History

June 2007 Floods Set Records

The June 2007 floods will go down in history as among the most severe for many years.

The rainfall amounts reached record highs in some areas. Bairnsdale Airport received 322.6 mm of rain during June, exceeding the 1998 June record of 295.1 mm by 27.5 mm.

The highest daily fall was 123.4 mm at Mt Moornapa, west of Bairnsdale, on June 28, which contributed to its highest recorded June total of 414.4 mm since the station opened in 1995.

Much of Gippsland received very much above average rainfall, with Gabo Island , Point Hicks Lighthouse and Mallacoota receiving their highest June total since 1978.

The last major flood in the area was in June 1998.

Heavy rain fell on 23 and 24 June 1998 in East Gippsland , with the highest totals in the Bairnsdale to Orbost area. Major flooding was experienced in the lower reaches of the Mitchell and Snowy rivers and moderate flooding in the Cann and Avon rivers.

There was extensive damage to livestock and property with 21,000 sheep, 40,100 cattle killed and 270 bridges were damaged or lost. Roads were cut, power was disrupted and one life was lost. The estimated damage bill was 50-70 million dollars.

The chart below shows some of the higher floods in the Gippsland area over the past century and more. The Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) shows the average time span at which floods of that height occur; for example an ARI of 30 means a flood of that level will occur on average once every 30 years.

Historic Sites Revealed By Fire

The 2006-2007 bushfires revealed many historic sites, some forgotten about over the years and others just hidden away by overgrown vegetation. With the understorey clear and open, there is an opportunity to find, assess and map these sites.

The need for these historical sites to be assessed and recorded has been recognised by DSE, with the DSE Recovery Team identifying two major areas for this work, both of which relate directly to pre-1900 mining operations.

The areas are the Highland Chief settlement and mining operations near Brookville, west of Swifts Creek, and the Haunted Stream settlements and mining operations, west of Tambo Crossing.

The Highland Chief mining area contains primarily pre-1900s workings, with mine adits (entrances) as well as shafts found throughout the area. Two major battery sites have also been identified.

The original township had around 30 houses and a number of old bridle trails link the area, while the remains of equipment and workings can be found throughout the site.

The Haunted Stream area is historically significant due to the hundreds of individual historic sites that exist throughout this area.

Small and large settlements were formed wherever there were mining activities and to date, 187 house sites have been identified here, along with numerous building sites, mines and battery sites.

Bridle tracks abound here too, linking the towns to mining activities in the surrounding hills, which today still show mine adits, mine shafts, railways, mullock heaps and chutes. House sites and other building sites are scattered with relics.

Both of these areas were extensively mapped using GPS (Geographical Positioning Systems). Photos and recordings were taken of each individual site and the information collated using the Arcview mapping program.

This may be the last chance to accurately and extensively map these historic areas, because even with the vegetation cleared, sites can be extremely difficult to identify. In a short amount of time the bush will have regenerated and these historic sites will be hidden away again, possibly forever.

CAPTIONS: These photos show a large house site, a large stone chimney at another house site and a battery site at Ezards. All were revealed when the fires burnt through bushland. (click to enlarge)

Fire statistics

The statistical information from the 2006-2007 fires shows just how big an impact they had.

In Wellington Shire, the Great Divide Complex South fire burnt 41 percent or 447,872 hectares (ha) of the shire, with around 14,292 ha of this private property.

The 155 private properties affected included 31 commercial farms, 37 second income farms, 75 hobby or lifestyle properties and 10 non farming businesses. The 31 commercial farms operate on a total of 19,592 ha and 9907 ha was affected by fire (50 percent). Nine farmers had more than 75 percent of their properties burnt.

The second income farming enterprises operate on 4773 ha and fire affected 2812 ha or 59 percent of their land. Ten had more than 90 percent burnt and eight properties between 50 and 90 percent burnt.

Hobby or alternative lifestyle properties own a total of 2762 ha and 1482 ha or 59 percent was burnt. Sixteen landholders had more than 90 percent burnt and 17 had between 50 percent and 90 percent burnt.

The estimate of lost fencing is 1026 km, with a replacement cost of approximately $10 per metre meaning a total replacement cost of $10.24 million.

In the Latrobe Shire, 140 landholders were affected by the fires. Property sizes ranged from 1 ha to 40 ha maximum, with only one property considered to be a commercial farm.

