MT. ST. LEONARD


Grid Reference CU 696409
Department Melbourne Water
Work Depot Healesville
Region Port Phillip East
Grading Primary
Elevation (ASL) 1027m
Height ?m (tree tower)
28m (second tower)
34.5m (current tower)
Construction Steel
Cabin size 3.5m x 3.5m
Public access to site Yes, to viewing platform (old tower) only
In use since 193? - 1949 (tree tower)
1949 - 1989 (second tower)
1989 - (current tower)
CFA Region 13 - Central
Photo by Andre Belterman

Below is some information supplied by Melbourne Water.

1982: The Forest Commission of Victoria applies for use of the Mt. St. Leonard tower to help their radio communications.

mid 1980's: Preparations are being made to built a new tower on Mt. St. Leonard. The tower had internal corrosion in the structure and the cabin contained substantial amounts of asbestos.

While the current tower was being built, various community groups voiced their disapproval about the demolition of the 'old' tower and after many consultations it was decided to leave the bottom two sections intact and convert this to a viewing platform for the public. Melbourne Water and various groups contributed to the cost of the establishment of this tourist attraction.

Supplied by R. Pockett: R. J. Pockett wrote a piece about the tower for the local paper in 1987. He witnessed the (second) tower falling back when they were trying to haul it in position with a bulldozer, winches and cables. The dozer had lost traction on the rocky ground. This delayed the project for a while.
In the mid 60's power became available in the area and a helicopter assisted in the stringing of the wires from the summit via the steep western slope of the mountain to Meyers Crk. Rd. It was to be the longest span in existence in the State at the time. It did create problems though; sagging after snowfall and heavy wind made the wires touch the tree tops and eventually the power lines were taken up via roadside poles to the top of the mountain.

In 1994, most of the Melbourne Water Catchments became National Parks but Melbourne Water still has full control over management of the Parks and the closed Catchment policy is still in force.
The running costs of the tower are shared with the DSE and the CFA.
Melbourne is one of the very few cities in the world with a water supply coming from closed Catchments. This ensures Melbourne of very good quality drinking water. Some of the Catchments have been closed to the public since the start of this century and this results in beautiful Old Growth Forests of mainly Mountain Ash, (Eucalyptus Regnans).
To protect these forests from devastating bushfires, Melbourne Water have had their own Towers for fire detection. Early detection of wild-fires is vital for Melbourne Water. A wild-fire effects the harvest of water for many many years. In the first few years the water yield increases but is polluted and after the re-growth starts to take of, the water yield drops dramatically as the young eucalyptus saplings consume all the water they can get.

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements

The erection of the first Mt. St. Leonard steel tower. Photos obtained from the Healesville Historical Society and used with permission.

Original tree tower Inside current tower Powerful scope

Photo of original tree tower was taken from a book by Luke Steenhuis (Secret Places of the Upper Yarra Valley, Beauty Spots) and used with permission.
Photos 2-3 by Andre Belterman

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