Resources

An aerial view of the Quarry constructed from seperate aerial images taken by drone on April 18, 2018.

Maps of the ground water basins in Victoria and their bore yield, salinity and suitability. Source: Groundwater Resources Victoria, Department of Minerals and Energy.

Terrestrial components of the Colac landscape

Terrestrial components of the Beech Forest landscape

A coloured collotype photograph of the Beech Forest Butter Factory on Main Street, which operated from 1902 to 1924. Taken ca. 1912 by John Flynn as part of scenes in the Otway Ranges region of Victoria. Source: National Library of Australia.

Horse-drawn wagons passing on a road near Beech Forest, Victoria. Taken ca. 1905 by John Flynn. Source: National Library of Australia.

Photograph showing the view from Gardner Hill to the racecourse on the flat near Beech Forest, Victoria, ca. 1905. Taken by John Flynn. Source: National Library of Australia.

Split timbers being transported by bullock team to the Beech Forest railway station, Beech Forest, Victoria. Taken by John Flynn ca. 1903. Source: National Library of Australia.

Photograph of a selector's homestead in the bush at Beech Forest, Victoria, with timber dwellings and horses. Taken ca. 1905 by John Flynn. Source: National Library of Australia.

Sale day at the stock yards, Beech Forest, Victoria. Taken in 1903 by John Flynn. Source: National Library of Australia.

Photograph of a man splitting timber by hand using an axe and wooden mallet in Beech Forest, Victoria. Taken ca. 1905 by John Flynn. Source: National Library of Australia.

A photograph of Beech Forest houses under snow, with a large beech tree stump on the left. Photograph taken ca. 1910. Source: Museums Victoria.

A photograph of Beech Forest-Lavers Hill Rd showing its corduroy, or sand-covered log, construction, and the trees felled to build it. Photograph taken April 1, 1918.

Tree felled in Beech Forest, 7ft. diameter and 400 ft. length [transparency]. Part of scenes in the Otway Ranges region of Victoria, taken between 1912-1914.

John William Gardner in front of a giant hardwood tree stump. Gardner was the earliest European settler to the area and established the Ditchley Park House, later Hotel, in 1888. Photograph taken ca. 1880s, Source: Otway Life Magazine.

Photograph taken for The Farmer & Grazier Journal, published by the Chamber of Agriculture 1911. Source: Victorian Places.

Ditchley Park Hotel - Gardner's Halfway House between Colac and Apollo Bay. Established by John William Garden and family in 1888. Photograph taken for Brooke's Photographic Union, 1981. Source: State Library of Victoria.

An advertisement for the sale of the Ditchley Park Estate, Beech Forest. Under instructions from Mr. J.W. Gardner Dalgety & Co. Ltd. will sell the subdivision of the Ditchley Park Estate on Tuesday, March 30, 1909, at 2 o'clock. A map of Beech Forest township and the Ditchley Park Estate is attached, as are the terms of sale and a description of the area. Produced 1908. Source: Victorian Collections

A coloured collotype postcard of 3 children and their pet dogs amongst beech and ash trees in Beech Forest. Photograph taken in 1907. Source: State Library of Victoria.

A coloured collotype postcard of a man standing amongst large rocks in Beech Forest, VIC. Photograph taken 1905. Source: State Library of Victoria.

An environmental history.

An article exploring the issues with land selection in the Otways from the mid to late 19th Century. There was little available survey data and such rough terrain that for many years the production of accurate maps was near impossible. ‘The Trouble with Otway Maps: Taking up a selection under Land Act 1884’, Provenance: The Journal of Public Record Office Victoria, issue no. 10, 2011. ISSN 1832-2522. Copyright © Barbara Minchinton.

Beech Forest and surrounding district [cartographic material] : counties of Polwarth and Heytesbury / photo lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, June 18 1919.

A map of the areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity in the Beech Forest region. These areas relate to landforms, soil types, waterways and other significant land where Aboriginal places are likely to be located. Source: Aboriginal Victoria.

A map locating the softwood plantations and commercial timber production sites in the region surrounding Beech Forest. The map also shows the extent of the farming, and public conservation and resource zones.

