http://www.fadingvictoria.com/ Fading Victoria - fading suburban sites, rural ruins en-us http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/youtube_D_dVKTmk5aY/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/youtube_D_dVKTmk5aY/ [VIDEO] Various footage from 2006-2008 showing former military depot. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20100410XF9N8234/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20100410XF9N8234/ Completed in 1895, this reservoir - also known as Trawool Reservoir - supplied water to the town of Seymour for around 80 years. The wall was built using granite from the immediate area, with a large square cut creating a man-made cliff face a few metres high, just behind the camera. Unused blocks also litter the site. The pipe to Seymour has been disconnected, so a small amount of water constantly trickles out of a failing valve at the bottom of the wall; when the reservoir is full, it simply overflows. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20121020XF9N8432/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20121020XF9N8432/ An old house and shop which date back to the 1850s or 1860s. Although in poor condition, and abandoned for several years, there was still evidence of its previous tenants, the Graffs, who have a long history of occupation in this area, and this specific house. As with many abandoned houses the floorboards and some other fixtures were progressively 'rescued' (cough) by salvagers. The house, shop and some outbuildings were destroyed by fire in October 2015. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20091008XF9N6769/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20091008XF9N6769/ The beautiful view from near the site of High Park railway station, which was part of the short-lived, ill-fated Kilmore to Lancefield cross country line. The railway was closed and dismantled more than 100 years ago, so very little of it remains. The photo was taken from where the access road to enter the station would have been located. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20100606XF9N9259/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20100606XF9N9259/ Looking over a bridge that now sits underneath Lake Eppalock. Originally covered by water as the man-made lake was created in the 1960s, it was revealed by drought in the early 2000s, but went back under after heavy rains in 2010. When the reservoir is full, the water reaches as far back as the cluster of mature trees on the left of this photo. See below for a daytime photo taken from the other side of the bridge. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20081103XF9N5342/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20081103XF9N5342/ The front page of "The Age" newspaper, from a Wednesday in September 1907, used as a liner beneath wallpaper. If you look from the bottom upwards it is possible to discern at least 6 different versions of wallpaper. The top layer still looks quite old, because at some point the whole lot was covered over with pressed steel. This photo was taken in late 2008 as the house was being demolished. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140730XF9N9288/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140730XF9N9288/ The main hallway of this old home seems to be the only part of building still standing, and it's not looking too solid. Arson damaged the area to the left many years ago, and more recently a large pine tree has fallen directly onto the roof of the remaining part. This photo was taken at 9:30pm. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140719XF9N9215/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140719XF9N9215/ Like many locations posted on this site, this old tunnel was a serendipitous discovery, found when I inadvertently drove past my intended point of interest. I decided to continue further up the road, and found this. To get an idea of scale, to traverse this tunnel you would need to crawl, and to get through the entrance would most likely require you to be almost horizontal, and feet first. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20050513XF9N0666/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20050513XF9N0666/ A view that has likely not changed for many years, and will hopefully stay for many more. The path to the bottom of Turpin's Falls has degraded in recent years, with the safety fencing virtually falling over, so access is intermittent. This photo was taken in May 2005. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140702XF9N8810/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140702XF9N8810/ Although decommissioned in 1982, after 30+ years the contents of this power station control room remain mostly intact and undisturbed. Another area of the building has electrical transformers still in operation, which were installed in the 1950s. The equipment in this room - which includes ammeters, voltmeters, frequency meters, data loggers, and several control switches - is probably of a similar vintage. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20121115XF9N9243/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20121115XF9N9243/ Situated in the service area of the mansion 'Mintaro', this device was used to signal staff for attention. A press of a button in a remote room causes an electric current to flow, which moves a small vane behind the glass, displaying a dot in the appropriate window. The call stays active until it is manually reset with the rod on the right hand side of the box. Manufactured by T. C. Hyde of Richmond, who was making such products since at least 1877, it is possible that this indicator box and installation happened 130+ years ago as the house was built. Inset shows detail of a call button in an upstairs room. Note also the disused gas lamp fitting to the top right of the box. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20131123XF9N4515/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20131123XF9N4515/ A sign warning of the consequences of entering the former explosives factory in Maribyrnong. The sign would have been created between 1948 and 1966, and appears to be unique, at least along this side of the property. Ernest Edward Backhouse is listed as the manager. There are several more modern signs in the area - ironically in far worse condition than this one - which advise of $1000 fines for trespass, and 6 month imprisonment for shooting across the site. This photo was taken from the Maribyrnong River, on the cruise boat 'Blackbird'. The sign appears to be somewhat difficult to access via land, even from within the factory, which may explain why it has not been updated or removed. