Jimna Fire Tower

In a clearing at the top of the Jimna Range on the Kilcoy Murgon Road stands the tallest fire tower in Queensland. It was completed in 1977 by Arthur Leis. Supported by three ironbark poles or 'legs', the Jimna fire tower reaches a height of 47 metres (pole length is 44 metres).The township of Jimna was established in 1922 as a company timber town. As the native forests were milled, they were replaced with hoop pine plantations from 1938. Construction of fire towers also began at this time. Arthur Leis commenced working for the Forestry Department in 1957. Until his retirement in 1991, Leis was responsible for the erection of over 20 Queensland fire towers. Leis designed and built the towers, cutting all the timber on site, and erecting them with the help of an off-sider and a block and tackle. Initially Leis' towers were conventional four legged designs. In 1967 he completed the first three-legged fire tower at Mount Binga near Cooyar. In 1968 the Department reported on 'the wisdom of converting to this type of structure, as costs per foot were about 25 per cent down on the 4-legged design, and the structure is very stable and firm'.