Morkala-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve and Meringur silo VK-MRR3

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After packing up at Yarrara (30th October 2023), we made the decision to head back down the road the short distance to activate the Merringur silo.

The Morkala-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve is within the activation zone of the Meringur silo.

Meringur is a locality in northwestern Victoria in the Millewa district. It is located at the western end of the Red Cliffs-Meringur Road towards the South Australian border. Meringur is an aboriginal word believed to mean grey kangaroo.

The railway to Meringur opened in 1925. The station had facilities to handle passengers, sheep and grain. In 1926 land was subdivided and the township of Meringur was born. 

Above:- A plan of the township of Meringur. Image c/o State Library Victoria.

The Meringur Post Office opened on the 2nd day of February 1926. The town steadily grew and soon had a population of about 150 people. The town had an open-air Palais theatre, general store, post office, milk bar, tea rooms, bakehouse, dressmaker, mechanics shop, hardware store, guest house, hairdresser, saddlery store, greengrocer, tobacconist, timber yard, blacksmith, butchers, billard room, ice works, hall and a school.

An old store in Meringur, c. 1925. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

Following the reallocation of the farms in 1948, the Millewa district decreased in population. Werrimull located in the middle of the Millewa district became the district centre, and many of Meringur’s stores closed. Meringur’s current population is about 20 people and the sole remaining business is the Meringur Post Office.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3ZPF/p (VKFF-0623)
  2. VK2GOM/p (VKFF-1156)
  3. VK2VAR/p (VKFF-1156)
  4. VK2BYF/p (VKFF-1156)
  5. VK2VT/p (VKFF01156)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3ZPF/p (VKFF-0623)
  2. VK2GOM/p (VKFF-1156)
  3. VK2VAR/p (VKFF-1156)
  4. VK2BYF/p (VKFF-1156)
  5. VK2VT/p (VKFF01156)

References.

  1. Discover Murray, 2023, <http://www.murrayriver.com.au/meringur/>, viewed 17th December 2023.
  2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/meringur>, viewed 17h December 2023.
  3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meringur>, viewed 17th December 2023.

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