The 1943-44 Victorian bushfire season was marked by a series of major bushfires following severe drought conditions in the state of Victoria in Australia. The summer of 1943-44 was the driest summer ever recorded in Melbourne with just 46 mm falling, a third of the average for the period.[1] Between 22 December and 15 February, 51 people were killed, 700 injured, and 650 buildings were destroyed across the state.[2] Many personnel who would have been normally available for fire fighting duties had been posted overseas and to remote areas of Australia during World War II.[1]
The first major fire was a grassfire at Wangarrata on 22 December which burnt hundreds of hectares and resulted in 10 deaths.[2] On 14 January and the following day, fires broke out across the state.[1] To the west of Melbourne, a series of bushfires broke out between South Australian border and the outskirts of Geelong including areas near the towns of Hamilton, Skipton, Dunkeld, Birregurra and Goroke.[1] Many smaller towns were substantially damaged. In Derrinallum, the only buildings left standing were the Mechanics' Institute, two churches and several business premises.[3] In central Victoria, fires occurred near Daylesford, Woodend, Gisborne and Bendigo.[1] In the Melbourne area, 63 homes were destroyed at Beaumaris and another 5 in the Glenroy - Pascoe Vale area.[4]
On 14 February a fire broke out near Yallourn.[4] In Hernes Oak, 16 houses and the post office were destroyed while 80 houses were destroyed and 6 lives lost in the Morwell district and 40 houses destroyed and 3 deaths occurred in the Traralgon area.[4] A Royal Commission was held into the Yallourn fires in 1944.[5]
A major outcome following the fires was the establishment of the Country Fire Authority in 1945 to co-ordinate rural fire brigades.
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