Monthly Archives: May 2023

Tarlee silo VK-TRE5

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My final silo activation for 26th April 2023 was the Tarlee silo VK-TRE3. Tarlee is located about 88 km north of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Tarlee. Map c/o Google Maps.

After leaving Saddleworth I travelled south on Horrocks Highway, named in honour of pastoralist and explorer John Ainsworth Horrocks (b. 1818. d. 1846).

Above:- John Horrocks. Image c/o Wikipedia.

I passed through the beautiful little town of Riverton located in the Gilbert Valley. I remember coming here when my children were little was there was an annual Hobby Fair in the town.

I then stopped at the monument for the former site of Gilbert Town. The town was established in 1848 as Gilbert and was renamed Gilberton in 1851 and then proclaimed Gilbert Town in 1856. The town once contained a Post office, The Bow and Arrow Hotel, and a store.

I then reached the small town of Tarlee on the Horrocks Highway. The exact origin of the town’s name is unknown, but it is believed that it is a corruption of the name Tralee in Ireland. Others suggest that it is an aboriginal word for a waterhole.

Adjacent to the silos are some excellent information boards that detail the history of Tarlee and provide information about the town and the district.

It was quite late by the time I reached Tarlee and the sun was setting.

I parked out of town on Sanders Road and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Coadan 9350 antenna (1.5-metre stainless steel whip).

Above:- the activation zone at the Tarlee silos. Map c/o SiOTA website.

The highlight of this activation was working Doug VK9LF on Lord Howe Island for the second time in the day.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK5MAZ
  3. VK5HS
  4. VK4SMA
  5. VK7AAE
  6. VK1ARQ
  7. VK2VBR
  8. VK5MRS
  9. VK5VST
  10. VK2DWD
  11. VK2LEE
  12. VK3DL
  13. VK4FDJL
  14. VK1CHW
  15. VK9LF
  16. VK2SH
  17. VK2SR
  18. VK3PT
  19. VK5KVA
  20. VK3SMW

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK2SH
  3. VK5MAZ
  4. VK5HS
  5. VK2LEE

References.

  1. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarlee,_South_Australia>, viewed 16th May 2023.
  2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ainsworth_Horrocks>, viewed 16th May 2023.

Saddleworth silo VK-SDH5

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My fifth silo for 26th April 2023 was the Saddleworth silo VK-SDH5. Saddleworth is located in the Mid-North region of South Australia, about 111 km north of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Saddleworth. Map c/o Google Maps.

The town of Saddleworth was initially established as one of many settlements on the road to the mining town of Burra. It was named after Saddleworth Lodge pastoral station. The station was in turn named after a civil parish on the edges of the Pennines in Yorkshire in England. In March 1846 Joseph Dunn applied for a Publican’s Licence to open Saddleworth Lodge. His application was granted.

Above:- the main street of Saddleworth, early 1900s. Image c/o State Library South Australia

Saddleworth has a 3 km long Heritage Walking Trail which provides an insight into the history of the town and the district.

The Saddleworth silos are a large complex and are operated by Viterra Australia. They are located on Girth Street in the town.

I parked in Girth Street and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna (1.5 metre stainless steel whip).

Above:- the activation zone at the Saddleworth silos. Map c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK1AO/p (SiOTA VK-GNT2, VK-NWH2)
  2. VK2MET/p (SiOTA VK-GNT2, VK-NWH2)
  3. ZL3RIK
  4. ZL3YB
  5. VK7AAE
  6. VK2LEE
  7. VK1ARQ
  8. VKMAZ
  9. VK5HS
  10. VK2VBR
  11. VK3PF
  12. VK7WN

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK2LEE
  3. VK5HS
  4. VK3DL
  5. ZL3MR
  6. VK2PBC
  7. VK4VAW
  8. VK3APJ
  9. VK4FDJL
  10. VK3GJG
  11. VK7AAE
  12. VK3OZY
  13. VK3HX
  14. VK4SMA
  15. VK3EW

References.

  1. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleworth,_South_Australia>, viewed 16th May 2023.

Manoora silo VK-MNR5

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My fourth silo for 26th April 2023 was the Manoora silo VK-MNR5. Manoora is located about 121 km north of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Manoora. Map c/o Google Maps.

In 1841, Scottish sheep pastoralists Edward and William Peter settled in the Manoora district. The township of Manoora is named in honour of another early pastoral station owned by A.W.J. Grant. Manoora is believed to be an aboriginal word meaning spring or water.

Manoora was situated on the Peterborough railway line which serviced the mining town of Burra until the line was closed.  Unfortunately, I was not able to view the old Robertstown railway station as it is obscured by trees and there were a number of signs indicating it was private property. The old railway shed, crane, and water tank were visible.

The Manoora silos are part of Manoora Seeds Pty Ltd, which is located directly opposite the old railway station.

I parked directly opposite the silos and operated from the 4WD. I ran the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna (1.5-metre stainless steel whip). It was great to get some Silo to Silo contacts with Alan VK1AO/VK2MET who was activating silos in New South Wales.

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

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK1AO/p (SiOTA VK-GNT2, VK-NWH-2)
  2. VK2MET/p (SiOTA VK-GNT2, VK-NWH-2)
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK5MAZ
  5. VK5CZ
  6. VK4SMA
  7. VK5FANA
  8. VK5HS
  9. VK4JM
  10. VK1CHW
  11. VK3DL
  12. VK4KTW

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK1AO/p (SiOTA VK-GNT2, VK-NWH-2)
  2. VK2MET/p (SiOTA VK-GNT2, VK-NWH-2)
  3. VK7AAE
  4. VK6WCA
  5. VK3PF

References.

  1. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manoora,_South_Australia>, viewed 16th May 2023.

Robertstown silo VK-RBN5

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My third silo for 26th April 2023, was the Robertstown silo VK-RBN5. Robertstown is located about 133 km north of the city of Adelaide

Above:- Map showing the location of Robertstown. Map c/o Google Maps.

Prior to heading to Robertown, I headed along Curio Road to the little town of Marrabel. This tiny town of only around 200 people is famous throughout Australia for its annual rodeo and bull ride

The area was first surveyed in 1841 following the 1839 Special Survey of the Light River. The South Australian Government sold 4,000 acres to the Special Survey financiers. Tow men, Edward Hawker and Richard Blundell subsequently purchased land from the Special Survey owners. Blundell in turn sold two sections of his land to John Marrabel, who was a butcher in Rundle Street, Adelaide. John Marrabel subsequently subdivided some of his land to create the township of Marrabel in 1858. The town was laid out as a private town in 1859, north of the present town site. Local farmers John and Thomas Penny subdivided the main part of the township to the south of th crossroads in 1866.

The township of Marrabel expanded rapidly and by the mid to late 1860s it comprised a hotel, several churches, a school, two general stores, two blacksmiths, a post office, a steam flour mill, plus many other facilities.

I then headed north along Main Road 45 and across the Tothill Range to the town of Robertstown. The town of Robertstown is named in honour of John Roberts, the first postmaster in the area. He laid out the town in 1871, which was previously known as Emu Flats and Roberts Town.

Above:- John Roberts, for whom Robertstown is named. Image c/o State Library South Australia

There are a number of historic buildings in Robertstown, and there is an information board in the main street describing the buildings and a historic walk that you can undertake.

The Robertown silos are located at the end of Silo Road which runs off Worlds End Highway. Worlds End is a locality with a very unusual name. Rodney Cockburn’s 1908 book ‘South Australia What’s in a name’ states that Worlds End ‘received its bptism in droughty days, when, to ventture beyond that spur of thr Flinders Range, was considered to be courting runination’.

I parked in Silo Road and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Coadn 9350 antenna (1.5 m stainless steel whip). It was really pleasing to get a number of park activators in the log and some Silo to SIlo contacts with Alan VK1AO/VK2MET who was activating silos in New South Wales.

Above:- Map showing the activation zone at the Robertstown silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK3PF
  3. VK5FANA
  4. VK5HS
  5. VK3YSA/p
  6. VK3QH
  7. VK2YAK
  8. VK4YAK
  9. Vk5CZ
  10. VK3FLAK
  11. VI10VKFF (Yarrobil National Park VKFF-0617)
  12. VK2BYF/p (Yarrobil National Park VKFF-0617)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK7XX
  2. VK3PF
  3. VK4NTH
  4. VK4PDX
  5. VK4MUD/p (Warrumbungle National Park VKFF-0520)
  6. VK3PI
  7. VK7AAE
  8. VK4SMA
  9. VK3QH
  10. VK3AWA/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747)
  11. VK7HCK
  12. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ CW-017 and Warrumbungle National Park VKFF-0520)
  13. VK1AO/p (SIOTA VK-TMW2, VK-TMA2, VK-WSH2)
  14. VK2MET/p (SIOTA VK-TMW2, VK-TMA2, VK-WSH2)

References.

  1. flickr, 2023, <https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/50507666333>, viewed 16th May 2023.
  2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrabel,_South_Australia>, viewed 16th May 2023.
  3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertstown,_South_Australia>, viewed 16th May 2023.