Local Government
Manjimup
Region
South West
Kerup Rd, about 2.6km NE of Perup Rd Jnc Manjimup
Manjimup
South West
Constructed from 1938
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 08 Dec 2016 |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Statewide Lge Timber Str Survey | Adopted | |||
| Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register | Adopted | 28 Aug 2008 | ||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 28 Aug 2008 | Category B | |
Representativeness, Aesthetic, Scientific and Historic
· Tall timber structure – Kepal tower is 31m high; · Broad based structure, narrowing as it gets higher; · Framework and series of crossed timber pieces make up design of structure; · Timber hut with roof at the top of the tower, and; · Series of ladders provide access to the top.
Fire has always been the enemy of forests, and fire prevention and spotting are major concerns for the agency responsible, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). For the first 50 years of forestry in Western Australia the bushfire early warning system depended on a network of look-out towers. They were built about 40km apart on prominent hills and were staffed continuously through the summer. The first tower, Mt Gungin, was built in 1921 near Mundaring. A series of 12 towers was built in the Manjimup region, including the Kepal tower 1938, and Alco tower 1961. The Kepal tower was 38m high and the Alco 31m. The South West karri forest region posed a special problem for foresters. There were few prominent hills and forest giants towering 70 -80m above the ground. A young forester, Don Stewart, (later to become Conservator of Forests), who in 1937 conceived the idea of using the trees themselves as Look Out Towers. One of these is the Diamond Tree, located 11 km south of Manjimup, 300m off SW Highway. The lookout was built in 1940-41, and a tree cabin was built at a height of 54.5m. Another is the Gloucester Tree. The South West fire lookout system was a therefore a mixture of tree towers and timber towers. Towermen had to regularly report visibility and tower wind direction and strength. Any new fires would be reported and located by cross referencing with other towers. In the early days the towermen talked with each other using a heliograph and Morse code. Later many kilometres of earth return bush telephone lines linked the towers. The Lookout Trees and towers were used continuously as a fire lookout until spotter planes took over the surveillance role in 1974. There are few (if any) of the fire towers still operating.
Integrity: Good Authenticity: Good
Good
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Hamlet Tower, a fire lookout, Manjimup Timber Park.". | Brochure produced by DEC |
Historic site
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | FORESTRY | Other |
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