# Created on 19/05/2014 10:12:08 PM Mt. Buller

MT. BULLER


Grid Reference DU 489887
Department DEPI
Work Depot Mansfield
Region North East
Grading Primary
Elevation (ASL) 1805m
Height On Ground
Construction Stone
Cabin size 4.5m x 4.5m
Public access to site Yes
In use since 19?? - 1967 (original)
1967 - (current)
CFA Region 23 - North Eastern
Photo (2000) supplied by Andre Belterman

Mt. Buller's original 'tower' was a box which had to be tied down securely on top of this windy mountain.
In a letter (found in notes supplied by David Bannear) dated 24th Dec. 1942 it states: "Because of difficulties with transport, food arrangements and man-power there will not be any lookout operating on Mt. Buller this summer. The position is further worsened by the fact that the Chalet has been burnt down. Reports of fires, if any, will come from the usual observations of fireguards and other employees, plus what can be done from the office in Mansfield. This should suffice for this summer, as conditions are so safe in the alpine country after the long, wet winter".
The University of Melbourne, Meteorology Department, often used the lookout cabin as a glaciological laboratory during the winter months.
Chris Deutscher, who has more than 20 years service as towerman on Mt. Buller(2000), still remembers the day a helicopter landed on the summit to rescue a girl that had fallen during the climb to the top. Chris greets many visitors every year. The most asked question is: "Don't you get bored doing this job?" Chris's reply: "No I get bored answering the same question a thousand times".

Please click on thumbnail for enlargement

Mt. Buller Fire tower taken
in 1953 from Ivan Whittaker Lodge
Photo supplied by Chris Donnelly 		Mt. Buller Fire tower taken
in 1960 by ©Eric Burt
Kindly supplied by Eric Burt and
used with permission 		Inside in 2009,
supplied by
Richard Webb 		Inside in 2009,
supplied by
Richard Webb


2005 The tower was severely damaged by very strong wind.

2007 The tower was fitted with uPVC (unplasticised PVC) double glazed windows and frames. The frames and glass was carted up manually and the new steel roof had to be put in position with a helicopter.
The first photo below shows evertyhing in place. Chris Deutscher is still the current fire lookout observer (2009-10).

Mt. Buller (2009)
Supplied by Chris Deutscher 		Wedding @ Mt. Buller (2009)
Supplied by Chris Deutscher 		Mt. Buller construction 1966-67
Taken by Jack Gillespie
Supplied by Stephen Gillespie in July 2021


After 37 years of dedicated service, Chris Deutscher had to retire at the start of the 2013-14 fire season due to ill health. Chris served 3 years on The Paps tower and the last 34 years on his beloved Mt. Buller.

Celebration and recognition
of Chris's dedicated FLO service
in May 2014. 		Mt. Buller covered in snow
in July 2014. Photo supplied
by Andrew Dixon.


Like father like son. Josh Broughton (L) was on Mt. Buller for a few days during the 2015-16 fire season. His parents visited him one day.
Josh's father Geoff is the FLO on Mt. Wombat. Josh also features on the Mt. Wombat page as a 5 year old.


Mt. Buller in April 2019, photos supplied by Andre Belterman
Note the plague for Chris Deutscher, who passed away in May 2018.
3 Months before his passing, Chris was taken to the tower by helicopter and carried the last section
on a stretcher so he could spend a last day in his beloved tower.

The above photos were supplied (1st May 2023) by Chris Morgan, the current (2023) FLO at Mt. Buller. Some of the stone work had started to crumble and created holes. The 3 photos of the damage were taken in Dec 2022 and Jan 2023. The last 3 photos were taken on the 1st March 2023 after the repair work was completed. The track up to the tower had also some repair work done.

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