The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that ignited or were burning across Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009 and were among Australia’s all-time worst bushfire disasters. Areas within the City of Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik were directly impacted including Kinglake West and Strathewen.
Local historian and photographer Matt Dickinson took a series of photographs immediately following the fires and donated them to Yarra Plenty Regional Library for public access. They were added to the Local History Flickr page along with other collections.
Black Saturday Bushfire February 2009
Aftermath of Black Saturday – Dickinson Collection
Following the devastation of the fires Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s own mobile library resumed service to the fire affected Shires of Nillumbik and Whittlesea as soon as the roads were reopened. The mobile library provided a touch of normality for the residents contributing to the initial recovery.
Over the years since that fateful day, gradually items have been added to our local history collections at both Eltham and Mill Park libraries, including other photograph collections. These items will be held permanently representing a significant event in our local history.
First published at Yarra Plenty Regional Library, 31 January, 2019
