MORNINGTON

	Grid Reference	-33.197693, 115.970163
	Department	DEC
	Work Centre	?
	District	Wellington
	Grading	?
	Elevation (ASL)	345m
	Height	Original: ??m Current: 28m
	Construction	Original: Timber Current: Steel
	Cabin size	Original: ?m x ?m Current: ?m x ?m
	Public access to site	Yes
	In use since	Original: 1937 - 19?? Current: 1975 -

Photo (1990) supplied by DEC

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements

Screenshot of old map supplied by MLC in late 2019. MLC also reported and supplied:
Scene of George Elliot's 26 hr armed siege in July 1937, the so-called
"Mornington Tower Sitter". Copy of the article here.

Photo (1950s) was found on the 'Memories of Harvey' FaceBook site
and used with permission. Photo courtesy Ron Sirr.

The Facebook page also states the following: A Forestry Department employee would climb to the top each morning throughout summer and remain there all day to observe for the first sign of smoke. He used binoculars and had a 360 degree view of the local area. Bush telephone lines to each tower enabled them to report back to headquarters of any first sign of fire.
An employee was permanently injured in Jan.1951 when he fell 35ft from this tower while ascending. Spotter planes are now used.

Photo (1952) supplied by Judith Halliday in March 2021. Judith comments: a photo of Mornington Fire Tower where my Grandfather Alexander (Alec) James Martin and my grandmother
also worked and stayed. My grandfather and Uncle Jim (Mt. Keats) were true bushies and just loved that life. Their wives however, were not so keen.
My grandmother moved to the tower with Pop because she was nervous being left alone on the farm while he was on watch. I recall that the march flies and midgies caused great distress.

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