Over 100 fires started on the 16th of February 1983, a day known as Ash Wednesday.
The fires swept across Victoria and South Australia, killing 75 people and causing widespread damage. The day is now one of Victoria's most well-known bushfire events.
Victoria's natural environments are one of the most fire-prone areas in the world.
High temperatures and limited summer rainfall produces conditions of very high fire danger in Victoria's large eucalypt forests.
Sudden strong wind changes, which can cause fires to become uncontrollable, are also common.
The bushfire danger becomes serious in some part of Victoria every two or three years.
Bushfires as severe as the Ash Wednesday fires appear to occur six to ten times a century.
February 1983
A fire at Mt Macedon burnt 6,100 hectares including 1,864 hectares of State forest.
Fifty houses were destroyed.
16-02-1983
A Fire reached Black Range Rd. Latitude -37.22.48 Longitude 144.40.33 Elevation 610 metres: 2.000 feet. ( Romsry - Woodend Road area.) Romsey, Victoria, Australia
