DEVASTATION
‘Most Serious Local Fire Ever’
Appalling Losses of Stock,
Property and Implements

YEA THREATENED FROM
BOTH SIDES ON
SUCCESSIVE DAYS

Written by T.M. Dignam
Originally published on January 12 and 19, 1969

On Wednesday 8th January, 1969, two fires which started near Yea were to provide the greatest and serious conflagration ever seen here.

A gale force north wind was the demon – atmospherically, it was a day without precedent here.

It was thirty years to the day since the 1939 holocaust started, taking nearly 80 lives and wiping out half the state, but locally that blaze was confined to the Glenburn-Limestone-Taggerty area.

Prior to that there had been big bushfires – it is said the Common-wealth fire of 1900 burnt from one end of the Shire to the other, and there have been others, but Wednesday’s became an official disaster.

Briefly it could be said that the rich Killingworth area was wiped out, at least a dozen homes were destroyed, thousands of sheep and stock, and material property beyond estimation.

The township of Yea was threatened on successive days. Only one fatality was reported, that being in the Alexandra Shire, near Scrubby Creek.

Pitted against the fire was the greatest concentration of manpower, modern equipment and organisation yet assembled here. The overall efort was a magnificent one, and all concerned deserve highest commendation. At 9.30am the siren sounded for a fire which had broken out at ‘Larnoo’ and the strong wind sending in thick clouds of smoke provided an alarming pointer to the gruseome day which was to follow.

The Yea fire unit sped to the scene, also that of Homewood but early it was seen that little could be done in the face of what was already an inferno.

The Flowerdale brigade was en route to the fire, but was diverted at Junction Hill where another fire had broken out, and this latter was to provide the second act in a drama the likes of which Yea has never seen, and will probably never see again.

The Ghin Ghin fire swept through the properties there with amazing speed and already desperate saves and fortunate escapes were the lot of the fighters.
Heroic eforts prevneted the loss of the Anderson homes, Hiscock’s and S. McCracken’s, though a boat was being prepared to take people from the last name home.

When it crossed the Goulburn river the situation was really alarming. Coming in along the west Kill-ingworth area it spread menacingly, one head going towards Killing-worth, where it was to do appalling damage, and the second along the Yea river, where it was to actually enter the streets of Yea.

An hour after the fire started, it was burning at the slaighter yards of K. Tobias (desperate saves had been made at the residences of K. Higgins and Ron Drysdale) – the Martin house was to go laterr that day), and within minutes the slaughter yards, other than the killing pen, had been rendered useless. Twenty-five pigs perished.

A few hundred yards further on, the first family tragedy occurred when the home of Mr and Mrs Jack Buckland was burnt to the ground. A couple of others in the Providence area were just saved.

The fire burnt through a portion of ‘Beaumonto’ but was stopped at the road below the racecourse – it did, however, get very close to Mr Frak Slevin’s house where a good save was effected.

At this point the pall of smoke that completely enveloped Yea was staggering. Many shops shut and every-one tried to do something to minimise the awful danger that threatened.

The fire knew no boundaries – creeks, rivers, roads didn’t count, and it was soon threatening the areas on the west and northern boundaries of the township.

Although quite an area behind Snodgrass Street remained inburned, one part of the fire came right to the houses of Messrs. G. Drysdale, W. Peiper, Geo. Johnson, A.E. Bennetts and F. Coppo.

A break before the first named’s helped, and though a couple of sparks lit grass on the other side – immediately pounced on – the threat of an extension to Gifford Street and into the rear of High Street buildings was averted.

But it came up at the rear of Craigie Street near L. Waters’ and nearby houses.

ACROSS THE RIVER

On the other side of the Yea River the situation was appalling. Closer to the town, the fire was sweeping through Ray Hipwell’s, Kemp’s, almost to McPhee’s, and on to Chaviot, but further out Killingworth proper was totally ablaze.

Knox McLeish’s home – and others – stood after a tough battle.

Fire units being rushed to the area more than once arrived at a precipitious moment, one such example being at Mr and Mrs J. Mahon’s, where the arrival of the Healesville brigade at 12.40pm meant the difference between saving or losing the house.

Sheds and farm machinery were lost. This was the case practically everywhere.

It was not far away that tragedy was really striking, and several houses including the historic ‘Kill-ingworth’ homestead, a part of which was 120 years old, were destroyed.