A series of maps describing the terrestrial conditions of the Colac-Otway region: Bioregions & Geological Boundaries, Water Bodies, Private Plantations, and VicForests Conservation & Plantation Areas.

A map marking the former narrow gauge railway line that ran from Colac to Beech Forest from 1902 to 1962, within the context of the Colac-Otway Shire. "The Beechy" train carried both passengers and goods, including timber, cattle and farm produce.

A map locating the Quarry within the Beech Forest Region. The Quarry sits on Old Beech Forest Road just north of the main Beech Forest township.

A map marking the former narrow gauge railway line that ran from Colac to Beech Forest from 1902 to 1962. "The Beechy" train carried both passengers and goods, including timber, cattle and farm produce.

Plan showing the consolidation of County of Polwarth and Parish of Olangolah Crown Allotments 13A and 13R (part). This area defines the Quarry title as of May 27, 1987. Survey produced by Rod Bright & Associates.

19 November 1886, ‘Supplementary Grazing & Pastoral Areas’. Polwarth Map G20, Geelong Heritage Centre.

1 June 1885, Polwarth Map P65. Geelong Heritage Centre

1 January 1885, County of Polwarth, in County maps [of Victoria]. published with Land Bill of 1884, Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, 1884, p. 28. Map Collection, State Library of Victoria.

Map of the locality boundary of the Colac Otway Shire Council. The Shire is represented by seven councillors. Map produced by the Victorian Electoral Commission, 2007.

Photograph of the Beech Forest Railway and narrow gauge rail taken by John Mond Arnest ca. 1904. Source: State Library of Victoria.

Map of the complete network of railways in Victoria in 1930. The map shows all broad, standard and narrow gauge railways on Victorian Railways, private and closed tracks, and locates each station, stopping place, and significant private sidings. Map produced by Andrew Waugh, 1999.

The red highlighted section of this map shows the route of the 2'6" narrow gauge railway that travelled from Colac to Crowes. It was the largest narrow gauge railway in Victoria at 71km, opening to Beech Forest in 1902, and Crowes in 1911. Detail from Victorian Railways map by Victorian Railways - Way and Works Branch, 1943.

Colac to Beech Forest Line Ballast Pit Siding at 19 Mile Post, black and white photograph taken 1902. Source: Public Record Office Victoria.

Beech Forest Station, 21 November 1959, photograph taken by Ray Jude. Passengers at the side of N.B.H. excursion cars on the right. Source: Victorian Collections.

Beech Forest Station Victoria, black and white photograph taken by John Mond Arnest ca. 1906. The image shows the narrow gauge rail line and timber stacks waiting to be transported. Source: State Library of Victoria.

Beech Forest - Goods trail departing for Colac, 1961. Otway Districts Historical Society, Beech Forest. Colour. 9 August 1961

A map illustrating all Registered Aboriginal Parties in Victoria. The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 recognises these parties as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. Map produced by Aboriginal Victoria, August 2020.

An extract from Norman Barnett Tindale's Aboriginal Tribes of Australia (1974) detailing the Katubanut Tribe that inhabited the land around the Cape Otway peninsula. The catalogue represents Tindale's attempt to depict Aboriginal tribal distribution at the time of European contact in the mid-1800s.

The story of Pirt Koorook, a female devil spirit, great in size, who haunts the Cape Otway Range. Translated by Peter and Richard Collopy, Gadubanud Custodians. Supported by Creative Victoria.

A document looking at Native title and consent determination areas. In this area of Western Victoria, the Gunditjmara and the Eastern Maar Peoples share the consent determination area, and so both hold Native title over the lands and waters. Produced by the State Government of Victoria.

A map showing the approximately 39 Aboriginal language areas of Victoria prior to colonisation. There are no distinct borders between the language areas, hence linguistic maps may differ in the exact boundaries of each language. Map produced by the Victoria Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, 2015.

A directory of the Indigenous plant species specific to Beech Forest. The species are recorded with their Botanical Name, Common Name, Size, Soil Class, Erosion Control and notes specific to each plant, including their Ecological Vegetation Class. Document produced by the Colac Otway Shire Council.

An interview with Thomas Dare about the discovery of a stone quarry in Beech Forest.