Torquay+bush+fire

On March 13th 1940 a devastating bush fire demolished a large area of farm land ranging from Moriac to Torquay. Destroying 90 houses, a bakery, a Sunday school, two shops and two wood yards. As well as killing hundreds of sheep. Sadly a farmer was also found drowned in a damn and several others reported missing. For many residents Geelong was a save place for evacuation but for many others Fisherman’s beach was the quickest option. After the clean-up of the fires all as not well as there was numerous cases of robbery reported. People had stolen things that were saved by their owners during the fire, things like Spirits, hotel stock and luggage containing other personal belongings.

__**Bibliography:**__ "Thieves take what fire left", (1990), Geelong Advertiser, 1990, Souvenir no. 5, p.3.