The Great Yannathan Fires of 1898

I came across this obituary of Robert Gardiner, of Yannathan, who died on January 11, 1939 at the age of 83. It's an interesting obituary and I was taken by this  comment -  In the great Yannathan fires of 1897, which raged for months, he at first thought he was ruined, but wonderful grass grew in the denuded country that he was able to farm successfully. The report notes the fire were in 1897, but all the reports I could find were from  February 1898. Below are some reports of  1898 bushfires at Yannathan and from the broader Shire of Cranbourne. 

Obituary of Robert Gardiner

The Age, January 14, 1939 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205965071

There were also bad fires in other parts of Victoria during this time, caused by days of hot weather and a dry January. The Government Astronomer, Pietro Baracchi (1851-1926) was interviewed by The Argus on February 1, 1898  (see here) and he has this to say about the weather situation - "Hot and smoky weather is not unusual in February. An unbroken succession of so many hot days is unusual. Coming after such a fearfully hot and excessively dry January, it makes the conditions very much worse than they usually are. As showing what an exceptional month this January has been, it may be mentioned that only 30 points of rain fell in Melbourne, against an average of about 1½in. for all past years." An inch of rain is 100 points, thus the average rain for January is 150 points, and only 30 points had fallen.

The Gippsland Fires. Great damage around Cranbourne. A fire 20 miles long by 20 miles broad.

Cranbourne, Monday - On Friday, Saturday and Sunday a dreadful bush fire raged in this district, and did considerable damage to stock, grass, fencing, orchards and crops. The fire started this side of Somerville township, and, with a strong southerly wind, travelled into Cranbourne a distance of about 20 miles.  The blaze was also 12 miles in width. 

The following is a list, of the heaviest sufferers by this fire, which is the largest that has ever been heard of or seen here since Black Thursday:- Mr. Taylor, Sherwood Park - Loss: 15 miles of fencing, 2000 acres of grass and a large number of sheep.- Mr. Sam Staughton, M.L.A., Coolebah - Loss: - About 1400 acres of grass and a lot of fencing. Mr. J. Staughton - Loss: 1000 acres of grass, fencing and a large number of sheep. Mr. R. Ker - Loss: Grass, fencing and lot of 2 feet firewood. Several smaller farmers were also large losers in having all their fencing and grass totally burnt out, including Mr. David Craig, Mr. T. Meade, Mr. Waller, Mr. Barton, Mr. D. Robinson, Mr. Ted. Gray, Mr. Abrahams, Mr. J. G. Hudson, storekeeper, Cranbourne; Mr. P. Peterson, Mr. Thos. Peterson, Mrs. Poole, Mr. Perridge, Mr. Moscript, Mr. Ridley, manager of the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, North Melbourne; Mr. F. Hardy and others too numerous to mention.

The fire, after passing through the racecourse reserve, swept with lightning-like rapidity towards the township, crossing the Frankston-road, 2 chains wide, in a leap, and but for the timely assistance of Messrs. Duff, Downs, M'Leod, Meade, Rev. Colin Robertson, Constable Dwyer and a lot of other willing helpers, the residences of Messrs. Reid and Wilson would have been destroyed. The fire got into short grass here, and after about four hours' hard fighting was got under. The only sufferers in the township were:- Messrs. Thos. Downs - Loss: 2-roomed house full of hay. Mr. P. Peterson - Loss: A

slaughterhouse and fencing. Messrs. J. Taylor and Reid and Mrs. Tucker: Grass and fencing.

A watch was kept over the township all Saturday night, but nothing further happened. A lot of the farmers, thoroughly overcome by smoke und heat and over exertion, have had to take to their beds. Large fires are still burning round the township, and the damage done totals some thousands of pounds, Mr. Taylor, of Sherwood Park, being the largest sufferer. (The Age, Tuesday, February 1, 1898, see here)

Fires near Cranbourne.

