Summary

Digital photograph of a fire destroyed home and burnt palm trees taken by Robin McDonald near her beef property at Rosewhite, in Happy Valley, north east Victoria in February-July 2009.

Robin and her husband David, have been farming on this property since 1963, and were directly affected by the 2009 February bushfires which started in the early hours of Sunday 8th February 2009.

This photograph is part of the Victorian Bushfires Collection and is supported by an oral and video interview undertaken with Robin and David McDonald.

Description of Content

The remains of Steven Paul's house, an absentee land owner. The house was destroyed. Two large palm trees burnt by the fire, with twisted corrugated iron in the foreground, possibly from the bullnose verandah. The house was built in the early 20th century and had a verandah around three sides. Two of the three chimneys were double chimneys servicing two rooms, the kitchen chimney is red brick on the right. The remains of the water tank is on the right. Two burnt palm trees are on the left with a view back down the Happy Valley.

Physical Description

Colour digital photograph

Significance

This collection of photographs contributes to understanding the experience of primary producers during the 2009 February bushfires. They particularly document the fires in north east Victoria, which were known as the Beechworth fires. These fires were responsible for the destruction of the greatest amount of public and private land in Victoria during the 2009 bushfires, and raise many issues and themes specific to the geographic nature of this area.

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