MT. MITTAMATITE

	Grid Reference	EV 775990
	Department	DEPI
	Work Depot	Corryong
	Region	North East
	Grading	Primary
	Elevation (ASL)	1003m
	Height	30m
	Construction	Steel
	Cabin size	2.1m x 2.1m
	Public access to site	Yes
	In use since	1954 - 1963 (original) 1964 - current
	CFA Region	24 - North Eastern

Photo and above information supplied by Reginald R. Hodge in 1999. Reg has manned the tower since 1985-86 season.

All information below was found in information supplied by David Bannear.

Forest Commission correspondence dated 24th May 1954, talks about the approach route to the tower.
An eastern approach was suggested.
Estimated cost:

4 miles doser track	£ 2000
clearing of site & erection of 60' tower	£ 700
erection of hut near tower	£ 150
Total	£ 2850

In a letter from the Division of Forest Protection, dates 03-05-1961 it talks about some extra earthing to be carried out:
"30' of household earth wire (7/029) is to be attached to each leg and buried in a reasonable straight line at least six (6) inches deep. In addition, any occupant of the tower is to be clearly instructed that, when electrical storms are occurring within a radius of one mile of the tower, the tower is to be vacated, without exception."

In 1963, the Dep. of Civil Aviation wanted to do some radio tests at the site to determine the suitability for radio navigation aids for the guidance of aircraft in that area. Some trees had to be cleared and the tower dismantled to avoid reflections and false readings.
The tower was dismantled and stored in Corryong and a new tower was erected after the testing was completed. The tower was built by the Dept. of Civil Aviation and was first manned on February the 15th 1965.

In a report dated 31-07-1968 the viewing coverage of Black Mountain and Mt. Mittamatite are assessed and the outcome showed that both towers can't do without the other to give a satisfactory cover for the Corryong District.

The tower was painted in 1979 and some minor maintenance was carried out on the catwalk decking and the cabin floor.

In 1985, "It has been reported by the towerman that on occasion the steel structure gives out a loud bang as expansion / contraction forces make their adjustments suggesting that it is time to have all the bolts in the tower structure tightened."

2002: The tower received a new cabin in Oct. (supplied by Reg)

Please click on thumbnails for enlargements


Tower (1998) supplied by David Turner (DSE)	cabin (1998) supplied by David Turner (DSE)	old cabin, supplied by Jim Browning (2009)	old cabin, supplied by Jim Browning (2009)

The old cabin sits in the grounds of The Man From Snowy River Museum in Corryong.

The above fotos were taken on the FLO get-together in May 2012. Supplied by Andre Belterman

Mt. Mittamatite was impacted by the 2019-20 fires and we recieved the following information from Andrew Johnstone (DELWP) in Oct 2020: Mt Mittamatite got burnt over and we have had an engineering assessment conducted and it is clear for operational use.

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