MT. COWLEY


Lat / Long GDA -38.547784, 143.859688
Department FCV...etc...DEECA
Work Depot Colac
Region South West
Grading Primary
Elevation (ASL) 660m
Height 65m (tower)
35.3m (cabin)
Construction Steel
Cabin size 3.5m x 3.5m
Public access to site Yes
In use since 1968 -
CFA Region 7 - Central
Photo supplied by Paul Jones
Updated info, height and cabin size, supplied by Richard Webb in 2009

The Anglesea Historical Society supplied the following information in Dec 2020: The publication about the history of the Anglesea Fire Brigade records that in 1968: "September brought the news that the new Mount Cowley fire tower was expected to be operational prior to the fire season, and that the Anglesea tower on Mt Ingoldsby would be abandoned".

The FCV Annual Report form 1968-69 also states: New 100-ft steel tower - Mt Cowley - Eastern Otways.

Here are some comments by Eddie Page, found on a FaceBook page: "My experience with fire tower construction consisted of building the test site tower at Mt Cowley in the Qtway's; 30 plus metres high made from steel scaffolding with hemp ropes tied to trees for guy wires. This was prior to my foreman ship years, about 1960. Eric Caddy and Pat Denham were the overseers with me, but once the scaffolding got over a couple of metres , I was left on my lonesome to construct the balance of the tower. We ran out of the 4ft high scaffolding at about 25 metres high and were sent 6ft high ones to finish the job. Being young and perhaps naive, I completed it successfully by myself until we reached the 33 metre height. One only person was game enough to come to the top with me, and that was District Forester Kevin O'Kane. I recall his words to me whilst he was inspecting the work. "Eddie, if you shake this bloody thing while I’m here, you are sacked". LOL. Of course the temptation was too good to resist, but he didn't sack me ...Great days, fantastic times with my old mates. Rest their souls. Strangely enough I never ever went back to view the new tower as it was built after I left to go to foremen's school in 1962 ...Since then telecom has built a huge tower on that site. I can describe the test tower as connecting scaffolding to form a square, and building it up to the required height. I mentioned the last bit was of 6ft high and as I am only 5ft 6 inches tall, standing on a few timber boards, nothing to grab hold of until I installed the first piece. Not the best of job's I ever had. But as I said before; Young and game for anything. LOL.

A 2009 ABC West article about the tower and it's long time FLO Murray Ferguson can be found here.

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements
2009, supplied by Richard Webb 2009, supplied by Richard Webb Dec. 2009, supplied by Nathan Jolly


Mt. Cowley had it's cabin replaced in 2012

The above photos were supplied by Andrew Dixon. The first one was taken in Sept 2012, the others in Dec 2015.

For a 2020 YouTube video of the tower, by OUT and ABOUT in the OTWAYS, please click here

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