The Australian state of Victoria has a long history of fire-related disasters. Bushfires devastated bushlands there long before European settlement, but the earliest recorded, major bushfire was on 6 February 1851, known as “Black Thursday.” The fire claimed at least ten lives. Other severe catastrophic fires have followed, including those on “Ash Wednesday” (16 February 1983) and “Black Saturday” (7 February 2009).
Themes:
Regions:
Further Readings:
- Pyne, Stephen J. Burning Bush: A Fire History of Australia. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1998.
Day:
2
Month:
6
Year:
1851