MT. TARRENGOWER

	Grid Reference	BV 373013
	Department	DSE
	Work Depot	Maldon
	Region	North West
	Grading	Primary
	Elevation (ASL)	571m
	Height	20m
	Construction	Steel
	Cabin size	?
	Public access to site	Yes
	In use since	1924 as lookout 1948 - as fire lookout
	CFA Region	2 - North Western

The Advance Maldon Association brought the tower from Bendigo to Maldon to attract visitors to the area after the goldmining had almost ceased. The tower was originally the poppet legs of the Comet Mine in Bendigo, and was brought to Maldon by rail in 80' (24m) lengths. It was carried up the mountain on a timber jinker drawn by a team of horses, along a track cut from Butts Reserve to the summit. A Mr. William Adams put up the money for the project, approx. 600 pounds. It is not known for certain if Mr. Williams ever got his money back. The tower was officially opened on 26th Jan. 1924, Foundation Day (Australia day). During the Maldon Easter Fair, held annually since 1877, the lookout tower is illuminated. Prior to the 1950s, this was done by wiring up over 100 makeshift lanterns, using stone ginger beer bottles, hemp wicks and kerosene. The bottles were hidden in a disused mine shaft until the next Easter. The tower caught fire once and the Fire Brigade had to be called. Since "electrification", the tower has been illuminated by a string of globes and can be seen from up to 50 kms. The illuminated tower is still a delight to locals and visitors alike each Easter.
In the early sixties, the spotters cabin was moved from the first landing to the top landing because trees were obstructing the vision.
The tower survived the 1980 fires with only minor damage. Only the first landing and approx. 5% of the second landing had to be replaced. It did also get a new cabin in 1980

This information and the photo is reproduced with permission. Thanks to Steve and Sandra Marsden and Keith Laity who contributed this information to the book; Historic Maldon.

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements


Angle view up	Car rally at tower	View	View

Above thumbnail photos supplied by Gerrie Bussem (West of England tower).
Gerrie thinks that these photos were taken in the 1950's


The tower in 2001	View in 2001	View in 2001

2001 thumbnail photos supplied by Andrew and Merilyn Johns


The tower in 2006	Cabin in 2006

2006 thumbnail photos supplied by Andre Belterman

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