Fort Glanville Conservation Park VKFF-1031

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After dropping off Hans VK6XN at his accommodation, Marija VK5MAZ and I pondered what we would do for the remainder of the day (Tuesday 31st October 2023). We decided to head north slightly and activate a couple of parks and silos.

Our first activation was a new park for us, the Fort Glanville Conservation Park VKFF-1031.

The park is located in Semaphore Park, a western seaside suburb of Adelaide. The park is 5 hectares (12 acres) in size and was established on the 1st day of January 1951. It consists of a 19th century fort which is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.  Interestingly it also includes some adjacent land which is used as a caravan park.

Above:- An aerial view of Fort Glanville Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

Construction of the fort commenced in 1878, with the fort officially opened in October 1880. Construction was not completed until 1882. Fort Glanville was the first colonial fortification in South Australia. It is the best preserved and most functional fort in Australia.

Fort Glanville was designed by Governor Major General Sir William Jervois and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Scratchley. When constructed, the fort was designed to defend both Semaphore’s anchorage and shipping entering the Port River from potential naval attack.

Above:- Peter Scratchley (left) and William Jervois (right). Images c/o Wikipedia.

During the 1900s the fort was used for various purposes including accommodation, a caravan park, and a boy scout campsite. In 1951 the fort was acquired by the South Australian State Government and it was declared a Conservation Park.

Marija and I parked in the driveway off Bower Road and operated from the vehicle for this activation. We ran the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2IO/p (Loveday Reserve VKFF-4042)
  2. VK5MK
  3. VK5IS
  4. VK5TN
  5. VK3MTT
  6. VK3PF
  7. VK2RK
  8. VK2ACR
  9. VK5GY
  10. VK3TBR

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2IO/p (Loveday Reserve VKFF-4042)
  2. VK5MK
  3. VK5IS
  4. VK5TN
  5. VK3MTT
  6. VK3PF
  7. VK2RK
  8. VK2ACR
  9. VK5GY
  10. VK3TBR
  11. VK3SG
  12. VK3BBB
  13. VK2CCP
  14. VK3ZSC

References.

  1. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Glanville_Conservation_Park>, viewed 18th December 2023.

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