Big Lizzie played an important part in the
clearing of
Red Cliffs, In early 1915 Frank Bottrill commenced construction of
Big Lizzie to replace the camel trains which carried wool and other heavy loads in the sandy terrain. After several prototypes, he commenced the construction of
Big Lizzie at McDonald's Foundry in
Richmond Fabrication and assembly of the huge prime mover and two trailers was carried out by Frank over a period of 12 months.
Red Cliffs was the of the largest single farm settlement scheme ever undertaken in Australia. It began in 1918 just as the first Australian Diggers were being repatriated.
What hopes and ambitions filled the hearts and minds of the returned diggers, who fresh from winning a war had now won an allocation of about 15 to 16 acres of pine, belah or mallee covered earth. By December 1920, approximately 5,000 acres had been cleared and subdivided into 295 blocks out of a total of 700 blocks by 1923-24.
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As
Red Cliffs was opened up for Soldier Settlement, Frank Bottrill won the Government contract to clear
Red Cliffs of scrub, thus enabling this massive machine to clear all manner of trees in a short time.
With
Big Lizzie were two massive trailers, each with their own
water and oil reserve tanks underneath the top decking, which had a 30 ton carrying capacity.
After five years of work at
Red Cliffs,
Big Lizzie and two trailers began the slow retreat to Glendinning Station near
Balmoral, Victoria.
Some 40 years later this rusty old, heap of machinery was purchased by a
Big Lizzie Committee to be a proud part of the 50th Golden Jubilee celebrations of
Red Cliffs. Much time and money has been spent on restoration, the 1988 Bi-Centennial gift to the Shire of
Mildura was a complete new cover for ultimate protection.
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Specifications
Length: 34 feet, Height: 18 feet, Weight: 45 tons
Turning radius - 200 feet, Complete train - 98 feet long
Powered by 60hp Blackstone crude oil engine
Four Forward Gears - 1/2 - 2 mph, Two reverse gears - 1/4 - 1/2 mph
.