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140517XF9N7369/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140517XF9N7369/ A homestead abandoned when the Cairn Curran reservoir began construction in the mid 1940s. When the reservoir is full the foundations and lower parts of the walls are submerged, and a photo from this position (on dry land, anyway) would not be possible. The separate kitchen building is visible to the left. The sun broke out from grey clouds just before this image was taken. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140517XF9N7271/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20140517XF9N7271/ View from the kitchen of a homestead, abandoned when land was acquired to build a reservoir in the mid 1940s. The homestead partially floods when the reservoir is full. The kitchen is physically separate to the homestead, and is built using different stone. The walls are also more colourful than the plain plaster of the homestead. The original window view would have been looking towards a distant river, rather than a nearby body of water. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20131229XF9N5104/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20131229XF9N5104/ The shell of the former Wesleyan Methodist church, dating back to 1864. Although a fire in 2000 caused significant damage, the basic brick structure, including the impressive front facade, is still mostly intact. There are three other similarly impressive churches a few minutes walk from here. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20131113XF9N4184/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20131113XF9N4184/ Advertising for Dunlop Tyres, painted on a roofing beam of a building currently under demolition. Martin Shelley's motor garage was located here between about 1923 and 1940; a dry cleaners occupied the premises for around 70 years after that. A sign which appears to say "SMOKING PROHIBITED" is visible on another beam, and a flaking overcoat of paint on the walls is also revealing other colourful painted advertisements for Dunlop. Demolition began in early November 2013. None of the current building will be retained. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20130706XF9N1989/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20130706XF9N1989/ Visible due to recent demolition of a building, this painted advertisement is nearly 125 years old. The render and mortar patterns hint at the size and shape of the original circa 1860 building's roof and chimney, with the more substantial four storey building covering and protecting the advertisement around 1890. A tower is currently being built on the site, so hopefully the wall will remain undisturbed and will again be covered. Dr. King's practice was located (briefly) further up Russell Street, on the corner of Flinders Lane. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20130326XF9N1222HDR/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20130326XF9N1222HDR/ This brick kiln, located near Bacchus Marsh, was built around 1885 for Messrs. Pearce Brothers, and was used for processing chicory roots, which once baked and ground are frequently used to complement or even wholly substitute coffee. The brick layer was J. F. Taylor, and carpentry was by Mr. Murphy. It was in operation for a relatively short period, being referred to 25 years later as an "unused chicory kiln" and "the old chicory kiln." In the years following it was suggested that the building could be repurposed for tobacco leaf drying, fruit canning, or even housing an electricity plant. One wall contains advertising for Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills ("For the Liver"), with an older slightly different version of the ad showing through as the top coat of paint deteriorates. Today the area immediately surrounding the building is still used for agricultural purposes. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20130307XF9N0896/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20130307XF9N0896/ Part of the advertising painted on the side wall of a shop was revealed by the demolition of a house in early 2013. It appears to be advertising Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills, using the slogan "The Standard Family Medicine." The house was built in 1911, so this part has been hidden for over 100 years; apart from some remnant mortar from the wall that covered it, the paint is in remarkably good condition. Two units will be built on the site, hiding the wall's contents again. Inset shows the 1911 house before it was demolished. Although over 100 years old, it did not have any heritage protection. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110625XF9N4059/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110625XF9N4059/ Fire and vandalism in this abandoned house reveal old wooden walls beneath the cracked hemp plaster panels. The house is structurally unsound - two out of four walls in this room are missing - so it is likely to be demolished in the future. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120629XF9N5396/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120629XF9N5396/ An old and abandoned weatherboard house. The rear foundations seem to have sunk, making the whole building lean slightly. The front verandah has also collapsed. See below for a shot from 5 years earlier. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20111216XF9N0104/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20111216XF9N0104/ View from inside the house on the water. I'm not sure if this was originally the front or rear entrance. Note the minor flooding near floor level, and the partly collapsed interior walls. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20111216XF9N0228/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20111216XF9N0228/ An old homestead, presumably abandoned around the 1950s, when land was compulsorily acquired for construction of the Cairn Curran reservoir. The structure is near the edge of the water line, so even when the reservoir is full it only partially floods. During the drought in the years preceding this photo the building and land around it was completely dry. