Coping

Black Saturday was extraordinary. Our bodies are designed to react first, then unwind later. If your unwinding is still proving a little difficult — and this is absolutely normal and common — please check with the folk who can help it through to completion. You do need to finish that unwinding.

About Us

Narbethong History Group (NHG) was established in 2011 to document and preserve the fascinating history of Narbethong, Victoria in Australia.

Narbethong Progress Association adopted NHG as a sub-committee in April 2012.

Join us!

Anyone with family or other interests in the old township of Narbethong is welcome — just email us.

LAUNCHED!

See a short video of Book Launch on youtube.

Black Saturday

Bushfires ravaged Victoria, and the Shire of Murrindindi in particular, on February 7, 2009. More than 40% of Murrindindi Shire's land was burnt and most of that property destroyed. Destruction state-wide has been described as "Australia's largest natural catastrophe."

Narbethong was mostly obliterated in the early throes of the disaster. Nearby Marysville soon suffered a similar fate. For a brief period, to the north Alexandra, Eildon and Yea were also under threat.

Reconstruction has for various reasons been quite slow, frustrating the local residents and business owners. It will take years yet, and the future is different from the past.

But from an historical perspective, Black Saturday was just one of many historical events. Even regarding bushfires, Black Friday in 1939 had much the same footprint and impact. Narbethong was mostly obliterated then as well, and its future changed completely. This underlines the importance of remembering our history.