Australia's worst bushfires

Updated March 19 2013 - 3:19pm, first published October 25 2012 - 2:57pm
A petrol tank explodes during the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
A petrol tank explodes during the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Bushfire fighters line up at the 1939 Black Friday fires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Bushfire fighters line up at the 1939 Black Friday fires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
People on the balcony of the Lorne Hotel watch as fire rolls over Ottway Ranges toward Lorne, Victoria during the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
People on the balcony of the Lorne Hotel watch as fire rolls over Ottway Ranges toward Lorne, Victoria during the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
A CFA firefighter pauses for breath during the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
A CFA firefighter pauses for breath during the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Police and firefighters remove the bodies of six people trapped and killed during the Ash Wednesday fires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Police and firefighters remove the bodies of six people trapped and killed during the Ash Wednesday fires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Aftermath of the Ash Wednesday fires in Mount Macedon, Victoria. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Aftermath of the Ash Wednesday fires in Mount Macedon, Victoria. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Devastation caused by the Ash Wednesday fires at Cockatoo, Victoria. Photo: JOHN LAMB
Devastation caused by the Ash Wednesday fires at Cockatoo, Victoria. Photo: JOHN LAMB
Hobart was threatened during the 1967 Black Tuesday fires in Tasmania. Photo: JOHN LAMB
Hobart was threatened during the 1967 Black Tuesday fires in Tasmania. Photo: JOHN LAMB
Six people died in these three cars, or trying to escape from them when the fire struck across the Geelong Road, near Lara in 1969. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Six people died in these three cars, or trying to escape from them when the fire struck across the Geelong Road, near Lara in 1969. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
The ruins of homes destroyed during bushfires in Como in 1994. Photo: BARRY CHAPMAN
The ruins of homes destroyed during bushfires in Como in 1994. Photo: BARRY CHAPMAN
Smoke obscures the Sydney skyline during the 1994 fires. Photo: RICK STEVENS
Smoke obscures the Sydney skyline during the 1994 fires. Photo: RICK STEVENS
The Royal National Park ablaze during the 1994 bushfires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
The Royal National Park ablaze during the 1994 bushfires. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
A household pool in Como where a woman died while trying to shelter from a bushfire. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
A household pool in Como where a woman died while trying to shelter from a bushfire. Photo: FAIRFAX ARCHIVES
Police block the Princes Highway as a massive bushfire approaches the southern Sydney suburb of Heathcote on Boxing Day 2001. Photo: REUTERS
Police block the Princes Highway as a massive bushfire approaches the southern Sydney suburb of Heathcote on Boxing Day 2001. Photo: REUTERS
Firefighters watch as a massive bushfire approaches the southern Sydney suburb of Heathcote on Boxing Day 2001. Photo: REUTERS
Firefighters watch as a massive bushfire approaches the southern Sydney suburb of Heathcote on Boxing Day 2001. Photo: REUTERS
A Rural Fire Service member hides from flames and embers during a bushfire in Orangeville. Photo: NICK MOIR
A Rural Fire Service member hides from flames and embers during a bushfire in Orangeville. Photo: NICK MOIR
A fire rages out of control at Darkes Forest, south of Sydney. Photo: SYLVIA LIBER
A fire rages out of control at Darkes Forest, south of Sydney. Photo: SYLVIA LIBER
A man relaxes on Austinmer Beach, near Wollongong, as a bushfire rages in the background. Photo: GREG TOTMAN
A man relaxes on Austinmer Beach, near Wollongong, as a bushfire rages in the background. Photo: GREG TOTMAN
A firefighter battles to save a home near Warragamba during the 2001 fires. Photo: REUTERS
A firefighter battles to save a home near Warragamba during the 2001 fires. Photo: REUTERS
Firefighters douse flames on smouldering bushland near the central coast town of Wyong in 2001. Photo: REUTERS
Firefighters douse flames on smouldering bushland near the central coast town of Wyong in 2001. Photo: REUTERS
Owners of a house destroyed by a bushfire in 2001 sift through the rubble for valuables in the township of Warrimoo, located in the Blue Mountains. Photo: REUTERS
Owners of a house destroyed by a bushfire in 2001 sift through the rubble for valuables in the township of Warrimoo, located in the Blue Mountains. Photo: REUTERS
A bushfire threatens homes in Springwood during the 2001 fires. Photo: STEVE CHRISTO
A bushfire threatens homes in Springwood during the 2001 fires. Photo: STEVE CHRISTO
