In 1918 the residents of Barcaldine, in outback Queensland, were ushering in peacetime towards the end of World War One, when a devastating fire claimed the lives of seven men in the region.

A single wreath is placed on the gravesite of a victim of the Saltern Creek bushfire. ( ABC Western Qld: Aneeta Bhole )

Arthur King Jones and Harry Knowlton died in the blaze, while Arthur Burgess, Alfred Hock, John Gilchrist, William Holmes, and Sproule Thorpe died from their injuries at the Barcaldine Hospital.

The fire, started by lightning, ripped through Willoughby and Saltern Creek Stations over two days at the end of October.

The fire consumed nearly 60,000 sheep, which a witness at the time said left them looking like "blackened watermelons".

One hundred years later to the day, family and friends of the men who died travelled from across the country to pay their respects.

An old photo of Saltern Creek Station in 1918 before fire destroyed the property. ( ABC Western Qld: Aneeta Bhole )

Descendants remember

Sue King O'Malley, granddaughter of Arthur King Jones, said it was more than a memorial service.

"It's been great to research our history. We've found cousins we didn't know we had; three we only met this year," she said.

"And what a great family reunion too and a great time to meet people, share family stories, but also find and meet the descendants of the other six men."

Ms O'Malley said her grandfather was the manager of Saltern Creek Station at the time of the fires.

"He'd only been appointed manager 14 months prior, so he was new in town," she explained.

"My grandfather had been in town at the time of the fire, but when he heard about it, he collected up men to help the fight … but as bushfires do, it changed direction and unfortunately the rest is history."

Kaylene Reynolds helped organise a historic display and helped research the history of the tragic event. ( ABC Western Qld: Aneeta Bhole )

Already grieving the war

With the end of the First World War only two weeks away, Ms O'Malley said it was a devastating loss for people in a community already grieving those lost at war.

"Although the end would have been a rejoiceful time for people across the nation, it wasn't for the Barcaldine region because they had such a horrific loss," she said.

"But it's great to see family and friends here today to commemorate them so many years later."

Kaylene Reynolds, who helped organise a historical display for the event, said the fires were classed as a major catastrophe in Australia.

"There was such a great loss of life, seven men perishing in the fire and the tragedies of WWI, it threw a gloom over the community because it all happened so close together," she said.

"I read a newspaper from the period that said the celebrations of the end of the war were delayed in Barcaldine, pure and simply because of the Saltern Creek bushfires."

Family and friends visit memorial display of Saltern Creek bushfires at old Globe Hotel. ( ABC Western Qld: Aneeta Bhole )

Hope for the future

Deputy Mayor of the Barcaldine Regional Council Jenni Gray said it was important to remember the seven men who lost their lives and learn from the tragic event.

"They had nothing to fight fires; they had their horse, their wagon, their cart, very little water at some places, and they went out there and bravely and selflessly fought these fires," she said.

"They saved homesteads, stock and other people who were there. They did this to protect the land and what we have today.

"Knowledge handed down throughout the generations has played a part in how we respond to events like this now. It's very important to remember these incidents and to learn to have respect for fires."

A plaque with the names of the victims was unveiled at Bryan Park in Barcaldine, while a collection of newspaper clippings was put on display in the old Globe Hotel.