Carwoola Fires 1985
The Carwoola community was badly impacted by a series of fires early in 1985
The Banjo fire
The first fire in 1985 burned out much of the Banjo property (about 1500 hectares)
The Banjo fire
The first started just west of Banjo near the Molonglo River. This picture is looking west back towards the ignition point and beyond to the Brindabellas in the distance
The Banjo fire
The fire on Banjo burned right over the ridge line to the Sharrow property on the Hoskingtown Plain. This picture is looking roughly east with Balcombe Hill just out of frame to the right
The Banjo fire
Stoney Creek's old Bedford and Acco International tankers at Banjo
Banjo fire
Stoney Creek's old Studebaker tanker blacking out on the Banjo property
More fires
Early in January 1985, and a week after the Banjo fire, a larger fire swept through what would later become the rural residential areas of Wanna Wanna, Taliesin and Widgiewa
Woolcara fire
Burning through Whiskers Creek Road, March 1985
Woolcara fire
A shed burning off Whiskers Creek Road, March 1985
Helicopter crash
On 7 January, a Bell 206 helicopter, VH-BHC, was chartered to undertake bushfire surveillance during which it crashed on the Carwoola property after hitting a wire. The three crew survived the burning wreckage.
Helicopter crash
The fires started by the helicopter crash were extinguished by Stoney Creek and other Brigades