Farmers were making desperate efforts to muster sheep, and instances were reported of people helping elsewhere, losing their own stock or property.
Miss Gwen Williamson says she doesn’t know yet how her house was saved (and that applies to Turner’s), but the fire pursued a relentless course, crossing the highway just past C. McGregor’s and turning right round D.J. Sier’s home.

The immensity of the thing was no frightening. The southern arm of the fire was sweeping towards Lime-stone (denuded of manpower through helping elsewhere) and it seems amazing that there wasn’t greater tragedy there.

(A later theory is that this fire was a fresh outbreak, but even if this is correct it was certainly joined by the one from Yea.)

The centre of the fire swept along the left side of the highway, getting close to Harold Sier’s, Cr A.J. Bett’s which was saved twice), but the second house on the property (formerly Thwaites) was burnt to the ground.

School teachers Harvey and Wendy Martin lost many valuable possessions. It is said another young couple soon to be married were to occupy this house.
The northern arm of the fire, burning on both sides of the river, pursued its horrific course and was to finally reach the hills behind Yarck and Kanumbra.
So swiftly had things happened that the fire had outraced the organisation, but this was not the fault of the latter.

Long before lunch an emergency post had been sety up at the Police Station and Red Cross and other ladies were preparing meals etc.
Knowing that it was a real emergency a message was sent to Mel-bourne to send the “package post”.

The Regional Officer of the Country Fire Authority (Mr H. McLaren) had arrived, and soon a complete emergency headquarters had been established at the Recreation Reserve.
Then Mr Ron Orchard, Assistant Chief Officer of the CFA, assumed control, assisted by relieving officers.

ON MANY FRONTS

The old bugbear of having to fight on two fronts was beginning to rear its head, and counting the various directions in which the Killingworth fire was spreading, special eforts had to be made to deploy all available manpower, tankers, etc.

Midway through the afternoon, a call was received for more man to be sent to the Ti Tree Creek area, the Junction Hill fire – a diversion by no means – assuming rather dangerous proportions. Equipment was pouring into Yea and apart from over 30 brigades, the Army sent over two units, three tankers and two ‘dozers plus other heavy equipment, in addition to that of the shire, C.R.B. and private owners all of which were to play a big part in the safety of the town.

There were about 50 Army personnel available at the Yea Headquarters and 50 had gone to High-lands. Captain Maurie Bennett was in charge.

Danger to Molesworth

With the main fire racing over Cotton’s Pinch through McCor-mack’s, Jeffery’s and adjacent properties, the situation in the little town of Molesworth was rapidly deteriorating.

Several incidents at this time of the afternoon added to the “emergency and disaster” angle of the whole affair.
Telephone lines were rapidly put out of action, all electric power failed about 4.30pm and at Molesworth a grader hastily making a break fouled the water main and residents faced the fire without water.

Evacuation looked inevitable.

The inferno raced in along the road line threatening Saddington’s, Webb’s, and nearby houses, and was poised for one horrible moment on top of Nebo preparatory to sweeping down to demplish the historic Ridd hometead of ‘Lorna Doone’ and a shed further down, but missed Christ Church (Anglican).
At this point the town was officially evacuated, many of the women and children being taken to Bonnie Doon.

Without the Molesworth brigade battling valiantly, buildings in the township were saved, and although stooks of cut phalaris caught (Mr J. Joyce’s adjoining the highway), very little was burnt.

People on Whanregarwen Road were becoming apprehensive as large billows of smoke encompassed everything, but communication was practically non-existent.

The fire swept on, and a heavy loser was Mr D. Munro who had two houses on his property and other buildings burnt to the ground.
Others lost much in machinery, sheds and stock.

This part of the fire burnt so far that it eventually threatened Alexandra township and on the other sector around Cathkin and Yarck there was devastation also.

Nearer to Molesworth the home of Mr and Mrs Bill Jeffery was destroyed.

Limestone losses

The right arm of the fire continued unchecked and did tremedous damage to properties in the vicinity of the Tunnel and at the hamlet itself.
Up from Cheviot Station, a shearing shed belonging to Mr John Sier was burnt, and to see the ‘Henderside’ homestead provides an illustration of how close and yet how miraculously left standing were scores of similar homes throughout the district.

Burnt fruit trees, a once elevated tank (perhaps burst and perhaps providing a heaven sent sprinkling system) bore stark evidence of what was happening in parts of the scorched countryside unbeknown to the hundreds concerned with desperate situations everywhere.

