We only had to drive a short distance (27th February 2023) to our next stop, the small town of Diapur. It was here that we intended to activate Jumping Jack Wattle Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2120 and the Diapur silo VK- DPR3.

Above:- Map showing the location of Diapur. Map c/o Google maps.

The town of Diapur sits on the Melbourne-Adelaide railway line and is the halfway point of the journey between the two cities. The town was surveyed in 1886. It was originally known as Diaper (or Diapar) Spring. Siapur is an aboriginal word meaning crabhole or swamp.

Above:- Department of Crown Lands Survey map of Diapur. Image c/o State Library Victoria.

Once a thriving town, it now has a scattering of houses, a hall, and the old hall.

Diapur was the site of a general store built by George Coles, who I mentioned in my previous post regarding Miram. His son, also called George, was the founder of G.J Coles & Co. George Snr lived with his parents in the Wimmera region of Victoria and initially worked in a good mine at Stuart Mill. When his father was injured in a mining accident, George commenced working in his father’s shop/ Following the expansion of the railroad, he took up a job with a wheat agent at Jung. It was not long before he purchased the business. He then moved to Diapur and opened the general store, a blacksmith shop, and a hotel.

During the late 1880s George moved to Geelong. He leased the hotel at Diapur and left brother Jim in charge of the store.

The old Coles store was subsequently moved north to the town of Yanac

Above:- The old Coles store from Diapur. Image c/o Treasures of Nhill Facebook page.

The Diapur silos are located on the Nhill-Diapur Road.

The Jumping Jack Wattle Nature Conservation Reserve is within the silo activation zone, so we decided to do a dual silo & park activation.

Above:- the activation zone at the Diapur silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

The park sign actually read Diapur Flora Reserve. But the park’s official name is Jumping Jack Wattle Nature Conservation Reserve. It takes its name from Jumping Jack Wattle, a dense, rounded, sprawling and prickly shrub that grows to about 1.5 metres. The seed pods are zigzag shaped and resemble the firecracker known as jumping jack. Hence the name.

The park is located on the northern side of the Diapur-Miram Road, on the western side of the town of Diapur. It is only very small, about 4 acres in size.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Protected Planet.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5TRM/p (Deep Creek National Park VKFF-3186)
2. VK5CZ
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3SQ
6. VK5LA
7. VK3PF
8. VK7XX
9. VK5FANA
10. VK2EXA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5TRM/p (Deep Creek National Park VKFF-3186)
2. VK5CZ
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3SQ
6. VK5LA
7. VK3PF
8. VK7XX
9. VK5FANA
10. VK2EXA
11. VK7HBR
12. VK3UH

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1AO
2. VK2MET

References.

1. Treasures of Nhill & Districts Facebook page, 2023, <https://www.facebook.com/groups/160257270749276>, viewed 22nd March 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diapur>, viewed 22nd March 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_enterocarpa>, viewed 22nd March 2023.
4. 2023, <http://www.softdawn.net/ls6/gjc.htm>, viewed 22nd March 2023.