THE BUSH FIRES OF “BLACK SATURDAY.” 17 Feb 1891
THE BUSH FIRES OF “BLACK” SATURDAY.” (1891, February 17). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 – 1929), p. 4. Retrieved November 18, 2019, fromhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/149917326?searchTerm=black%20saturday%20fires&searchLimits=#
The destruction wrought by the extensive bush lives which raged all over the colony on
Saturday, appears to have been immense. Local instances are numerous, for in the Mount
Dunced and Coast districts, thousands of acres of grass have have consumed, houses and farm
buildings destroyed, and miles of fencing swept away by the unsparing fire demon.
In the Birregurra and Winchelsea districts, also, considerable loss through the destruction of grass has been sustained.
From Lorne the report comes that at about 3 p.m. heavy smoke rolled down from the ranges, and enveloped the town. So dense was it that it was im possible to discern objects more than a few hundred yards distant, and a rush of flames on the township was momentarily looked for.
The greatest anxiety was felt for the safety of property, and every one was on the qui vive, when visitors turning out to do battle against the expected enemy. Scouts galloped round the outside of the town, and reported Mount St. George to be on fire. also Cherrytree Hill and the Erskine Track Range, where the fire came within a quarter of a mile of the town ship.
In the direction of Eagle Rock it was observed that a fire was sweeping down on the cottages standing near the seashore. The timely arrival of a few gentlemen at the dwelling of Mr Elkington, at the mouth of Stony Creek, saved it, for the fire had already reached the garden, the fence of which was partly burned, as well as an outbuilding.
A few days ago a pig paddock belonging to the Mountjoy Estate Company, situated about a mile away, caught lire, and but for the prompt action of Mr Moutjoy the 10 or 30 pigs enclosed therein would have fared badly, as in the excitement they were forgotten for a time. The creatures were hurried away at a rate they had never travelled before. For miles along the coast
right down to Cape Patton, 20 miles, the ranges were all on fire, but as there is very little
settlement in that country, little harm can result save to the wallabies, rabbits, etc., which
were to be seen rushing scared and panting down to the seashore.
A couple of sedate native bears were observed seeking the same refuge. In front, on the coast line is Mount St. George, a huge black mass.
The most disastrous bush fire that has ever taken place in the Ballarat district occurred at Sir Samuel Wilson’s Mount Bute estate, and spread with alarming speed. On the estate 45,000 acres of grass were entirely consumed, and the fire spread to the farms of Messrs Kennedy, Knight, Kerr. Woods, Rankin, Chasoy, Sheppard, Clarke, Francis, and others, and the houses of each were only saved with great difficulty. The Mount Bute homestead was at one time in great danger, and the wool sheds caught fire two or three times, but were saved with little damage. Mr Brownless, the overseer, was severely burnt about the face and hands while charging his horse through the fire, that being his only means of escape from the flames, which were travelling at about fifteen miles an hour before a fierce north hot wind. Another large bush fire took place at happy Valley, causing great damage.
In the Hamilton aud Ararat districts, a fearful amount of damages is said to have been caused. One fire broke out on the Bochara run, whence a strong wind quickly drove it on to Grange Creek, carrying desolation with it. The greatest sufferer at that place was Mr Robert Eraser, whose smiling homestead and fields were in a few hours changed into a charred wilderness. Besides his homestead Mr Eraser lost his stacks of hay, over 100 tons, a stack of straw, 20 bags of wheat, 20 bags’ of oats, a large quantity of flour and potatoes, all his machinery, cart and buggy, a number of sheep, four miles of fencing—in fact, everything except the clothes he wore at the time.
Messrs James Mason and A. Fort lost 20 acres of grass and half a mile of fencing each ; Mr McNeil lost everything but his house : Mr ,T. Spring lost two chaffcutters, a ton of flour, 20 bags of wheat, 10 bags of oats, 10 tons of hay, plough, harrows, four sets of harness, saddles, about
three miles of fencing, and all his grass. Messrs Jackson Brothers had 91 bags of wheat and barley, 150 bags of oats, 70 tons of hay, a large stack of straw, machinery, buggy, etc., destroyed, in addition to grass and fencing. Mr Holden lost 273 acres of grass and fencing
Another fire broke out at Ardochy, near Branxholme,and sweeping over Arrandoovong, Audley, Brisbane hill, and Monival, destroyed thousands of acres of grass and many miles of fencing, and burnt hundreds of sheep.
Mr Thomas Brown lost about 130 sheep and a few hundred acres of grass.
At Ararat a great conflagration commenced in the Lexington station, andd fanned by the strong wind, it rushed along as fast as a horse could gallop, sweeping away farms, grass paddocks, fencing, and the produce stored up as the result of the past season’s toil and anxiety.
In some instances the farmers lost everything they possessed, homesteads, hay stacks, stores
of grain,valuable agricultural machinery, sheep and fencing, being blended in one general and
irretrievable ruin.
The loss to farmers and others in that district alone amounts to £23,000.
The full extent of the injury caused by these fires is not yet known, but it will take many years before the effects will be forgotten, many of the farmers being completely ruined.