The fire jumped the Limestone Road up from the railway crossing, burning into G. Tull’s, taking hay but stopping short of the house.
However, it encircled his brother’s (Colin) and the owner and a companion had a narrow escape when a garage exploded – the latter, plus the car, went up in flames.

Further on, it completely destroyed the Limestone Hall and Presbyterian Church, and ravaged properties nearby, where stock lossses were heavy.
Mr A. Sier lost many sheep.

Mr and Mrs H. McGill had a harrowing experience here, but their home escaped. However, further on, a house of Mr Don Franklin’s went, the owner losing everything.

Nothing could check the fire now and outbuildings at Jowett’s were lost and some miles further on the original Stanley home (where the Patterson family lived) went up in flames.

Headquarters organisation

The big pavilion at the Recreation Reserve, started in 1958, has generally been known as the multi-purpose building, and it has never been put to better use than last week,. when the Country Fire Authority and Red Cross set up emergency headquarters.

Asst. Chief Officer R. Orchard and Regional Oficer H. McLaren had one end set up maintaining seven direct phone lines, maps and other equipment and on the main arena their communications van, with radio link to Headquarters and mobile units.

At the eastern end of the hall the Red Cross emergency staff had been supplemented by a big influx of local ladies and young girls (some of whom worked right through the two nights) despensing hundreds of meals to firefighters as they came and went,or rested.

About hal;f the hall had been turned into a First Aid Post, where stretchers were laid out for resting, and many of the minor injuries attended to, feet bathed and eyes soothed. At the head of the staff were Red Cross officials from town.

Inspector Howlett came from Seymour to the Yea Police station and with Senior Constable Long and Police from Broadford, Seymour and mounted members from Melbourne worked untiringly day and night handling complex problems.
The Inspector wishes to thank the many local people who assisted the Police in many ways.

A St John Ambulance Brigade, also from Seymour, under Supt. John Voogt, was soon on the scene and treated a number of casualties.
The more serious were looked after by Drs Hosking and Paterson, and a few had short spells in hospital.

Country Roads Board road patrols, P.M.G. and S.E.C. staff, the Forestry officers, Council, Water Trust and Railway employees all had their hads full and these, and a magnificent Postal and telephone staff, deserve great credit for their part in the drama.

The Regional Communications Officer, Cr John Peel, was himself in a hot area, as the fire from Junction Hill swept down towards Glen-burn and spread rapidly.

The fire, as stated, started at ‘Foxhaven’, about 10am on the Wednesday, burnt to within 30 yards of the house and tore down the gullies towards J. Corrigan’s ‘Wildcroft’ and other properties.

The cruel north wind which had brought so much devastation to the Yea area was north-westerly out there – one resident said it could have been 70 miles per hour – and at least two spot fires were started, one near Devlin’s Bridge and another near Cavanagh’s Hill – all of which added to the immense problems that everyone faced on Wednesday evening.

About 7.40pm the sun set as a hideous red orb, the wind was changing to the north and with vast areas past the point of further help, apprehensive minds turned southwards, as it was obvious that the second fire could pose a threat to a vast area – it did, to the very gates of the town.

Apart from the Yea Brigades, units from the following centres had already taken part in the battle: Homewood, Seymour, Costerfield, Avenel, Glenaroua, Tooboorac, Flowerdale, Molesworth, Highlands, Glenburn, Cranbourne, Murrindindi, Moorooduc, Bea-consfield, Hastings, Pearcedale, Yarra Glen, Healesbille, Silvan, Mon-trose, Mooroolbark, Lilydale, Sassafras, Kalorama, Lima South, Meerlieu, Heathcote, Wangaratta North, Shepparton, Upper Fern-tree Gully, Springvale, Morwell and Dandenong.

Some of these later were Bed-ford 4×4 800-gallon units which, like the Army equipment, were to be of great value.

Crisis day for Yea

Although much patrolling and blacking out was done during Wednesday night, Thursday opened ominously.
The first fire had raced away to other Shires to do more terrible damage and instead of a north wind, Yea faced a strong southerly which blew in smoke from the fire at Ti Tree Creek, which had burnt right through to ‘Glenmore’.

As the morning dragged on, the situation became worse and more units were dispatched to this new front.
Yea was still without power – and could have been without water. Fortunately, the Water Trust’s auxillary pump was kept going non-stop, but this was petrol-operated and in the path of the oncoming blaze.

Locals on a “shift” roster, guarded the cooling system for 30 hours.