Cranbourne, Tuesday - A large bush fire broke out on Saturday at Lang Lang East and did considerable damage, travelling for about 5 miles to Yannathan. Mr. Bell, of Lang Lang East, lost a lot of fencing and a large area of grass, so did Mr. John and Mr. James Smethurst, of Yannathan. After several hours fighting the fire was got under. On Sunday, at St. Germains Station, near Cranbourne, a large quantity of fencing and about 300 acres of grass were burnt. Mr. William Griffiths, manager for Mr. S. Staughton, M.L.A., of Coolbah Estate, has been a heavy loser by the fire here, having lost a flock of turkeys valued at £20. The birds were all roasted. Mr. Griffiths also had a very narrow escape of his life, being caught in the flames on horseback whilst trying to rescue some sheep, which he successfully accomplished. His horse was singed of all its hair and badly burnt. There is a water famine in Cranbourne. Nearly all the tanks are dry, and the residents are only depending on a few wells, the water of which is brackish. (The Age, Wednesday,  February 2, 1898, see here)

  

Church burnt at Heifer Creek. Damage at Lang Lang and Yannathan
Cranbourne, Wednesday - Amongst other parts of the district the township of Lang Lang was the scene of a conflagration which nearly destroyed the butter factory and stores there. The fire broke out in a heavy belt of timber and scrub just west of the factory, and the flames rose to a dreadful height, coming within a few feet of the building, which was only saved by the united efforts of the employes and townsfolk. Had the factory gone the entire township must have been consumed. The station master's residence narrowly escaped destruction, the fire running right up to it.

At Heath Hill on Tuesday night the farm of Mr. Patrick M'Grath was the scene of a dreadful fire, which destroyed his stack sheds, large quantities of grass and fencing. Flames are still to be seen in that direction. At Red Bluff, near Lang Lang, Mr. Le Rostu's [Le Roux] farm was attacked, and some grass and fencing were destroyed. Last night Mr. J. S. Stewart, of Woodleigh, lost everything. Mr. R. Scott, of Rockwah, saved his homestead, but lost its surroundings. Fires are still burning around Yannathan. The destruction there covers thousands of acres of grass and miles of fencing. It is
stated that all the country between Yannathan and Longwarry is ablaze. The church at Heifer Creek was destroyed by the fires. (The Age, Thursday, February 3, 1898, see here)

In the Cranbourne District. General Destruction. 

Cranbourne, Wednesday - Some large strips of country have been burnt out on the Yallambie Estate, north of the Great Southern line, and Mr W. T. Duff has sustained a big loss in having fencing and grass destroyed. All that portion between the Gippsland and Great Southern lines, known as South Pakenham and Cardinia, which is on the western fringe of the Koo-wee-rup Swamp, has been in imminent danger from the fires burning in the swamp, and the closely settled dairying district of Clyde, between the swamp and Cranbourne, would be swept right out, should the wind bring the fires on from the swamp, and already there have been a number of out-breaks, which fortunately have been promptly checked. The swamp scrub consists mostly of ti tree but beneath this is a layer of peat varying from 18in. to several feet deep, and once ignited it burns for weeks. From a burning mass of this terrible stifling smoke is now being emitted. The village settlers are having a most trying time. Both from the direction of Narre Warren and Berwick, Cranbourne is threatened with fires, and Mr Beaver Hall, of Glady's-park, has already lost a valuable extent of glass and fencing. 

The fires from Koo-wee-rup Drouin, and Longwarry have extended right on to the closely settled dairy farms of Yannathan and on Saturday and Sunday they raged furiously, destroying pastures and fencing on farm after farm. Mr Ritchie lost everything, except his home, and some valuable horses were most terribly burned, and had to be destroyed. At Mr. William Bell's, a magnificent farm of 640 acres has been completely burnt out, and every stick of fencing is gone. Councillor John Smethurst, president of the Cranbourne Shire, lost 400 acres of grass, and fencing. Mr. James Smethurst, his brother, likewise lost 400 acres, and fencing at Blackwood At his home there was the greatest possible difficulty in fighting off the fire, the pine trees and picket fence around the garden being consumed, and the house was only just saved. Mr Samuel Smethurst likewise had to fight to save his homestead, the fire burning right up to the doors. Messrs Joseph and William Burnside had 640 acres of grass and fencing burned, the last-named farmer being reduced to a very critical state from the exhaustion of two days' battling with the flames. A huge portion of Mr. James Greaves's farm was similarly burnt, also fencing. 

Mr. A. Woodman, whose property is situated on the Yallock Creek, between Koo-wee-rup and Yannathan, is also a heavy loser by the fire, and Mr. Carson, of Yannathan also experienced a big loss. At Heath Hill last night, a furious outbreak occurred, jeopardising the whole of the farms in that portion of the district. Prompt assistance alone saved the places, but Mr. P.W. McGrath lost his haystacks, outhouses, grass fencing, and stock-yards. Mr George Gray, in the same locality, suffered heavily, and Mr. A. E. Glover's house had to be watched all night to save it from the burning trees, which were falling in every direction, Protector's Plains were one big blaze, and the fires are still burning with fierceness in this locality. The loss all through Yannathan and Heath Hill must be very large. 

