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Recurring History of Bushfires in Victoria
Image: Digital Photograph - Man with Burned out Strezlecki Ranges Behind Him, Won Wron, 1914
Source: Museum Victoria
In February 2009 Victoria experienced the most deadly bushfires in Australia's recorded history. The fires reached their peak on Black Saturday, 7th February, and took an unprecedented toll: 173 people lost their lives and 414 were injured.
The Black Saturday chimney documents the impact of the February 2009 bushfires. It also witnessed the Black Sunday bushfires that burnt through Kinglake on 1st February 1926, and so represents the long and recurring history of bushfires in Victoria.
While bushfires occur every year, some have a devastating impact on communities and landscapes. The most catastrophic of these bushfires have been named after the day of the week in which they occurred; for example: Black Thursday 1851, Black Monday 1865, Black Sunday 1926, Red Tuesday 1898, Black Friday 1939, Ash Wednesday 1983 - and now Black Saturday 2009.
Bushfires threaten life and property but also regenerate Victoria's eucalyptus forests. They are a natural and essential feature of our ecosystem. The fire-dependent eucalypt forests of Victoria, together with drier and more extreme weather conditions, make this the one of the most fire-prone places on earth.
As climate is becoming more variable and more people are living closer to bushland, fire will continue to impact our lives and shape our history.
Related Narratives:
Collecting & Rebuilding the Black Saturday Chimney
'The Uplands' Homestead, Kinglake, 1890s-2009
Stories Revealed Through Bricks & Mortar
Victorian Bushfires Collection
Healesville Primary School Bushfire Artworks Collection
References:
The Romsey Australia website, Summary of major Bushfires Since 1851, http://home.iprimus.com.au/foo7/firesum.html, viewed 25-11-2009.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 42) 42 items
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Letter - Nell to Leading Aircraftman Howard Kellehear, Personal, 5 Jan 1942
Two-page letter to Howard from Nell, written on letterhead paper inscribed: A.C.F., RSL, THE SALVATION ARMY, AND Y.M.C.A. Nell thanks Howard for the locket. She has just returned home ...
From: Wingham, Australia Images: 4 -
Artwork - Richard, Stonnington Primary School to Alfred Hospital Burns Unit, Feb 2009
Child's drawing with a message for the survivors of the Black Saturday bushfires, specifically the patients at The Alfred Burns Unit, Melbourne. In the days after Black Saturday in F ...
Images: 1 -
Sign - `U Loot I Shoot', Devon North, Gippsland, Victoria, 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires, ...
Home made sign with the slogan 'U Loot I Shoot'. It was collected from the burnt-out home of Harry & Norma Coomber, Tarra Valley Road, Devon North, which had been destroyed by the Devon ...
Images: 1 -
Sinter - Black Saturday Bushfires, Remlaw, 7 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Three pieces of sinter, found below ground under the base of burnt fence posts on Alan and Cynthia Peterson's property in Remlaw, Victoria, after the Black Saturday Bushfires on 7th Feb ...
Images: 1 -
Interview - Mr Charles Trevor Coleman, Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works, Victoria, ...
Part of a collection of oral histories commissioned by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) in the lead up to the organisation's centenary in 1991. The oral histories wer ...
From: Lilydale, Australia Images: 1 -
Letter - Personal, From RS (Rebecca Sarah) Greaves, Plenty River, Victoria, 1851
Letter written by 23 year old Rebecca Sarah Greaves in 1851, which reveals the complex feelings of loss and separation, as well as excitement and adventure, felt by newly arrived migran ...
Images: 9 -
Negative - Tarilta, Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria, circa 1914
The Warmbrunn family at their home, 'Tarilta', in Upper Beaconsfield. The house was of wattle and daub construction and was lost in the Ash Wednesday bushfires.
From: Beaconsfield Upper, Australia Images: 1 -
Page Fragment - Flight Training Manual, Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damage ...
Fragment of a book from Bill Coppinger's home at Mount Disappointment lost in the Kilmore East Bushfire on 7 February 2009. Bill had over 1,000 books in his home. This page is the only ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Soup Bowls - Set of Four, Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
These four soup bowls were found stacked together, unbroken, in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's home at Mount Disappointment destroyed in the Kilmore East Bushfire on 7 February 2009. ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 2 -
Tape Measure - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's shed, this is the remnants of a standard 8-metre Stanley builder's tape measure. It has been transformed by fire into a fragile ribbon of burne ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 2 -
Decking Plank - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
This outdoor decking, from Bill Coppinger's home at Mount Disappointment lost in the Kilmore East Bushfire on 7 February 2009. It was found near the swimming pool. The area of the deck ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Melted Glass - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's kitchen area, this mass of slumped glass with debris embedded in it is believed to be the remains of two glass jars - one smaller than the othe ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Bucket - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
This bucket was one of three located in a line along Bill Coppinger's shed on his property at Mount Disappointment. The original wire handles were burnt off, but each was still holding ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Kitchen Crockery - Kinglake West, 07 Feb 2009, (Bushfire Damaged)
This single fused and partly melted piece of crockery includes the remains of at least two ceramic bowls and an egg cup which were found in the remains of the kitchen of the house at 35 ...
From: Kinglake West, Australia Images: 1 -
Alloy - Melted Wheel Section, Haven, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Large lump of melted metal, probably aluminium, from an alloy wheel. It came from the remains of a camper trailer which was stored at Bob and Ercil McIlvena's property at Haven, near Ho ...
From: Haven, Australia Images: 2 -
Alloy - Melted Wheel Section, Haven, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Large lump of melted metal, probably aluminium, from an alloy wheel. It came from the remains of a camper trailer which was stored at Bob and Ercil McIlvena's property at Haven, near Ho ...
