The long hard road to Recovery
On Saturday 7th of Febuary 2009, Melbourne temperatures hit a record high of 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) the hottest temperature ever recorded in an Australian capital city, humidity was as low as 6% and winds in excess of 100km were recorded. At 11:20 the first fires were spotted by the time they were extinguished over a month and a half later 173 people had died, 3,500 buildings were destroyed and 4500 km² 450,000 ha (1,100,000 acres) were burnt. The amount of energy released during the firestorm in the Kinglake-Marysville area was equivalent to the amount of energy released by 1,500 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs.
Six months on I visited the forests above Marysville and disturbing as it is thought I would share a few before and after shots of some waterfalls I visited.
Cumberland Falls
Before
After
Upper Cumberland Falls
Before
After (note that even the moss next to a water course has been burnt off the rocks)
Cora Lynn Falls
Before
After
The scale of this disaster on a human and natural level is hard to comprehend.
Hopefully one day I’ll get to re-shoot these locations after they have fully regenerated.
Trav
Jenni Tanner
It’s hard to believe it will ever be the same. I’ve been around the area quite a few times in the last 6 months since the fires and each time I go there is more regeneration gradually covering the black, charred earth and trees. Sadly, there are areas which are showing little or no regeneration at all. I live on a property that was burned in the Ash Wednesday fires and even now, almost 26 years later, if you rub your hands over the trunks of the gum trees they are black from the charcoal on the bark. Thanks for sharing your before and after photos Travis, you are lucky to have them :-)
Travis Easton replied
Hi Jenny,
I’ve visited numerous areas burnt after Black Saturday where the fires weren’t so hot and much more of the flora survived. The devestation up around Cambarville however is horrific with hardly any revegetation occuring at all. I was up there trying to shoot for the regeneration comp but despite a lengthy and arduous walk I barely found any greenery at all… very, very sad. I wonder how long it will take…
mspfoto
Hi trav you’ve done this nicely. If history is any thing to go by the bush will bounce back, the buildings will be rebuilt. The emotional scares however will be with us all forever.
Travis Easton replied
In most areas I’ve visited the revegetation is going great guns up around here it must have been stupidly hot as there was virtually no reveg at all practically all the ferns were dead too. I think it will take a very long time to come back to it’s former glory but as you say bounce back it will. If only hearts were as resilient.
Georgie Hart
Thanks for posting these fascinating comparisons Travis…a powerful demonstration of the destructive force of bushfires.
Travis Easton replied
Seeing the aftermath helps you understand the fury, my heart really goes out to everyone who lived through and sometimes died amongst this trauma.
Richard George
Exceptional series Travis. Thanks fpr sharing this important work.
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Richard, I agree that visual history is important to share, thanks.
Tony Middleton
fantastic comparison shots Trav – the story/scenes are pretty similar in parts of the Gippsland fires… :|
Travis Easton replied
Hi Tone, yes this story has been repeated far and wide, hope to do a regeneration comparison eventually.
solo75
Sure looks bleak but nature will prevail.
Travis Easton replied
Amen
Rosalie Dale IPA
Well documented Travis – a very important statement is made by your shots.
Travis Easton replied
One day I hope I can take these shots again after full regeneration, thanks Rosalie.
Donovan wilson
Nice shots Mate and a good on you for getting to the falls its a long way down.
Travis Easton replied
Tis a tad steep, almost got squashed when a massive boulder came free when I lent my hand on it on the way past. Certainly got my heart beating, maybe I should take notice of those signs… lol.
Wendi Donaldson
Incredible documentation…..thanks for sharing and reminding us.
STEPHEN GEORGIOU
Wow trav, you should be a journalist. what a fantastic record for the history books!
OldBirch
These before and after images really illustrate the the difference. Very nicely done.
Given that it’s only six months, maybe things aren’t so bad after all. Six months is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the age of the earth. It’s only a significant period of time in the lifespan of a human.
And be careful on your treks!!!! Sounds like you were at a bit of risk there!
Travis Easton replied
The thing that took me aback about this area was how little regeneration has taken place compared to other areas. Basically on Black Saturday the conditions were so extreme that the fire burned far far hotter and killed far more than it did in the consequent weeks in other areas. it’ll come back but I think the road in this area will be far longer. Thanks for your concern about my welfare (I don’t tell my wife these things as she tends to worry too much).
Di Jenkins
We’re all lucky that we have your “before” images as well as the “after” ones … a stark reminder and hope for regeneration in all the areas hit hard.
You be careful out there Mister!!! We dont want you to become a newsflash!!!
Travis Easton replied
Tim Holding better watch out… ;-), hoping to add an after regeneration shot to the series eventually too, thanks Di.
traveller
Great work Travis.