A terrible fire broke out in the ti tree and scrub adjacent to Lang Lang township, and for a few hours the inhabitants experienced a sultry and most uncomfortable time of it. Between Lang Lang, and all the way to Grantville, the country has been burnt for miles and miles. Councillor Le Roux, of the Cranbourne shire, lost a very large quantity of grass, and some miles of fencing. Mr R.C. Scott, of Woodleigh, a well-known grazier, is another of the burnt-out victims. (The Argus, Friday, February 4, 1898, see here)

Damage at Lang Lang and Yannathan.

Cranbourne, Wednesday - Amongst other parts of the district the township of Lang Lang was the scene of a conflagration which nearly destroyed the butter factory and stores there. The fire broke out in a heavy belt of timber and scrub just west of the factory, and the flames rose to a dreadful height, coming within a few feet of the building, which was only saved by the united efforts of the employes and townsfolk. Had the factory gone the entire township must have been consumed. The station master's residence narrowly escaped destruction, the fire running right up to it. (The Leader, Saturday, February 5, 1898, see here)

Yallock Village Settlement Burnt.

Cranbourne, Saturday - Further extensive damages from the fires have occurred at Lang Lang Messrs Addison, Foster, Ridgway, and many of the selectors in that locality have lost everything, saving their homes with the greatest difficult. Another fire broke out near the Lang Lang township, and the Church of England, Mechanics' Institute, market buildings &c., were all in danger of complete destruction. The townsfolk had a terrible fight for their property. Last night an outbreak occurred at the Yallock Village Settlement, and before any resistance could be offered the residences of Messrs Orford, Izard, Titherly, T. Pretty, and several others were completely destroyed, and the whole settlement swept clean of grass, fencing and gardens. The fire spread on to on Messrs. Glasscock Bros. Forest paddock, near Yannathan, and here the whole of the South Yannathan country was seriously menaced, and but for the united exertions of a large body of the local farmers, who turned out with water tanks and combated the flames, the homesteads of Messrs. Rinding, Cousen and Ridgway would have been swept clear. Mr John Smethurst, of Yannathan, who goes in extensively for bee farming lost a colony of bees and hives, valued at over £100, during the fires. At the Cranbourne Council to day, the engineer reported that a large number of culverts and bridges had been destroyed in the shire by the fires. It will entail a very large outlay to replace them. (The Argus, Monday February 7, 1898, see here)

Yallock Village Settlement Destroyed.
Cranbourne, Saturday - On Friday night another big fire was discovered raging at the Yallock village settlement, on the cast side of the Yallock Creek, near Monomeith. In an incredibly short space of time the whole place was one great blaze, and four houses and their contents were completely demolished, whilst the settlement was burnt out in the most disastrous manner. Fully 20 families have lost their fencing and improvements and their gardens. Extending from thence the fires crossed on to Mr. Glasscock's property, at Monomeith, where a very large acreage was destroyed before the fire was got under control. Had it not been for assistance from Yannathan this fire would have proved one of the most severe in the district, but the farmers now being better organised were able to offer a more capable resistance, and their united efforts undoubtedly saved many more Yannathan farms from being ravaged by the flumes. Fires still continue to do great damage around Lang Lang. 

At Cranbourne shire council meeting it was stated to-day that a large number of culverts and bridges were destroyed by fires at Langwarrin, Sherwood and various other portions of the Yallock riding, and these will entail considerable expense to repair. (The Age, Monday, February 7, 1898, see here)

How fires originate.

Cranbourne. Monday - At Cranbourne court to-day, John and Alexander Ritchie, two young farmers, of Yannathan, were charged with lighting fires which endangered adjoining property on the 15th January. Both pleaded guilty to having committal a technical offence, and explained in defence that they lighted the fires to protect their own property from a fire which was burning close at hand in the Kooweerup Swamp. They were each fined £3, with 15s. costs. George Ritchie their father, was then charged with igniting a fire on the. 29th ult. The evidence proved that Ritchie was seen lighting the scrub at the back of his house, and that this fire spread, burning out among others Messrs. Bell, John H. Smethurst and James Smethurst, and inflicting very considerable damage in the neighborhood. The defendant pleaded not guilty, but was fined £3, and 12s. costs. (The Age, Tuesday, February 22, 1898, see here)