SULKY

	Lat / Long GDA	-37.453778, 143.871750
	Department	FCV...etc...DEECA
	Work Depot	Ballarat ?
	Region	South West
	Grading	?
	Elevation (ASL)	547m
	Height	10.5m
	Construction	Steel
	Cabin size	?m x ?m
	Public access to site	Yes
	In use since	1928?
	CFA Region	15 - Central

In notes supplied by David Bannear and dated 30th January 1958 it states:
"This tower has been erected about 30 years. It is about 35' (10.5m) and is of iron construction, the legs being of 2" x 2" angle iron. It is served by an external ladder and has a 6' x 6' wooden platform with corner posts, hand rails and roof rails, all of iron. It requires renewal of floor joists, provision of walls of wood and windows and provision of a roof. the ladder required provision of safety rings and wire lacing to guard against anyone falling backwards from it.
Inspection of the iron indicated this was in good condition, except at ground level. Here the legs are rusted away about 50% so that the tower can not be regarded as safe.
It would be possible to have new footings made of angle iron at Brookwood, bolt these to the legs above the rusted portions, and set in concrete in the ground. This would make the tower quite safe for many more years. The estimated cost to do all the work listed above is 150 Pound". Approval was given the next day and work was to commence on the 12th February.

Please click on thumbnail for enlargements

Main photo and thumbnail photo supplied by Peter McHugh in mid July 2026. They are from the Gregor Wallace collection

Peter also supplied the following information: "These photos were taken in February 1961 and the figure on the ladder is Bruce Ross, Gregor's brother-in-law. Jack New is behind the binoculars inside the cabin.
Gregor's camera then was a very basic 35mm Braun Paxette. The site was on the highest point on the road between Creswick and Ballarat (37°27'13.6"S 143°52'18.3"E).
The metal tower was erected in about 1930 and is long gone but it had a good view over the young pine plantations of the time, which were bordered on their west and north by the railway line to Mildura and frequent steam engine passes.
Sulky is one of the few lookouts actually on the Great Dividing Range. Mt. Skene being another one."

Knowing the exact location, we now think that Creswick and Sulky may have been at the same location. If you can add any more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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