Chatsbury bushfires

Chatsbury / Bungonia bushfires
Date(s)	5 to 14 March 1965
Location	Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	34°32′57″S 149°49′02″E
Statistics[1]
Burned area	250,000 hectares (620,000 acres)
Land use	Residential Rural grazing Orchards
Impacts
Deaths	3

The Chatsbury/Bungonia bushfires of 1965 was a series of bushfires that burned from 5 to 14 March 1965 in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia. The fires destroyed the villages of Tallong, Wingello, and most of the surrounding orchards.^[2]

The fire is thought to be ignited by a spark from a Chatsbury Station angle grinder. It quickly spread and covered 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres) and destroyed the areas' livestock. It is thought to be the greatest disaster in the area.^[1]

Three people were killed. 28 homes were destroyed in Tallong, 31 in Wingello. The fire was eventually stopped (or burnt out) near Nowra on the NSW South Coast.^[3]

References

1. Gordon, Chris (4 March 2015). "Remembering the 1965 Chatsbury-Bungonia Fire". Goulburn Post. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
2. "History: 1950-1969: The growth of local brigades". NSW Rural Fire Service. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
3. "History: 1950-1969: The growth of local brigades". NSW Rural Fire Service. Retrieved 6 October 2015.