Simpson

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Simpson is part of  the Heytesbury Settlement one of the most productive dairing centres in Australia.  In 1960 the first settlers took up their farms and by 1976 their were 378 families in occupation with further families to follow as more land was cleared. The amount Heytesbury Settlement developed to pasture was 43,000 hectares.  Simpon is named after H. L Simpon. the first chairman of the Soldier Settlement Commission. Prior to the formation of the Soldier Settlement Commission in 1946, the large bush land tract know as the Heytesbury Forest was already under consideration as a possible settlement area. The Heytesbury Shire established a committee to help promote the scheme in collaboration with the Colac Otway Shire councils. In 1946 an advisory committee was appointed by the Soldier Settlement. This committee associated itself with several government departments with the intention of establishing an operation of an experimental area which was started in 1947. The potential of this country for pastures was overwhelming, the project commenced In 1956.
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Simpson is part of one of the most productive dairying centres in Australia. The town today services the needs of 400 plus farms, through Education, Health and Produce.
A park has been set beside a natural dam in the heart of town offering visitors the chance to learn about the development of the Heytesbury Settlement, a display featuring the large equipment used to help with the clearance of the Heytesbury Forest can also be seen here.
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This 5 tonne steel land clearing "high Ball" was constructed from 19 mm mild steel plate in 1953 by Hume Steel Pty. Ltd. It was brought to the Heytesbury Forest in 1956 and was employed in all timber clearing operations on the 50,000 hectares project until completion in 1971. In operation the ball was pulled by two, 180 kw tractors one attached to 60 metre chains on either side. A tree pusher tractor followed to assist the pulling of larger trees.

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