After packing up at Warrambine (7th March 2023), Marija and I made the short 18 km journey to our next park of the day, the Cordinhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070. Corindhap is a small town about 35 km south of Ballarat

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

The town was established in 1852 after gold was discovered at Boundary Hill. It was initially known as Break O’Day. By 1857 the town had grown in population to about 5,000 people. The town had four hotels, three bakers, three tailors, two blacksmiths, two drapers, four butchers, two bootmakers, two grocers, two general storekeepers, a tobacconist, and numerous grog shanties. The town also had an Oddfellows Hall, two churches, and a school. The Post office opened on the 25th day of January 1868. It was known as Break O’Day until 1876 and was closed in 1993.

Cordinhap’s Avenue of Honour commemorates those who served in World War One. The Avenue contains a number of wood carvings that depict a wounded officer and horse, a digger, a pilot of a Lancaster bomber, and a woman and child. The carvings were made from Cypress and Radiata pine trees on the avenue which had started to die. Rather than cut the trees down, the lower trunks were kept and local artist Viktor Cebergs transformed the tree stumps into works of art.

The old Break O Day Hotel dates back to 1869. Over the years it has also been known as the Commercial Hotel.

The State School No.1906, at Corindhap officially opened in June 1877. A total of 203 students were enrolled at the school that year.

The park is divided into four distinct areas. The first is located north of School Road and west of Savage Hill Road. The second is south of School Road. The third is located north of Frenchmans Road and west of Giblin Road. And the fourth is south of Frenchmans Road.

The park is 39 hectares in size and was established on the 16th day of November 1999.

We set up off School Road and ran the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna (1.5 m stainless steel whip).

Above:- An aerial shot of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Google Earth.

Marija worked the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JFD
2. VK3PF
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3MCA
6. VK2EXA

Marija worked the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4EMP
4. VK4TI
5. VK4TJ

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JFD
2. VK3PF
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3MCA
6. VK2EXA

I worked the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4EMP
4. VK4TI
5. VK4TJ
6. VK2IO

References.

1. CAPAD 2020.
2. Monument Australia, 2023, <https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1/display/30895-corindhap-avenue-of-our-boys-honour>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
3. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/corindhap>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://ballaratpubs.miraheze.org/wiki/Break_o%27Day_Hotel>, viewed 3rd May 2023.