MT. BEENAK

	Grid Reference	CU 850065
	Department	DSE
	Work Depot	Powelltown
	Region	Port Phillip East
	Grading	Primary
	Elevation (ASL)	742m
	Height	18.3m
	Construction	Steel
	Cabin size	2.1m x 2.1m
	Public access to site	Yes
	In use since	19?? - 1969 1970 - current
	CFA Region	13 - Central

Mt. Beenak tower with solar panels for various instrumentations.
Before this tower was built, there used to be a plank of wood in a large Mountain Ash (E. Regnans). The fire spotter would go up the tree every couple of hours to check for fires. He travelled around a few of these sites. All that remains of the original tower is a tree stump with some metal stakes in the side that used to act as a ladder.
The most amazing experience Paul Jones has had was a visit from the Mormons who came to the tower to spread the message of God.
Since the installation of a new lightning arrester system, the tower has been hit with lightning more than ever before.
Above information, photo and details supplied by Paul Jones

In some notes supplied by the Historical Section of the NRE it states:
"This fire tower is only a short distance from Worlley's mill where fourteen people died in 1926."

Please click on thumbnail for enlargements

Mt. Beenak telephone, last used in 1970
Phone is in Upper Yarra Museum, Yarra Junction.
Photo taken by Andre Belterman and used with permission.

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