FRYERS RIDGE

	Grid Reference	BU 606885
	Department	DEPI
	Work Depot	Castlemaine
	Region	North West
	Grading	Secondary
	Elevation (ASL)	544m
	Height	18m
	Construction	Steel
	Cabin size	2m x 2m
	Public access to site	Yes
	In use since	19?? - 19?? 1979 - current
	CFA Region	2 - North Western

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements

Tower and solar panel	Cabin	interior	footings

Above photos (taken in 2006) supplied by Andre Belterman
Note the date in the footings (1979) The correct construction date is still being investigated.

Fryers Ridge received a new cabin in 2014. Photos (2016) supplied by Andre Belterman

We received the message below in April 2018. It confirms the construction year as 1997, thanks Mark.

"I can confirm the tower was erected on or about 9 May 1979. Obviously construction took more than one day. My late father, District Forester at Castlemaine, Mark Stump, took me to the tower after school in May. It was very cold and a strong breeze was blowing adding chill factor. My fathers initials MS are on the north eastern leg of the tower although he said he did not put them there.
The skilled crew who bolted the tower together had also erected the new tower at Blue Mount a few weeks prior to coming to Fryers Ridge.
Later that month we returned to the tower one evening in order to commence the calibration of the tower using the lookout at Mt Tarrengower as the main point of reference. A colleague at Mt Tarrengower shone a powerful light in our direction and we marked the position of the light on the scale board.
Later that year I had opportunity to stand the first watch on the tower and for a few summers after that year.
Regards
Mark Stump"

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