1939 bushfires
 
        
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The
“Black Friday” bushfires of 13th January, 1939 were the peak of a summer
of devastation in Victoria. During that January, 1.4 million hectares of
the state burned. 575 000 hectares of reserved forest and 780 000 was
forested Crown land were destroyed. Over a thousand homes were burnt
leaving 1500 people in temporary accommodation and 71 people tragically
died. The height of the fires was on Friday 13th when very strong northerly winds on intensified the flames. Fires which had smouldered uncontrolled during the previous days combined and exploded. Fires burned in almost every part of the State on “Black Friday”. The townships of Narbethong, Noojee, Woods Point, Nayook West and Hill End were obliterated. Other towns such as Warrandyte, Yarra Glen, Omeo and Pomonal were badly damaged. Fires raged in the Yarra Ranges east of Melbourne particularly at Toolangi, Matlock, Rubicon, the Acheron valley, Tanjil and Thomson valleys and Warburton. Alpine areas in the North East such as Bright, Cudgewa and Corryong suffered. The Otway Ranges, the Grampians and areas in the South West were also affected. The 1939 bushfires remain the most significant event in the environmental history of Victoria since 1788. The following names are of the 71 victims who lost their lives in the disastrous 1939 bushfires. Whilst this page honours and remembers them, we also pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives as a result of bushfires. The 1939 fires which swept through three states have been a history well known to me as my grandparents where midst the horrific trauma, as was my mother and many relatives. Half the town in which they lived was destroyed, being the town that has resulted in my career as an historian - Omeo Over the years I have listened to the many stories and during my research years have gathered a lot of information on the 1939 bushfires, with the intent to one day have a monument erected in memory of all those killed in 1939 fires. The most heart wrenching story that touched my heart in my research, which inspired me to research more was the Robinson children at Barongarook - four siblings who were amongst those who died tragically. I was overjoyed to see the production of the online "Black Friday Story Site" produced by the ABC (see here) Produced by Moira Fahy with the assistance of the ABC - Film Victoria Multimedia Production Accord. The site has bought together a lot of my knowledge and research. As I read and listened to the amazing stories, tears and heart felt sadness overwhelmed me. My sincere congratulations to all concerned in producing the amazing site and may the names here, compliment the most memorable site I have come across in Australian History. If anyone has stories or photos of the 1939 bushfires that I could add to this site, please contact me.
Omeo
Toolangi
When a
strong wind rose from the south-west Charlie Demby ran to warn John
Barling. That was the last time that either was seen alive.
Rubicon
Four of them were killed after cramming
into a recently-built sawmill dugout
Lemuel SIMS
Eight died in a futile struggle to save a
winch high on the Blue Range. The winch was sited on a small flat, and
they would not have been aware of the fire as it cam up the Rubicon
Falls until it was almost upon them.
Acheron 7 Deaths
When stopped by a falling tree, the Kerslake family had to leave their car and tried to flee, Ken carrying Ruth and Eileen running beside them. When Eileen's shoe got stuck in the melted tar, Ken put Ruth down to assist - sadly the family never made it.
These
four men perished as they followed the same route as the Kerslake's.
Aboard Frank Edwards car, they got a ride in desperation to escape the
fires, leaving behind their co-workers who had tried to stop them. Those
left behind survived
Noojee
Following a horrific ordeal of trying to save property and lives, he and his wife tried to escape in their car, but was stopped by fallen trees. Taking refuge in the river, he survived but died five days later of pneumonia cause from extensive smoke inhalation. Tanjil Bren 12 Deaths
Unable to find shelter, these people perished
Hill End
Woods
Point
Matlock
Unable to escape from the burning house, Vera perished
These men took shelter
behind the brickwork of the boiler as the fire swept over the mill site.
They remained there until the heat became unbearable and they were
forced out into the open. George Sellars was the only survivor. He had
wrapped himself in a wet blanket and crouched in a small cleared spot
for two and a half hours. When rescuers arrived, he was only just alive.
Bright James and his nephew Ronald were caught by a change in the wind and both perished.
John Edeny, a SEC employee went missing near Homans Gap on Wednesday 11 January and was burnt to death.
The Otways
Driven from their house, the family retreated to a small patch of bare ground. In a panic, four of the children became separated from the family and tried to escape to a nearby road. All four died. John Robinson described the fire as " .. a hell let loose, too terrible to imagine"
Western
Victoria
The Urban
Fringes
He had apparently packed his belongings with the intention of leaving. However, the fire took only 20 minutes to cross the township, and his body was found in the ruins of his burnt-out home
He was a retired journalist of Streatham, was burnt to death on 13 January at the State Electricity Commission Strathewan camp near Doreen in the Whittlesea district
Black Forest
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FUNERAL AT MOE
The funeral of the late Mr and Mrs Ben
Saxton was the largest ever seen in Moe. Upwards of 150 cars
followed the hearse as it left the Saxton Timber and Trading Pty
Ltd’s seasoning works on Monday afternoon. … The coffin-bearers were
employees of the Saxton mills.
Alfred Bentley Saxton was the eldest surviving son of Mr and Mrs
Saxton, one son (Oliver) having been killed at the war. He was 39
years of age. His wife was 29 years of age. Her parents reside in
Tasmania. Mr and Mrs Saxton were married at the Ivanhoe Baptist
Church on August 15, 1936.
Before going to Tanjil Bren, they resided at Moe. Like all members
of the Saxton family, they were held in the highest esteem by all
who knew them. The large funeral was a fine tribute, all business
places being closed out of respect for the deceased.
20 January 1939 - Narracan Shire Advocate.
