MT. FRANKLIN


Grid Reference BU 471719 / -37.263116, 144.149406
Department DEPI
Work Depot Daylesford
Region South West
Grading Primary
Elevation (ASL) 635m
Height 10m
Construction Steel
Cabin size 2m x 2m
Public access to site Yes
In use since 19?? - 1969 (original)
1972 - (current)
CFA Region 15 - Central
The original Mt. Franklin tower was a wooden one and about 23m high. It was build in approx. 1950 (??). The current one was build in approx. 1972 after being shifted from Little Hard Hill - Enfield.
Information and photo supplied by John Taylor (in picture) who has manned Mt. Franklin from 1973 until 19??

The following information was obtained from notes taken by David Bannear.

The original wooden tower was damaged in the summer of 1941 (fire?) and rebuilt, but then burnt down completely in 1969 fire.

15-04-1971; Proposed shift of the Little Hard Hills tower to Mt. Franklin is noted.

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements
Mt. Franklin in 1989
Supplied by Rocky Marsden DSE 		Mt. Franklin in 1998
Supplied by David Turner DSE

The information below was supplied by John Marion. John has manned the tower since the 2003/04 season.
The tower has been modified over the last 6 years with the addition of antennas, safety screens above the sector antennas, pager antenna, new weather station, shade cloth screens above the windows and the single run ladderway has been replaced with 3 seperate ladderways. Trees are an ongoing problem. Each year a number of trees are removed to maintain a clear view.
John was actually visiting the tower when the fire that destroyed the wooden tower raced up the side of Mt. Franklin in 1969. 2 opposite legs were burnt off, leaving the tower balancing precariously for over 24 hours until the wind finally brought it crashing down.

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements
Mt. Franklin in June 2008 and May 2011. Photos supplied by Andre Belterman

The tower had more aerials added to the structure and the footings were strengthened with more concrete in 2010.

Mt. Franklin in April 2014, photos supplied by John Marion

Colin Ruehland supplied a document with a recollection of his dad's time on Mt. Franklin, including the 1969 fires.
A copy of the article can be found here
This is a photo from that article of the original wooden tower which burned down in those 1969 fires!

The four 2023 photos above were taken and supplied by Andre Belterman. Mt. Franklin was visited as part of the FLO end-of-fire-season-get-together in late April 2023.
It's still a tower with a very old cabin. Access to the small cabin is gained by crawling through a half door (is this still legal?) and the interior looks very tired. Tree growth is also blocking lots of the view.
There are rumours that the tower will either be extended in height with a new cabin, or a new tower just down the track.

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