granite at Wilsons Promontory, Gabo Island and northern Tasmania. The beautiful granite will take a highContinue reading “Mississippi Quarry – Colquhoun forest.”

In 1836, the western boundary between colonies of NSW and South Australia, and what was later to become the border of Victoria, was decided as the 141 degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich. Three years later in 1839, Charles Tyers transferred from the Royal Navy and was given the task to precisely mark theContinue reading “The loss of Longitude and the “Disputed Territory”.”

William Christian arrived in Melbourne in 1850 and worked as a pattern maker in a foundry. But like many others he was soon drawn by the lure of the goldfields. After a few unsuccessful years of trying his luck, William ended up in Woodend in 1868 and started a couple of successful sawmills in theContinue reading “Christian’s Mill – Wombat Forests.”

When travelling around State forests it’s not uncommon to find a lonely and forgotten grave tucked away in the bush. The last resting place of some unlucky traveller or pioneer killed in an accident, unable perhaps to receive medical aid in time. They were usually buried where they died. The grave of former dance girlContinue reading “Dog’s Grave.”