Residents had responded to a Water Trust appeal to conserve every ounce of water, and the storage in the reservoir built up if … slowly.
However, those living in Smith, Moyle and nearby streets were warned to be ready to move, and preparations to mett all emergencies proceeded without undue hysteria.

However, speed was the essence of the contract so far as the southern approaches to the town were con-cerned and Shire graders and Army ‘dozers were thrown into the urgent task of preparing breaks around Constitution Hill.

This, in fact, was one of the most notable feats of the two days.

The fire burnt in fairly quickly to the east of ‘Deepdene’, through McLeish’s, Colin Anderson’s, Purcell Bros., and Quinlan’s.

Purcell’s woolshed was saved, as was a huge stack of hay near Quinlan’s. But inexorably nearer came the reckoning, as first ‘She-oak’ and then Constitution Hill were over-run.

Poignantly, a funeral had to be held up when the flames reached the cemetery.

A grader and bulldozer were still working when the fire topped ‘Conny’ but the 30-ft. wide break stretching from there near Smith Street right across to ‘Bun’ McLure’s house was the saving act.

Fortunately, the east tongue of the fire stopped – or was stopped – at Cemetery Lane, and a big con-centration of men and equipment ensured that it did not cross the break.

It was within 70 yards of Jim Elliott’s house (and a haystack), and other homes threatened were those of Messrs. H. White and J. Foster, any at the top of East Street, assuming those of Raglan and A’Beckett Streets, Melbourne Road and The Parade (Oliver Street at the other end ) were still not desperately threatened.

The west arm was very menacing and the flames actually reached the school pine plantation. A heroic save here literally tore the fire out.

From there right along Flat Lead was a dangerous sector, but a two-hour concentrated battle finally won the day.

Two houses at Ken McLeish’s, a woolshed, the old slaughter yards and other buildings were saved, and the fires were stopped from crossing the road.
That triangle, from there back through Homewood, was still unscathed, but it could be noted that had the fire crossed Whittlesea Road, it could have burnt along the Boundary Creek area to ‘Beau-monto’ and so completed a linking up with the devastated area from the previous day.

The distance would be little more than half-a-mile. The same thing, of course, nearly happened at the east of the town, had the fire burnt from Quinlan’sw across the Yea River to Cheviot.

The great pincers movement just failed to close.

By Thursday night the fire was regarded as “held” and a reasonable day on Friday assisted the blacking out operation, though constant vigilance had to be maintained and units sent to several “get-aways”.

The destruction of burning stumps and trees continued, and of course, the harrowing duty of slaughtering and buyring thousands of sheep and other stock.
On Saturday a helicopter carrying C.F.A. and Forestry officials made a survey of the whole area, and the Group Officer, Mr W.A. Purcell, was similarly flown over on Sunday.

The emergency units pulled out on Sunday.

All the week, continuous patrolling of the barious sectors has gone on, to ensure that not a spark escapes.

Drama at Alexandra

For some reason, Yea monopolised the news last week, but a parallel drama was enacted at Alexandta on Wednesday.
In fact, in one respect, it was worse, as having no auxiliary pumping unit (Yea had), the town’s water supply dwindled to almost nothing when the power failed.

However, it was off for only a fraction of the time of Yea’s hold-up.

A fire broke out at Acheron Cutting at 9.55am and firemen were unable to check the blakze in the Connelly’s Creek area, and it spread quickly to practically encircle Alexandra.

At the height of the blaze in the afternoon, Alexandra was in danger, and flames moved from the south end of Grant Street towards the Hospital.
Evacuation was being considered, but a supreme effort saved the day.

\ Between 3pm and 4pm the situation became really explosive, when the fierce fire from Yea joined the Acheron one near Connelly’s Creek.
As well as Whanregarwen laid bare, the flames spread out on the flats and past the hills south of Alex-andra, raced along the Brooks Cutting road and hills and past the Eglinton Cutting to Spring Creek, Koriella and Yarck districts. South of the town it spread past Thornton and on to parts of Rubicon and Taggerty.

Like Yea, the stock losses were appalling; there was one fatality and two young men seriously burned.
It is said that hundreds were treated in the field and at Alexandra Hospital.

