Firewood in Selby

Hilly enough to bend the railway

The land around Selby is hilly enough that the road and the Puffing Billy line both wind through it, and steep Black Hill takes up the east side of the township. A landslide beyond Selby in 1953 closed the narrow-gauge line as a regular railway. The ground kept farming small and drew weekenders instead.

Today the Erosion Management Overlay covers about half of the locality and about half of its few residential blocks. For firewood that means drives that a delivery truck may not climb. Say whether the load can be tipped at the top or the bottom of the drive, and how far it then has to be carried, when you ask for a quote.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Selby, Victoria and Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb.

Stacking near the house

Selby has had its own CFA brigade since 1926, covering the township and part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. The Bushfire Management Overlay covers almost all of the locality and every residential block. CFA's guidance is to keep woodpiles at least 10 m from the house. On a steep block that can mean a stack downhill from the house, which is a carry each time the heater needs feeding. A small supply near the door in winter and the main stack further out is one answer. The fire season guide has the rest.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Selby, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, CFA: Landscaping for Bushfire (version 3, June 2022) and CFA: preparing for bushfire season.

The reserves and the park

Selby has several bushland reserves, from Black Hill Reserve to Myanook Bushland Reserve, and its brigade's area reaches into the national park. Collecting firewood isn't allowed in national parks or bushland reserves. It is allowed only in designated State forest areas, which this spring are all in the upper Yarra, around Powelltown and Warburton.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Selby, Victoria, Parks Victoria: using firewood, Conservation Regulator: collecting firewood and Forest Fire Management Victoria: find a firewood collection area.

Burning off in Selby

Before burning a pile of prunings, look up the address on Yarra Ranges Council's burning-off page: it will be urban, bushland or rural, and each has its own days and permits. For a smoky chimney next door, ring the council on 1300 368 333.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Yarra Ranges Council: burning off and Yarra Ranges Council: wood heaters, burning off and air quality.

Along the line

Menzies Creek

Settled alongside Selby, a short way east on the railway. Part of it is in Cardinia Shire, where the burning rules differ.

Belgrave and Belgrave South

The same council. Belgrave South has almost none of the erosion overlay.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Selby, Victoria and Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb.