Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 1
Boys Camp - Noojee ….
Thursday 8 August 2019 During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Forests
Commission ran a large unemployment program of
firebreak slashing, building roads, erecting fire towers,
silvicultural thinning, firewood cutting, weed spraying,
soil erosion works and rabbit control. Importantly,
most of the work was in country areas.
By 1935-36 almost 9000 men were employed for
periods of up to eight weeks at a time. Their bush
camps generally comprising 25 men with two-thirds
being from the city. And despite the blisters, many
remained in the country to make their future.
The Country Roads Board, State Rivers and Water
Supply Commission and Melbourne Metropolitan
Board of Works also employed large numbers of men
known as a sussos, which was slang for sustenance
workers.
However, there was a special need to provide
opportunities for young people.
Newspapers warned of long-term consequences of
enforced idleness of youth of the Nation, claiming that
if nothing was done “many would become
permanently unemployable and would settle down to
a life on the dole or turn to crime.”... sound familiar ???
With the support of two prominent Melbourne
businessmen and philanthropists, Herbert Robinson
Brookes and George Richard Nicholas (of Aspro fame),
together with Forests Commission Chairman, A. V.
Galbraith and the Minister for Forests, Sir Albert Lind,
a unique and enterprising “Boys Camp” was
established at Noojee in 1933.
The Commission provided a timber hall and other
facilities, but the boys camped in tents and there was
initially no electricity. Commission officers also
supervised thinning and ringbarking of young stands of
messmate, silvertop and mountain ash together with
fire protection works on the 2000 acres of private land
purchased and donated by Brookes and Nicholas.
Groups of about 30 young boys, aged between 16 and
19, were at the camp at any one time and were paid at
rates applicable to Forests Commission workers, but
money was deducted for food, accommodation and
medical support. And if they didn’t work… they didn’t
get paid.
The idea was extended across Victoria to another 15
sites including a second camp at Noojee and 1276 boys
had passed through the program by 1936.
For many, it was their first experience of country life
and Boys Camp proved one of the success stories of the
1930s and it was later reported two-thirds of the boys
found employment.
With the outbreak of the War in September 1939,
there was no longer a need for an unemployment
program so the camp was used by high school and
university students to produce emergency firewood for
Melbourne until 1942.
After the War, the Noojee camp was once again
occupied as a temporary home for immigrants fleeing
Europe. But all trace was gone by 1988.
https://www.victoriasforestryheritage.org.au/images/
external%20articles/boyscampnoojee.pdf
The first batch of 30 “lads” departed by train from Flinders Street for the new Boys Camp at Noojee on 21 June 1933 but cold
weather and winter rain in the wet forests hampered the camp’s establishment. Local community people supported the boys.
Source: FCRPA collection.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203818931
Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 2
Groups of about 30 boys were at the camp at any one time. They were paid rates applicable to Forests Commission workers of 4/1 for boys of 16 years and 10/10 per week for those 21 years old.
But money was deducted each week for food, accommodation and medical support. And if they didn’t work they didn’t get paid.
Source: Philippa Watt.
Richard (Dick) Mumford (in apron) was the popular cook at Noojee. He and his wife later lost everything in the 1939 bushfires.
Photo supplied by his great-grandson, Wayne Mumford. Circa - 1936.
The idea proved a success and was extended across Victoria to another 15 sites. Boys Camp at Powelltown. Source: FCRPA
collection.
Some 1276 boys had passed through the camps by 1936. The Forests Commission provided a timber hall and other facilities but
the boys camped in tents and there was initially no electricity. Commission officers also supervised thinning and ringbarking of young stands of messmate, silvertop and mountain ash together
with fire protection works on the 2000 acres of private land purchased by Brooks and Nicholas. Source: FCRPA collection.
The initial funding request of £14000 for the program was refused but the Victorian Premier Sir Stanley Argyle and Minister for
Forests Sir Albert Lind proved influential and £600 was eventually secured for a 3 month trial at Noojee from the Employment
Council, the Federal Government body administering relief funds. The idea proved a success and was extended across Victoria to
another 15 sites. Source: FCRPA collection.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11010400
Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 3
With the outbreak of the War in September 1939, there was no need for an unemployment program anymore so the camp was
used by high school and university students to produce emergency firewood for Melbourne. In 1942, over 200 boys from private
Melbourne schools like Wesley and Scotch College worked on a National Service Program during their school holidays earning 4/3
per ton of firewood. By 1943 the program had ceased. Source: Philippa Watt.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Forests Commission undertook a large unemployment program. By 1935-36 almost 9000 men, or susso’s, were employed doing firebreak slashing,
silvicultural thinning, weed spraying, firewood cutting and rabbit control. This photo is from around Rheola/Bealiba in Central
Victoria. Source: Lost Tarnagulla.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4458832
Sir Albert Lind was the local Member of Parliament and forceful advocate for East Gippsland from 1920 to 1961. During that period
he held many senior roles including Minister for Forests and Deputy Premier. He was a major force behind the boys camp
scheme.
In 1926, two National Parks east of Orbost, Albert and Lind, were named after him.
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lind-sir-albert-eli-7198
Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 4
Alfred Vernon (A. V. ) Galbraith was the Chairman of the Forests Commission from 1927 to 1949 and was instrumental in
establishing large unemployment schemes during the Great Depression of the 1930s. He enjoyed the support of the Minister
for Forests, Sir Albert Lind and two prominent Melbourne businessmen and philanthropists, George Nicholas and Herbert
Brookes, to establish Boys Camp at Noojee in 1933.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Vernon_Galbraith
Melbourne businessman, George Richard Nicholas (1884–1960), of Aspro fame, was one of a rare breed of philanthropist.
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholas-george-richard-8497
One of the men who made Noojee happen… Melbourne philanthropist, Herbert Robinson Brookes (1867-1963).
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/brookes-herbert-robinson-5372