A sign asking for donations stands at the beginning of a street where six homes were destroyed by a bushfire in the township of Warrimoo in 2001. Photo: REUTERS
A sign asking for donations stands at the beginning of a street where six homes were destroyed by a bushfire in the township of Warrimoo in 2001. Photo: REUTERS
A banksia drops seeds as ranger Kym Schramm inspects the Wyperfeld National Park following bushfires in 2003. Photo: ANGELA WYLIE
A banksia drops seeds as ranger Kym Schramm inspects the Wyperfeld National Park following bushfires in 2003. Photo: ANGELA WYLIE
A cricket match carries on in Cessnock, on the central coast, despite a huge bushfire in the background. Photo: DARREN PATEMAN
A cricket match carries on in Cessnock, on the central coast, despite a huge bushfire in the background. Photo: DARREN PATEMAN
A fire approaches a horse stable and residences in the suburb of Curtin during Canberra's 2003 fires. Photo: SEAN DAVEY
A fire approaches a horse stable and residences in the suburb of Curtin during Canberra's 2003 fires. Photo: SEAN DAVEY
The Stromlo Hill Observatory was operated by the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics before being destroyed by a disastrous bushfire on Saturday January 18 2003. Photo: SEAN DAVEY
The Stromlo Hill Observatory was operated by the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics before being destroyed by a disastrous bushfire on Saturday January 18 2003. Photo: SEAN DAVEY
An aerial shot of Canberra the day after fires destroyed more than 500 homes. Photo: JACKY GHOSSEIN
An aerial shot of Canberra the day after fires destroyed more than 500 homes. Photo: JACKY GHOSSEIN
A rural fire service firefighter ignites a backburn above an empty F3 freeway on the eastern side of Berowra, on the central coast in 2007. Photo: DEAN SEWELL
A rural fire service firefighter ignites a backburn above an empty F3 freeway on the eastern side of Berowra, on the central coast in 2007. Photo: DEAN SEWELL
The sun rises on Kinglake, Victoria, a week after devastating bushfires in 2009. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
The sun rises on Kinglake, Victoria, a week after devastating bushfires in 2009. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
The ruins of a home in Kinglake destroyed during bushfires. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
The ruins of a home in Kinglake destroyed during bushfires. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
A firefighter rests as bushfires rage out of control from the Bunyip State Park towards the townships of Labortouche and Tonimbuk, Victoria in 2009. Photo: JASON SOUTH
A firefighter rests as bushfires rage out of control from the Bunyip State Park towards the townships of Labortouche and Tonimbuk, Victoria in 2009. Photo: JASON SOUTH
A bushfire burns through a forest on the outskirts of Labertouche, 90km east of Melbourne in February 2009. Photo: REUTERS
A bushfire burns through a forest on the outskirts of Labertouche, 90km east of Melbourne in February 2009. Photo: REUTERS
The burnt out township of Kinglake after fires swept through in February 2009. Photo: CRAIG ABRAHAM
The burnt out township of Kinglake after fires swept through in February 2009. Photo: CRAIG ABRAHAM
CFA members prepare as a fire approaches Labertouche. Photo: REUTERS
CFA members prepare as a fire approaches Labertouche. Photo: REUTERS
Peter Paulka at the Strathewen property where his brother Terry Paulka and sister-in-law Donna died during the Black Saturday bushfires. Photo: PAUL ROVERE
Peter Paulka at the Strathewen property where his brother Terry Paulka and sister-in-law Donna died during the Black Saturday bushfires. Photo: PAUL ROVERE
Signs of life begin to return to Kinglake, Victoria a month after devastating bushfires swept through the area. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
Signs of life begin to return to Kinglake, Victoria a month after devastating bushfires swept through the area. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
Forensic Police walk along Lyell Street, Marysville a few days after bushfires destroyed the town. Photo: CRAIG ABRAHAM
Forensic Police walk along Lyell Street, Marysville a few days after bushfires destroyed the town. Photo: CRAIG ABRAHAM
The bush begins to regenerate near Marysville after the Black Saturday bushfires. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS
The bush begins to regenerate near Marysville after the Black Saturday bushfires. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS

Each summer, Australians around the nation brace themselves for yet another bushfire season, fearing that this one could bring fire to their doorstep. Over the past century, bushfires have destroyed thousands of homes and killed hundreds as they tried to protect their properties or flee a raging inferno. Here, we gather just a few images from those devastating fire seasons.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Maitland news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.