Residents able to leave the town just prior to the fire were directed to a temporary relief centre at Alexandra High School. Others sheltered overnight in Gallipoli Park before being evacuated to Alexandra. The entire town was declared a crime scene and was effectively closed off while Victorian and Federal police recovered bodies and conducted investigations. It was reopened to the public on 23 March, 2009.
As with all town in bushland settings, Marysville was in constant threat of bushfires. The town came under serious threat during the Black Friday bushfires in 1939, with residents seeing the fire cross from Mt Gorden to Mount Margaret. At that time only one house in Marysville belonging to Stan Postlethwaite was destroyed. The No.1 Mill 5 miles from Marysville was destroyed and the town of Narbethong was wiped out. The Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 also came close to Marysville but burnt around the town and caused no damage to property.
These photos I've taken of the magnificent forests around Marysville were snapped before the last tragic bushfire, which essentially wiped out the town...
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme.
The following photograph is by Gary Ayton, who has recorded the devastating effects of bushfire on the Australian countryside...
That last image has so much sadness in it. It is amazing, though, how Mother Nature recovers from such trauma.
ReplyDeleteSo sad the fire wiped all the beauty away.
ReplyDeleteLovely captures of the greenery around.
The last image is heartbreaking indeed, particularly in contrast to the green beauty in the earlier captures! Wonderful post for the day, Nick, as always! Hope your week is going well1
ReplyDeleteSylvia
The gums regenerate with such speed! But the devastated town will take much longer. How good that you have such great photographic memories.
ReplyDeleteThe last photograph has great sadness, but also striking beauty, perhaps indicating mankind's resilience. Wonderful photos, and so important to have created a record of what was lost.
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous shots - but the last one is so tragic.
ReplyDeleteyour photos are magnificent but really sad to read about this horrible disaster.
ReplyDeleteAs always, your history of your area is fascinating and I am so appreciative of your efforts. The photos were wonderful, but I was so saddened by that last one. However, hopefully the area will begin to regenerate and be inhabited again.
ReplyDeleteHi there - I was in Marysville a little while after the fire - you could still smell ash and you were careful about where you stood.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long it will take for the "tall' forests to recover. The Black Spur was burnt in 39 as far as I know - although I don’t think many people would pick that today.
Stewart M - Melbourne
Beautiful forests!! Forest fires are such a tragedy. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteSo lush and beautiful and so sad when fire destroys it all. Fortunately, it WILL regrow...but will take time.
ReplyDeleteVery sad about the forest fire. But even the destruction has a sort of beauty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful road! It reminds me of the nearby Sintra Mountain Range. And what a heartbreaking view at the bottom.
ReplyDeletewhat gorgeous shots and sights! but i am really sad about the forest fire.
ReplyDeletehave a great day!
What beautiful photos and such a tragic loss evoked by the last one.
ReplyDeleteAl from Colorado and you seem to have similar subjects:) Only happening on another continent!
ReplyDeletesuperbex photos dans la foret, cela donne envie de faire une promenade
ReplyDeletePublicity ;o) Every Friday (and the Weekend), The Challenge "Walk In The Street Photography"
The before images of the bushland around Marysville are so very beautiful Nick, such a huge tragedy on every level when fires raze everything around them, I know it wasn't so in this case, but it's so much worse when they're deliberately lit. The last image could make you weep, all those people, all those animals!
ReplyDelete