From: Haven, Australia Images: 2 -
Beer Bottles - Glass, Fused, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Lump of melted clear glass, formed from the destruction by fire of two glass beer bottles. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home, destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bushfir ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 1 -
Wine Bottle - Green Glass, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Lump of melted green glass, formed from the destruction by fire of a glass wine bottle. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home, destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bushfire o ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 2 -
Wine Bottle - Green Glass, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Three pieces of melted green glass, formed from the destruction by fire of a glass wine bottle. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bus ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 4 -
Lid - Coffee Pot, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Burnt red enamelled metal lid, from the destruction by fire of a coffee pot. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home, destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bushfire on 7 Februar ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 2 -
Ornament - Gnome, Marysville, 7 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Burnt cast-concrete ornament male gnome. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home, destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bushfire on 7 February, 2009. This is part of the Victor ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 5 -
Jars - Fused, Clear Glass, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Lump of melted clear glass, formed from the destruction by fire of two glass jars. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home, destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bushfire on 7 F ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 1 -
Vase - Cloisonné, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Burnt metal cloisonné vase. Found in the remains of Lynne Stone's home, destroyed at Marysville by the Murrindindi Bushfire on 7 February, 2009. This is part of the Victorian Bushfires ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 2 -
Oil Can - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the burnt-out remains of Bill Coppinger's shed at Mount Disappointment, this oil can is one of the few objects from a large collection of old tools and machinery to remain foll ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Painting - 'Black Saturday 2009' by Glenn Morgan
The 'Black Saturday' painting by Glenn Morgan was created after the devastation of Marysville on Black Saturday, 7 February 2009. He had visited Marysville just three weeks prior to 7 F ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 3 -
Spotlight - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Originally attached to Bill Coppinger's machinery shed at Mount Disappointment, this spotlight was found on the ground after the fires. The face of the light had separated from the body ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 3 -
Steel Threads - Radial Tyre, Remnant from Trailer Wheel, Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 ...
These steel threads are from the tyres of the burnt-out remains of the trailer that was destroyed at Bill Coppinger's home by the Kilmore East Bushfire on 7 February 2009. The traile ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Carving Fork - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's kitchen area, this carving fork was part of a set originally owned by Bill's mother, Norma. The carving set may have been a golfing prize aw ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Blade - Carving Knife, Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of the Bill Coppinger's kitchen area, this carving knife was part of a set originally owned by Bill's mother, Norma. The carving set may been a golfing prize aw ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Carving Knife - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's kitchen area. The knife was part of a set and was a birthday gift to Bill's wife from her sister in 2003 or 2004. The donor's house at Mount D ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Jar- Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's kitchen area, it is believed to be a glass screw-top jar, but the heat of the fire melted the glass and it is almost beyond recognition. The ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Skillet - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of the kitchen of Bill Coppinger's home at Mount Disappointment destroyed in the Kilmore East Bushfire on 7 February 2009. The skillet was originally owned by Bill ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Slumped Glass - Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
This is the remains of a plate glass window from Bill Coppinger's home at Mount Disappointment destroyed by the Kilmore East Bushfire on 7 February 2009. The floor-to-ceiling windows we ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
House Number - 71 Kings Road, Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Fire-damaged ceramic house number. This ceramic house number was attached to a tree at the entrance to 71 Kings Road, Marysville, owned by Peter and Merran Guest. They purchased it in t ...
From: Greve in Chianti, Italy Images: 5 -
Motor Car - Holden 48-215, FX, Koornalla, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
This completely burnt-out shell of a Holden 48-215 sedan was one of a collection of six early-model Holden cars owned by Mr Chis Lee and stored in a purpose-built shed on his property a ...
From: Koornalla, Australia Images: 13 -
Chimney - 'The Uplands', Kinglake, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Single-flue brick chimney from the dining room of 'The Uplands', a homestead built in the late 1890s for John and Elizabeth Lawrey, early settlers to the Kinglake area. 'The Uplands' wa ...
From: Kinglake, Australia Images: 11 -
Cutting Disc - Food Processor, Mount Disappointment, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Found in the wreckage of Bill Coppinger's kitchen area, this blade was part of a set. It was a birthday gift to Bill's wife from her sister in 2003 or 2004. The house, sheds and all ...
From: Mt Disappointment, Australia Images: 1 -
Charcoal Fragment - Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Small piece of charcoal, formed through the destruction by fire of a container of an unknown foodstuff. It was located in the pantry cupboard and found in the remains of Lynne Stone's h ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 1 -
Charcoal Fragment - Marysville, 07 Feb 2009 (Bushfire Damaged)
Small piece of charcoal, formed through the destruction by fire of a container of an unknown foodstuff. It was located in the pantry cupboard and found in the remains of Lynne Stone's h ...
From: Marysville, Australia Images: 1 -
Digital Photograph - Man with Burned out Strezlecki Ranges Behind Him, Won Wron, 1914
This photograph shows John Joseph 'JJ' O'Connor, looking out onto the Strezlecki Ranges after a bushfire fire, Won Wron, Gippsland, circa 29 September 1914. The O'Connor family were a l ...
Images: 1 -
Digital Photograph - Two Men on Horseback Droving Sheep, Gippsland, circa 1916-1918
This photograph shows John Joseph 'JJ' O'Connor, on the road droving sheep, Gippsland, circa 1916-1918. He and the photographer Dr. Pern had been in business together. They were raising ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Horse Team Pulling Timber on Sled, Lavers Hill District, Victoria, circa 1895
The Biggest Family Album of Australia, Museum Victoria
From: Lavers Hill, Australia Images: 1
