Symes Bushland Reserve VKFF-4202

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After leaving the Pidgeon Tank Bushland Reserve on Thursday 22nd August 2024, I drove a short distance to my next park activation, the Symes Bushland Reserve VKFF-4202.

The reserve is about 30 km southwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Symes Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the western side of Hopetoun-Walpeup Road at the junction of Munro Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Symes Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 30 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK4EMP
  2. VK4TI
  3. VK4GKO
  4. VK5MAZ
  5. VK5QA/4
  6. VK3CLD/4
  7. VK2DBF/4
  8. F5PYI
  9. M1TES/M
  10. ON4BB
  11. VK2IO
  12. VK2GEZ
  13. DL1EBR
  14. VK2VW
  15. VK2HFI
  16. VK2AKA
  17. VK2BUG
  18. UT5PI
  19. VK4SMA
  20. F1BLL
  21. VK4HNS
  22. S58AL
  23. SQ9CWO
  24. OH6GAZ
  25. DH4PSG
  26. F5NZO
  27. DK4RM
  28. OP7M
  29. IZ5JMZ
  30. EA3MP
  31. IK1GPG
  32. KG5CIK
  33. SP9RXP
  34. S52KM
  35. IW2NXI
  36. VK4PDX
  37. VK7HAM
  38. OH1MM
  39. ON4LO
  40. ON7ZM
  41. ZL4NVW/P (ZLFF-0006)
  42. ZL3RIK
  43. ON4VT
  44. OK2TS
  45. IK3HMB
  46. VK6TTF
  47. EA1GIB
  48. OM5TX
  49. VK6CB
  50. VK2JJM
  51. SP1JQJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3SQ
  2. VK2BD
  3. VK2YW
  4. VK3HJW
  5. VK3APJ
  6. VK3EJ
  7. VK4FDJL
  8. VK3MIJ
  9. VK3VIN
  10. VK3PF
  11. VK4DNO
  12. VK2IO
  13. VK2GEZ
  14. VK2MOE
  15. VK1MO
  16. VK2YAK
  17. VK4YAK
  18. VK2EXA
  19. VK3ANL
  20. VK7HAM
  21. VK5JK
  22. VK1DI
  23. VK5WY
  24. VK3SKS
  25. VK3KRL
  26. VK7PJM
  27. VK3SO
  28. VK3SFG
  29. VK3WSG
  30. VK3TV
  31. VK3ACZ
  32. VK4EMP
  33. VK4TI
  34. VK4GOZ
  35. VK3MCK
  36. VK5MRS

With 87 QSOs in the log, I packed up and headed west towards Murrayville where I planned on staying for a few nights.

Along the way, I stopped briefly at Walpeup. I have been here dozens of times before, but I wanted to have another look at the silo art in the town.

There are various interpretations on the meaning of Walpeup. Some suggest it is derived from the aboriginal word wolpeep meaning a boil (body sore). Others state that Walpeup means stumpy-tailed lizard and others claim it is an aboriginal word for an indigenous acacia. (Blake 1978) (Victorian Places)

In 1861 German explorer and scientist George Neumayer named the Walpeup area Consolation Plains. Neumayer was a member of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria which organised the Burke and Wills Expedition. Neumayer joined the expedition at Swan Hill and remained with the expedition party until the Darling River at Bilbarka, before returning. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- George Neumayer in c. 1860. Image c/o Trove.

In 1903 the railway line was extended northwards from Woomelang via Ouyen, finally joining with Mildura. There was a settlement at nearby Pinnaroo in South Australia with good farming land. A study revealed that the land between Pinnaroo and Ouyen was of similar good quality. The availability of water was confirmed by the sinking of test bores. Between 1910 to 1911 the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission constructed catchment tanks. In 1912 the railway line from Ouyen to Murrayville was completed. In 1909 the first farm selections were offered along the railway route. The post office was opened on the 16th day of December 1912. (Wikipedia) (Victorian Places)

Above:- Homes in Walpeup. c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

In 1909 a store was opened at Walpeup and this was followed by the Walpeup Primary School in 1912 which operated from the ‘Little White Hall.’ In 1911 the Shire of Walpeup was proclaimed, however, the administrative centre was at Ouyen. Council meetings alternated between Ouyen and Murrayville. The Walpeup South State School (No. 3939) also known as Hungry Hut, was opened in 1912 and closed in 1951. (Victorian Places) (Wikipedia)

Above:- The Walpeup School, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

By 1920 Walpeup had a population of about 400 people and had a general store, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bank branch and other businesses. The original public hall was replaced in 1923 with a brick memorial hall. (Victorian Places)

The Walpeup silo features World War One Light Horseman Harold Thomas Bell. The silo art is the work of artists Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgardo. It was completed in 2023.

Below is a great video on the Walpeup silo.

As I drove into Murrayville the sun was setting and I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

I then booked into my accommodation at the Murrayville Hotel.

After heaving a bite to eat I decided to head out to activate a final park for the day.

References.

  1. Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2022). \r\n \n Walpeup Silo Art\n \r\n. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/walpeup [Accessed 20 Nov. 2024].
  2. ‌Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2024].‌
  3. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  4. Victorianplaces.com.au. (2014). Walpeup | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/walpeup [Accessed 20 Nov. 2024].‌
  5. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Georg von Neumayer. Wikipedia.
  6. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Walpeup. Wikipedia.

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