Major Bushfires in Victoria

Fire has been present on the Australian continent for millions of years and has been significant in shaping much of the landscape. For many thousands of years, Aboriginal people have used fire for a variety of purposes.

These included the encouragement of grasslands for hunting purposes and the clearing of tracks through dense vegetation.

There are, however, few comprehensive records of specific bushfire events prior to European settlement. Therefore, the following chronology includes only those fire episodes that have occurred since European settlement in Victoria .

1851 - 6 February 'Black Thursday'

Fires covered a quarter of what is now Victoria (approximately 5 million hectares). Areas affected include Portland , Plenty Ranges , Westernport, the Wimmera and Dandenong districts. Approximately 12 lives, one million sheep and thousands of cattle were lost.

1898 - 1 February 'Red Tuesday'

Fires burnt 260,000 hectares in South Gippsland . Twelve lives and more than 2,000 buildings were destroyed.

Early 1900s

Destructive and widespread fires are reported to have occurred in 1905 and 1906. Fires extended from Gippsland to the Grampians in 1912. In 1914, fires burnt more than 100,000 hectares. In 1919 extensive fires occurred in the Otway Ranges .

1926 - February - March

Forest fires burnt across large areas of Gippsland throughout February and into early March. Sixty lives were lost in addition to widespread damage to farms, homes and forests. The fires came to a head on February 14, with 31 deaths recorded at Warburton. Other areas affected include Noojee, Kinglake, Erica, and the Dandenong Ranges . Widespread fires also occurred across other eastern states.

1932

Major fires occurred in many districts across Victoria throughout the summer. Large areas of State forest in Gippsland were burnt and nine lives were lost.

1939 - 13 January 'Black Friday'

From December 1938 to January 1939, fires burnt 1.5 to 2 million hectares, including 800,000 hectares of protected forest, 600,000 hectares of reserved forest and 4,000 hectares of plantations. The fire severity peaked on Friday January 13 - "Black Friday". The fires caused seventy one fatalities and destroyed more than 650 buildings and the township of Narbethong . The findings of the Royal Commission that was held following the fires were highly significant in increasing fire awareness and prevention throughout Australia.

The fires affected almost every section of Victoria . Areas hardest hit included Noojee, Woods Point, Omeo, Warrandyte, and Yarra Glen. Other areas affected include Warburton, Erica, Rubicon, Dromana, Mansfield , Otway Ranges and the Grampian Ranges (see images on the Virtual Exhibition).

1942 - 3-4 March

Fires in South Gippsland caused one human fatality, large losses of stock and destroyed more than 20 homes and 2 farms.

1943 - 22 December

The first major fire of the 1943/44 season occurred near Wangaratta, killing ten people and burning hundreds of hectares of grassland.

1944 - 14 January - 14 February

Fires in the Western Districts destroyed over 500 houses and caused huge losses in the pastoral industry. Four or more grass fires near Hamilton , Dunkeld, Skipton and Lake Bolac burnt approximately 440,000 hectares in eight hours.

Records indicate that between fifteen and twenty people died as a result of these fires. The total area covered by grass fires that season was estimated to be in the order of 1 million hectares.

1952 - 5 February

A fire that originated on the Hume Highway near Benalla burnt approximately 100,000 hectares and caused the deaths of several people.

1962 - 14-16 January

Fires in the Dandenong Ranges and on the outskirts of Melbourne caused thirty two fatalities and destroyed over 450 houses. Areas severely affected include The Basin, Christmas Hills, Kinglake, St Andrews , Hurstbridge, Warrandyte and Mitcham.

1965 - 17 January

A major grass fire burning near Longwood in Northern Victoria caused seven fatalities and burnt six houses.

1965 - 21 February - 13 March

Fires in Gippsland burnt for 17 days, covering 300,000 hectares of forest and 15,000 hectares of grassland. Over 60 buildings and 4,000 stock were destroyed.

1968 - 19 February

A fire in the Dandenong Ranges burnt 1,920 hectares and destroyed 53 houses and over 10 other buildings. Areas affected include The Basin and Upwey.

