Local Government
Bridgetown-Greenbushes
Region
South West
Kingston Rd 14 kilometers east of Yornup
Located in State Forest
Bridgetown-Greenbushes
South West
Constructed from 1940
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Statewide Lge Timber Str Survey | Adopted | |||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 28 Jun 2001 | Category 2 | |
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 29 Mar 2018 | Management Category C | |
Grevillea Fire Tower is significant for its historic and aesthetic values, for its important value to the communities of the district and for its authenticity and condition. Aesthetic Value Grevillea Fire Tower has aesthetic value for its construction type and as the worlds’ tallest all timber fire lookout tower. Historic Value Grevillea Fire Tower has historic significance as part of a network of towers in the region which were vital to the fast response to bushfire outbreaks. Research Value Grevillea Fire Tower is of research value as to its construction type and contributes greatly to the understanding of the history of the district regarding emergency fire response services. Social Value These towers were of social value to the community, as the fast response to a fire was to protect the state timber industry which provided a vast network of jobs in the region, as well as nearby farms and communities. This and other lookout towers were held in high regard as an important community service.
The tower is constructed of sawn and hand hewn jarrah. The tower has 10 ladders and 9 landings and stands 42.7 metres (135 feet) tall.
Grevillea Fire Tower was built by Laurie Jones in 1940 at a cost of 300 pounds, which excluded materials. The tower was part of a network of lookouts throughout the district which were vital to the fast response to bushfire outbreaks. A detected bushfire could then be called in via radio telephone communication from the towers. It is now known to be the tallest remaining all timber fire lookout tower, standing at 42.7 metres high. The tower was in use from 1940 until 1975. Typically it was manned by an employed teenager, who would climb the tower each day during fire season and keep watch all day for bushfires. Only a handful of towers are still in seasonal use in WA, including one at Kirup and another at Frankland River. The Blackwood-Warren network of towers no longer function as a network, however Diamond Tree Lookout just south of Manjimup is used intermittently for large fires when spotter planes cannot fly. The System of tower lookouts is still used to a greater degree in other states including Victoria.
Low The Blackwood-Warren network of fire towers are no longer in use, therefore Grevillea Fire Tower is unused. High Despite no longer being in use, the tower remains in its near original condition with no changes to its structure.
Fair
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| http://australia-lookouts.weebly.com/grevillea.html | |||
| Department of Parks and Wildlife (Manjimup) |
| Ref Number | Description |
|---|---|
| NA | Assess No (Shire Ref) |
| No.R21 | MI Place No. |
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|
Other Built Type
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Other |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Other | TIMBER | Other Timber |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Timber industry |
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Community services & utilities |
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
| OCCUPATIONS | Rural industry & market gardening |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.