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20080224XF9N1450/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20080224XF9N1450/ Old 2 cent and 5 cent stamp vending machines at the Clunes Post Office. These are no longer operational, but at least they have been retained. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120405IMG_6674/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120405IMG_6674/ A section of highway long ago bypassed. The crumbling leaf covered area to the left of the photo is actually the left half of the road; a faint painted line is visible in the centre. The photo was taken at around 11pm, with the shutter open for 10 minutes. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20101017XF9N1252/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20101017XF9N1252/ The alignment of runway 35 at the former RAAF Laverton Airfield coincides neatly with the alignment of a major road that is being constructed through the new development of Williams Landing. The runway surface was removed in late 2011, and the area shown in this photo is now covered with the other half of the railway overpass. A nearby control tower was demolished earlier in 2011. Another runway on the site now has houses built over it. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110327XF9N2816/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110327XF9N2816/ Another view of the entry area of an abandoned cottage. The front door disappeared between visits. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20101107XF9N1760HDR/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20101107XF9N1760HDR/ Behind the front door of an abandoned cottage. This small entry area joined two distinct buildings, possibly from different eras: one side weatherboard with two rooms, the other bluestone with about six rooms. Most of the back wall and roofing from this section has collapsed. The door was gone when I returned a few months later. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090303XF9N8876/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090303XF9N8876/ Found by developers when digging up what was previously farmland, an official archeological dig uncovered evidence of an old residence, possibly dating back to the mid 1850s. The cobbled path near the bottom of the photo was thought to be leading to the front door. The local history group had trouble finding out anything about this building, or the land it stood upon, so it continues to remain a mystery. Inset shows an aerial view of the remaining wall stubs. The site has since been levelled and is currently being built upon. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120428XF9N2564/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120428XF9N2564/ A mapping error by council meant that an interim heritage overlay was declared invalid, allowing the developers of this property to begin demolishing the structure without penalty. The error was corrected a few days later, but it was too late: the building fabric and historical context of the site has been compromised enough that the proposal for permanent heritage protection has since been abandoned. The building will be demolished, and 10 apartments will be built on the site. Inset shows what the house used to look like. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120405XF9N2028/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120405XF9N2028/ Hiding in overgrowth a hundred metres past the High Camp station site is this old wooden buffer, which was used to retard or stop a train that tried to proceed beyond the end of the track. The Heathcote line closed in 1968. This photo was taken at night, lit only by a near full moon. The stop is not visible from the road even during daylight, so locating it in the dark was an interesting challenge. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120318XF9N1590HDR/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120318XF9N1590HDR/ This old cattle milking structure was found on a farm that was abandoned about 10 years ago, but it is likely to have fallen out of use some time before that due to the introduction of mechanised milking machinery. The wood has minimal processing, mainly just stripped of bark and cut where needed; the walls are lined with rusting tin. The feeding troughs still have some straw remaining in them. Some of the structure is missing - an entire portion has been neatly sawn off and removed. The electric light fittings have also disappeared. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20111009XF9N8334/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20111009XF9N8334/ A Bell 47J helicopter from the late 1950s, registration VH-INE, which was retired from flight and used as a simulator at the former amusement park Wobbies World. The park closed in the late 1990s, and the helicopter moved to its current home at a private residence. The paint flaking from the tail is slowly revealing the previous owner's name "AIRFAST" underneath it. The helicopter was also used by Ansett-ANA. Inset shows the Wobbies World logo on the door. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20060704XF9N8593/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20060704XF9N8593/ A Parapunch card filled out in 1943 that appears to contain details of ammunition stored at the former RANAD base. This soggy card was found lying on the ground shortly after an admin building was dismantled, and it's unlikely that explosives dating from 1943 would have still been stored at the base when it closed around the year 2000, so the card had probably slipped into a cavity somewhere, and had been hiding for many years. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110625XF9N7226/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110625XF9N7226/ Fire and vandalism has destroyed much of the structure of this old home. The chimneys and interior have art deco features, but the wooden lining visible beneath the plaster hints that the house is a fair bit older. The property has been abandoned for several years. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110820XF9N7671/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110820XF9N7671/ The remains of what is believed to be a hotel at one time. The building has unfortunately deteriorated significantly over the past decade, with the side wall and roof collapsing recently. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110530XF9N3591/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110530XF9N3591/ A small reminder of what would be considered today an unusual way to transmit power: via water piped under pressure. The Melbourne Hydraulic Power Company began operations in 1889 and continued providing service through a network of pumping stations and underground pipes for almost another 80 years. A common use was to raise water powered lifts in multi-storey buildings. The system was shut down decades ago, but this and a couple of other access hatches remain in the Melbourne CBD... if you look hard enough. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20080525XF9N3197/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20080525XF9N3197/ Inside the old mill building it is apparent that it is mostly just a remnant shell. Some flooring beams and supports are visible, but the floors themselves have been removed. I wonder what might be hiding beneath the undergrowth. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110731XF9N7292/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110731XF9N7292/ This is all that remains of the small weatherboard cottage, which caught fire in early 2011 under suspicious circumstances. After seeing the ruins I was most concerned for the owner, who is in his 80s, but it turns out he moved out and the building was vacant for several months prior to the fire. See below for an image of what it used to look like. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20051222XF9N5114/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20051222XF9N5114/ An old shed with post and rail fencing, possibly part of the original Summerhill estate in Wollert. This would have been a familiar sight to people driving on the Hume Freeway / Craigieburn Bypass, as it was situated immediately next to it. The structure was demolished in mid 2011. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110327XF9N2924/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110327XF9N2924/ A trashed room inside an old cottage. Some sections of the wallpaper have old newspaper and up to four layers of different wallpaper underneath; the adjacent room has newspapers from the 1950s as a floor underlay. This former farm complex will be redeveloped into industrial land in the future. For a different perspective I held my camera as high as possible, with the flash resting on the ceiling. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110320XF9N2610/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20110320XF9N2610/ View from the guard house looking towards building 9 at a former armaments depot. A White Pages phone directory from 1984 is sitting on the desk. The area surrounding this cluster of buildings is currently being redeveloped into industrial land. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20091008XF9N6945/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20091008XF9N6945/ A prominent landmark on the main road into Romsey, this building functioned as a hotel until the late 1800's. The weatherboards were removed and the structure re-clad with this unusual collection of corrugated iron pieces sometime between 1968 and 1976. Many people probably don't realise that it has looked this way for around 50 years. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090624XF9N1544/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090624XF9N1544/ Land for this Church of England was reserved in 1868, so presumably building commenced around the same time. It appears it was never completed. A 5 acre cemetery on the adjoining block reserved in 1866 is less than 10% populated. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090528XF9N0710/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090528XF9N0710/ Side view of the Greenock Park Hotel. The shell seems to be reasonably intact, but it has apparently been in this state for several years. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090528XF9N0714/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090528XF9N0714/ Ruins of the Greenock Park Hotel. I arrived here after dark due to being distracted by some other nice finds in the surrounding area, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. This shot was exposed for 12 minutes; the facade was painted with light from passing vehicles. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20091230XF9N8270/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20091230XF9N8270/ A bridge abandoned when this area was flooded in the 1960s to create Lake Eppalock. Drought in more recent times has receded the water enough that the bridge has once again become exposed, and the river looks like a river again. Most of the land in this photo, apart from the distant hill, is usually under water, so obviously this road is no longer used for access. Inset shows detail of the wooden bridge decking that has been soaked for 40+ years. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20081220XF9N6762/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20081220XF9N6762/ An abandoned railway signalling system, with cut wire still hanging from the pole. The remains of an old semaphore signal are visible behind it. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090528XF9N0599/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090528XF9N0599/ A small bridge crosses a creek intersecting the former Redesdale railway line. The last train passed over it sometime in the 1950s. Tracks were pulled up long ago, but other structures such as this still remain within the reserve, mostly now private property. http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090618XF9N1135/ http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20090618XF9N1135/ Run down bluestone homestead in the middle of a new Vicurban estate. The rear iron roofing has fallen off, revealing what appears to be an earlier version of cladding. This property will be developed into a school in the future.