Fire Facts

• Several Fire Brigade oficers and others cut short holidays to return and join in the fight.
• Mr Kevin Patterson, after getting his wife and her mother from the old Stanley home, made a stand at Jowett’s. He and his son had seven children and four women to share the danger. Lawns were wet and finally the party sheltered in the house. The fire took trees, shrubs and outbuildings, but passed by.
Mr Joweyt had been cut off trying to save the shearer’s quarters, but these were destroyed.
• It is on record that the Red Cross got through 600 pints of milk at the ‘Rec’ H.Q.
• Even young people figured in heroic saves. Geoff Drysadle, Peter Gillahan and Kevin Scott did a marvellous job at R.D. Drysdale’s and the Shire President attributes the saving of his woolshed to his grand-daughter Dorothy Bett.
• The one fatality from the fire occurred ta Scrubby Creek up from Molesworth. Mr Charles Campbell, aged about 90, was found dead at his home.
• The following figures are not official, but have been given to us as approximate losses by some landholders:
Doug Morgan, 600 sheep; William-son’s Killingworth, about the same; Maurie Spanjer, up to 800; J. Joyce, ditto; Clem Ridd, 700; A.Wright, 500 out of 800; P. Quinlan, 550; R.S. Anderson Estate, 400 plus; R. Stokes and N. Murray, heavy losses. Both cattle and horses were lost at ‘Switzerland’ and elsewhere.
Mr J. Sincalir, of Molesworth, is said to have lost 1400 sheep – and Mr K. Webb Ware, Glenburn road, 700 in a shed.
• Yea was without electrical power for about 4.30pm on Wednesday until after 10pm on Thursday, and again for four hours or so on Friday.
• Because of burnt railway bridges in the Tunnel area, trains could not pass Yea. But the line has since been restored.
• Mr Keith Higgins who was one who battled fire on his own, said the very ground was alight.
• Approximately 18 Council bridges and culverts, some old, are known to have been burnt.
• Mobile radio communications was maintained throughout. One to do a grand job was Deputy Group Oficer, Lou Sichlau.
• A lot of the emergency equipment used at the Rec. was official Civil Dedfence gear that had been on hand.
• In addition to the emergency headquarters at Yea, the Glenburn area had its own set-up at the local hall, where incidentially a full scale disaster exercsie had been carried out in August.
Glenburn ladies speak highly on the organising ability of Mrs Eric Sundblom, who headed their branch of the organisation.
• Mr Michael Coonan, jun., received nasty burns to the arm when the Homewood unit exploded following the fouling of the petrol tank by a stump. He was treated by Dr Hosking.
• At the height of the drama on Thursday, the brakes of an Army dozer failed and the big machine careered down Constitution Hill, cleaning up a resident’s wood shed. The driver bailed out, but sustained a sprained ankle.
• According to the Country Fire Authority, an area of 350 square miles was burnt. This includes the land burnt in Alexandra from the Yea fire, but the following gruesome figures apply to the Yea Shire only:
Sheep killed or subsequently destroyed totalled approximately 21,000; cattle, 550; horses, 16; and pigs, 34. Apart from 13 houses destroyed, at least another five unoccupied homes were wiped out, also a church and a hall.
Other known losses included 11 garages on just on 100 sheds (including haysheds, cowshedsw, those housing implements, etc.); the Kill-ingworth slaughter yards; 55 other stock yards; 115,000 bales of hay; and up to 18 bridges or culverts.
Nobody has been able to assess the milage of fencing destroyed (estimates range from 350 to 800 miles), or the material value of the countless tractors, other implements, household effects and miscellaneous items demolished.
It would run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Houses destroyed

Homes of the following are known to have been destroyed:
• Daryl Martin
• Jack Buckland
• A.J. Bett (ex H. Martin)
• David Mold (2)
• Maurice McLeish
• Rob. Collins
• Bill Jeffery
• Don Franklin
• Ken Patterson
• Clem Ridd
• Eric Jowett (on property)
• Jack Bett (Killingworth)
• Jeff Cooper (ex. Geo. Oliver (vacant)
• David Kneeshaw (Mrs Williamson’s, Molesworth)
Plus:
• Two of D. Munro on Whanregarwen Rd
• Hall and Presbyetrian Church at Limestone

The Minister for State Development (and in charge of bush fire relief), the Hon. W. Manson, briefed Yea and Alexandra councillors on what relief measures were available.
At Yea the Shire President (Cr A.J. Bett0 and secretyary (Mr F. Berkery) worked non-stop co-ordinating the appeal for fodder.
Mr Noel Moore was in the thick of the work and on Sunday alone some 7000 bales were distributed.
Mr D. Guye and Mr H. Baudinette were the checkers.
An appeal for cash donations has been well supported.