Our last park for Saturday 26th November 2022 was the Mount Billy Conservation Park VKFF-0912. The park is located about 79 km (by road) south of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mount Billy Conservation Park. Map c/o Google maps.

Mount Billy is located on the western side of Hindmarsh Tiers Road and on the eastern side of Nettle Hill Road.

Above:- Aerial view of the Mount Billy Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is about 198 hectares in size and was proclaimed on the 12th day of August 1999. The land was originally owned by SA Water and was transferred to the Department for Environment and Water in 1999. It originally served as a catchment area for the Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir which is now decommissioned.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mount Billy Conservation Park. Image c/o Google maps.

The Mount Billy Conservation Park represents some of the best preserved mallee and forest communities in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges.

Birds SA have recorded a total of 79 bird species in the park including Superb Fairywren, Eastern Spinebill, Crescent Honeyeater, Brown Thornbill, Grey Shrikethrush, and Australian Golden Whistler.

The rare Southern Brown bandicoot can be found in the park.

Marija and I operated from just inside the park boundary on Hindmarsh Tiers Road. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

We made a total of 68 QSOs including 18 Park to Park contacts. A few dozen European stations on 20m SSB on the long path was also a bonus.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4FDJL/p (Calliope Conservation Park VKFF-1499)
2. VK3ZK/p (Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park VKFF-0951)
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA
5. VK3AHR
6. VK3VIN
7. VK3CAT
8. VK2DG
9. VK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
10. VK4FW/p (Tinana Island Conservation Park VKFF-1659)
11. VK8MM/p (Tinana Island Conservation Park VKFF-1659)
12. VK3BEZ/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
13. VK2VW
14. VK2HFI
15. VK3ZPF/p (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
16. VK3MCA/p (Werribee Gorge State Park VKFF-0775)
17. VK4EMP/p (Crows Nest National Park VKFF-0121)

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. OP7M

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4FDJL/p (Calliope Conservation Park VKFF-1499)
2. VK3ZK/p (Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park VKFF-0951)
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA
5. VK3AHR
6. VK3VIN
7. VK3CAT
8. VK2DG
9. VK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
10. VK4FW/p (Tinana Island Conservation Park VKFF-1659)
11. VK8MM/p (Tinana Island Conservation Park VKFF-1659)
12. VK3BEZ/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
13. VK2VW
14. VK2HFI
15. VK3ZPF/p (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
16. VK3SMW
17. VK3QH
18. VK4HAT
19. VK7OT
20. VK3MCA/p (Werribee Gorge State Park VKFF-0775)
21. VK4SMA
22. VK4EMP/p (Crows Nest National Park VKFF-0121)
23. VK4SYD
24. VK3BKO
25. VK4TJ
26. VK3JDO
27. VK3HBG
28. VK5KLV
29. VK3GJG
30. VK2MET
31. VK1AO
32. VK4CPS
33. VK3DAC
34. VK3ZD

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. F4ILH
2. IW2NXI
3. UT5ZC
4. ON3MDZ
5. IK4IDF
6. PA5WK
7. OH1MM
8. PD1ATH
9. OP7M
10. ON2LVC
11. OH1XT
12. OH6GAZ
13. ON4VT
14. F4GYH
15. SV1FTY
16. F6EOC

It had been a terrific day, but we were tired and hungry and headed back home.

References.

1. Birds SA, 2023, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/mount-billy-conservation-park/>, viewed 10th January 2023.
2. Friends of Parks, 2023, <https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/members/members-directory/friends-of-mt-billy-conservation-park/>, viewed 10th January 2023.