1969 - 8 January

280 fires broke out on the 8th of January 1969. Of these, 12 grass fires reached major proportions and burnt 250,000 hectares. Areas seriously affected included Lara, Daylesford, Dulgana, Yea, Darraweit, Kangaroo Flat and Korongvale. Twenty-three people died, including 17 motorists at Lara, trapped on the Geelong to Melbourne freeway. The fires also destroyed 230 houses, 21 other buildings and more than 12,000 stock.

1972 - 14 December

A fire at Mount Buffalo burnt for 12 days, covering an area of approximately 12,140 hectares. This area included 7,400 hectares of State forest and 4,520 hectares of National Park.

1977 - 12 February

Widespread fires occurred across the Western District of Victoria, mostly in grasslands. The fires caused the deaths of four people and burnt approximately 103,000 hectares. More than 198,500 stock, 116 houses and 340 buildings were lost.

1980 - 28 December – 6 January 1981

A fire started from a lightning strike on December 28, 1980 and continued to burn through until 6 January 1981. The fire burnt 119,000 hectares in the Sunset Country and the Big Desert .

1983 - 31 January

Fires in the Cann River forest district burnt more than 250,000 hectares including large areas of State forest.

1983 - 1 February

A fire at Mt Macedon burnt 6,100 hectares including 1,864 hectares of State forest. Fifty houses were destroyed.

1983 - 16 February 'Ash Wednesday'

Australia 's most well-known bushfire event. Over 100 fires in Victoria burnt 210,000 hectares and caused forty seven fatalities. More than 27,000 stock and 2,000 houses were lost. Areas severely affected included Monivae, Branxholme, East Trentham, Mt Macedon, the Otway Ranges , Warburton, Belgrave Heights , Cockatoo, Beaconsfield Upper and Framlingham. (see also Ash Wednesday pages).

1985 - 14 January

A major fire in Central Victoria burnt 50,800 hectares of land, including 17,600 hectares of Crown Land . Three people died and over 180 houses, 500 farms and 46,000 stock were destroyed as a result of the fire. Areas affected include Avoca, Maryborough, and Little River.

1997 - 21 January

Five major fires broke out including fires in the Dandenong Ranges that caused three fatalities, destroyed 41 houses and burnt 400 hectares. Other areas affected include Arthurs Seat, Eildon State Park , Gippsland and Creswick.

1998 - 9 January New Years Eve

A fire reported on New Years Eve continued for 10 days and burnt a total of 32,000 hectares. Of this area, 22,000 hectares was in the Alpine National Park (12,500 hectares of which is Wilderness or Remote Natural Area) and 10,000 hectares was in the Carey River State Forest . The suspected cause of the fire was a campfire. (see also Alpine National Park ).

2002 - December Big Desert Fire

Lightning in the North West caused two fires - one in the Big Desert Wilderness Park and another in the adjoining Wyperfield National Park on 17 December. Fanned by dry fuel and poor weather conditions, these fires joined to eventually burn 181,400 hectares. An abandoned house was destroyed, as well as 400 hectares of private property. The fire was later declared safe on 31 December after 25mm rain fell in the area. (see also Big Desert ).

2003 - Eastern Victorian (Alpine) Fires

Eighty seven fires were started by lightning in the north east of Victoria on 8 January 2003. Eight of these fires were unable to be contained and joined together to form the largest fire in Victoria since the 1939 "Black Friday" bushfires. Burning for 59 days before being contained, the Alpine fires burnt over 1.3 million hectares, 41 homes and over 9,000 livestock, with thousands of kilometres of fencing also being destroyed. Areas affected include Mt Buffalo, Bright, Dinner Plain, Benambra and Omeo.

2006 – Grampians Fire

Approximately 116,000 hectares in size, the fires caused an estimated damage bill of $20 million. The area experienced large stock losses, including some 62,700 sheep. An estimated 1,900 kilometres of fencing was destroyed. 41 homes were destroyed, while another 240 building structures were ruined.

2006-07 – Great Divide Complex

North East and Eastern Victoria was once again ravaged by fires. Burning for 69 days, the Great Divide Complex fires were the longest duration in Victoria 's fire history and encompassed 1.1 million hectares. The fire damaged plantations, crops and pastures. Over 1,300 kilometres of fencing was destroyed, along with 33 homes. Fire fighters from interstate, New Zealand , the United States of America and Canada joined local fire fighters in their efforts to control the blaze.