Thanks to Dorothy Balcomb for sending in these articles about bush fires in and around Canowindra from 1900. If you have something of interest for our Way Back When column please get in touch via editor@canowindraphoenix.com.au
The Canowindra Star of 21 December 1900 reported…
On Sunday and Monday last week bush fires were raging all around Canowindra, the town being enveloped in smoke, and the thermometer standing at 106 and 105 respectively.
A fire broke out near Cudal in Mr Gavin’s grass paddock and, fanned by strong winds, the flames devastated a stretch of country measuring about 14 to 17 miles and stretching from Mr Hill’s ‘Half-way House’ between Cargo and Orange. The fire in its course swept thousands of acres of grass, miles of fencing was burnt and a number of sheep destroyed.
Bowan Park suffered greatly. Ryan Bros lost everything on their land. Mr Gavin lost 80 acres of wheat estimated to go 7 bags to the acre, 30 tons of hay, straw stacks, 100 acres grass, 70 sheep and much fencing. T. Seale lost everything except his residence, which was saved by great exertion. T. Kearney lost 200 bags of wheat, the whole of his standing crop, grass, fences, sheep and cattle.