ACT's severe weather changes

To prepare for future events we need to understand the past.

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Fire 13 Jan 1939 Black Friday | Royalla Fire

The 1938-39 fires occurred during a very dry summer, which included record breaking January temperatures. These fires covered and estimated 60,000 hectares of forest and grazing land, including 1,100 hectares of pine plantation.

It’s thought they started on Tuesday 10 January in the hills behind Uriarra Station (beyond the Goodradigbee River). By late Friday night the fires reached the A.C.T. in three points, near Mt Franklin, Mount Coree and Horseshoe Bend - along the northern boundary of the A.C.T. Strong winds up to 70 kilometers per hour started numerous spot fires in the region on Saturday 14 January.

The fires soon spread to a front of 45 miles along the Murrumbidgee River crossing it in several places. Sadly, the fires completely destroyed the valuable pine plantation in the Uriarra Cotter Valley district destroyed. However that particular fire was halted along the Murrumbidgee River. Volunteers worked throughout the night extinguishing burning trees on surrounding properties to prevent the fires re-starting.

A burning ember from the Uriarra Fire started a spot fire at Huntley, which spread and headed towards Mount Stromlo. Women and children were evacuated from Mt. Stromlo on Saturday afternoon as a precaution and male residents were advised to leave if the wind changed, however the wind held. Fortunately, the bushfire was stopped by volunteer fire fighters just two miles from Mount Stromlo.

The Horseshoe Bend fire continued across the Murrumbidgee River at the Kurrajong Waterhole. It spread out to a five mile front at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. Although the wind kept it away from Hall, the township was evacuated for safety. Only two men were left in Hall to direct volunteer fighters to the right road. The Mount Franklin fire burned right across the region, with serious and damaging outbreaks at Tidbinbilla, Cuppacumbalong, Booroomba and Lanyon. As it began to enter New South Wales, there were severe outbreaks around Royalla.

While all the homes in the Tidbinbilla district were saved there was an enormous loss of stock. At one property it was estimated that 300 sheep were killed, as well as numerous cattle and horses. All the fencing and thousands of acres of valuable grass land was destroyed.

The fires were eventually extinguished on Sunday 15 January when the weather cooled and it began to rain. Fortunately no lives were lost, and stock losses were comparatively small, the main losses were to property. 150,000 acres of timbered and grazing land burnt out (including 1100 hectares of pine plantation worth 300,000 pounds) and nearly 40 miles of fencing, particularly in the Tidbinbilla and Uriarra area, were destroyed.

Radio records reveal how the community responded rapidly to the calls for volunteers and support. This inspiring behavior s what most likely prevented the loss of human lives and further property.

NB. Although the Black Friday fires of 13 January 1939 centered in Victoria, the ACT was also affected. In fact, south-east South Australia, southern New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania all experienced fires in January 1939. There was a Royal Commission for the Black Friday bushfires which played a significant role in increasing bushfire awareness and prevention throughout Australia. These bushfires are considered one of the worst in the world.

Click to enlarge image

1/4 After the bushfires - Scene of destruction © Commonwealth of Australia 2012

Click to play video

Prepare your rural property for bushfires

Prepare your animals for a bushfire on rural properties

1/4 The history of bushfires Rural Fire Service Chief, Andrew Stark, talks about the history of bushfires in the ACT.

1900
1901
1902
1903
- 26 Dec 1903 / Canberra Central
1904
1905
- 1 Jan 1905 / Coree, Cotter River, Paddy's River
1906
1907
1908
- 17 Feb 1908 / Queanbeyan
1909
- Dec 1909 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions

1910
- 23 Jan 1910 / Queanbeyan
1911
- Dec 1911 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1912
- 28 March 1912 / Queanbeyan
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
- 10 Dec 1918 / Coree, Stromlo, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek
1919

1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
- 7 March 1924 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Coree, Gungahlin + 8 other regions
1925
1926
- 29 Jan 1926 / Cotter River, Paddy's River, Stromlo
1927
1928
1929

1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
- 15 Nov 1934 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1935
1936
1937
1938
- Dec 1938 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1939
- 13 Jan 1939 Black Friday | Royalla Fire / Belconnen, Coree, Cotter River, Paddy's River + 6 other regions
- Dec 1939 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions

1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
- Jan 1947 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1948
1949
- 10 March 1949 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions

1950
1951
1952
- 25 Jan 1952 / Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong + 6 other regions
- 5 Feb 1952 - Stromlo fire / Stromlo, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
- Dec 1959 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions

1960
1961
- 9 Feb 1961 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
- 24 Jan 1967 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
1968
- Jan 1968 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1969

1970
- 25 April 1970 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1971
- Canberra Woden Valley Flood 26 Jan 1971 / Woden Valley
1972
- Dec 1972 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 21 Dec 1972 - Pago fire / Stromlo
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
- Jan 1979 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 13 Feb 1979 - Hall and Sutton fire / Belconnen, Gungahlin, Hall

1980
1981
1982
1983
- 8 Jan 1983 - Gudgenby fire / Cotter River, Rendezvous Creek
1984
- 9 August 1984 - Oolong Earthquake / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
1985
- 2 March 1985 / Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Majura, Queanbeyan
1986
1987
1988
- Jan 1988 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1989

1990
- 13 Jan 1990 / Tuggeranong
- 3 March 1990 / Majura
1991
1992
1993
- 5 April 1993 / Majura
1994
- 8 March 1994 / Tuggeranong
- 6 Nov 1994 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
1995
- 28 Jan 1995 / Canberra Central
- 29 Nov 1995 / Canberra Central
1996
- 5 March 1996 / Majura
1997
- 8 Feb 1997 / Kowen
1998
- 15 Feb 1998 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 19 August 1998 / Booth, Cotter River, Mount Clear, Paddy's River + 7 other regions
- 31 Dec 1998 / Booth, Cotter River, Mount Clear, Paddy's River + 7 other regions
1999

2000
2001
- 24 Dec 2001 - Black Christmas / Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong + 7 other regions
2002
2003
- 14 Jan 2003 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 18 Jan 2003 / Booth, Coree, Cotter River, Paddy's River + 11 other regions
- 14 March 2003 / Canberra Central
- 24 August 2003 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 26 October 2003 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Coree, Gungahlin + 13 other regions
- 16 Nov 2003 / Queanbeyan
2004
- 2 Nov 2004 / Canberra Central, Belconnen
2005
- 20 Jan 2005 / Belconnen, Canberra Central
- Canberra Severe Storm Feb 2005 / Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek, Woden Valley + 5 other regions
- 13 Oct 2005 / Gungahlin
- 26 Nov 2005 / Canberra Central
- 2 Dec 2005 / Canberra Central, Weston Creek, Woden Valley, Molonglo Valley
2006
- 6 Jan 2006 / Paddy's River
- 16 Jan 2006 / Belconnen
- 15 Feb 2006 / Belconnen
- 27 Feb 2006 / Canberra Central
- 2 March 2006 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 21 April 2006 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 13 August 2006 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall + 5 other regions
- 3 Nov 2006 / Belconnen
- 29 Dec 2006 / Queanbeyan
- 31 Dec 2006 / Tuggeranong, Belconnen
2007
- 10 Feb 2007 / Tuggeranong, Weston Creek
- 23 Feb 2007 / Kowen
- 27 Feb 2007 / Cotter River, Mount Clear, Rendezvous Creek
- 27 Feb 2007 / Belconnen, Canberra Central
- 27 Feb 2007 / Belconnen, Canberra Central
- 18 Nov 2007 / Canberra Central
- 30 Nov 2007 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan + 8 other regions
2008
2009
- 2009 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions

2010
2011
- 5 Jan 2011 / Canberra Central
2012
- 18 Feb 2012 / Gungahlin, Hall
- March 2012 / Cotter River, Paddy's River, Tennent
- March 2012 / Cotter River, Mount Clear, Rendezvous Creek
2013
- Jan 2013 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Gungahlin, Hall
- Jan 2013 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 18 June 2013 / Belconnen, Canberra Central, Hall
2014
- Jan 2014 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
- 19 Feb 2014 / Belconnen, Booth, Canberra Central, Coree + 20 other regions
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029

1930's

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