Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday’s inferno torched 41,000 hectares across the Otways region, burning from Deans Marsh to Lorne on the wings of a ferocious northerly wind and then up the coast to Anglesea under the influence of an aggressive south-westerly change. It claimed three lives, 729 homes, 53 other buildings, many livestock and many kilometres of fencing.

Surf Coast Shire Council hosted a community event on 16 February 2023 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires. The event provided a space for people to come together in memory and tribute and acknowledged the community spirit which provided a foundation for the region’s recovery.

Get images and audio from the event