My final activation for the Werrimul Victoria trip was O’Shannessy Bushland Reserve VKFF-4200.

The reserve is located about 15 km south of the town of Walpeup in northwest Victoria.

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

The reserve is located at the junction of O’Shannessy Road and Munro Road, Walpeup.

The reserve is about 41 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

This was an easy park to access. I pulled off the road in the 4WD and set up in a clearing amongst the scrub. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I logged a total of 87 stations including quite a bit of DX on 20m.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. UT5PI
2. VK2KEV
3. VK5MAZ
4. KG5CIK
5. VK7XX
6. ZL4KD
7. SQ9CWO
8. VK2IO/M
9. VK2GEZ/M
10. VK2VW
11. VK2HFI
12. VK2AKA
13. VK2BUG
14. F1BLL
15. PP7M
16. VK7AAE
17. VK7DWS
18. VK2NCS
19. EW6MP
20. DH4PSG
21. VK4EMP
22. VK4TI
23. VK4GKO
24. F5PYI
25. VK7HBR
26. VK3APJ
27. ZL1TM
28. IW2BZL
29. VK4FOX
30. IW2NXI
31. VK4HNS
32. OM5TX

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK3HJW
4. VK3MTT
5. VK3CJN
6. VK3APJ
7. VK5TUX
8. VK5GY
9. VK3GP/M
10. VK5WU
11. VK3SQ
12. VK2BD
13. VK2EXA
14. VK2VW
15. VK2HFUI
16. VK2AKA
17. VK2BUG
18. VK3CEO
19. VK5AAF
20. VK5JK
21. VK3ZPF
22. VK3JW
23. VK5AFAN
24. VK3CAT
25. VK3APC
26. VK3WSG
27. VK3ACZ
28. VK3KR
29. VK2IO
30. VK2GEZ
31. VK7IAN
32. VK3MCK
33. VK3EJ
34. VK1CHW
35. VK2YAK/P
36. VK4YAK/P
37. VK2OKR
38. VK2AUS
39. VK3WRD
40. VK3UAO
41. VK3KGW
42. VK5CZ
43. VK3MGM
44. VK2HAK
45. VK3AMO
46. VK4EMP
47. VK4TI
48. VK4GKO
49. VK3VIN
50. VK4FDJL
51. VK4WAB
52. VK3PWG/P
53. VK3TTK/P
54. VK5TN
55. VK5DW

It was getting late and I still had a long drive ahead of me to get back home. I packed up and headed west along the Mallee Highway. I stopped briefly in the town of Underbool to stretch my legs. This is another favourite little town of mine along the Mallee Highway.

During the 1850’s, Europeans commenced to settle in the Underbool district. This included pastoralists Clow, Ellerman and Cameron who sought leases. However, life here was difficult. It was a desolate and remote region with drought and vermin being just some of the difficulties faced by those who decided to settle in the area. (Underbool 2024)

The exact origin of the name Underbool is unclear. Some suggest Underbool is derived from the aboriginal word ‘wimbool’ meaning the ear, or ‘bool’ meaning ‘water’. (Blake 1978)

While others believe the name is derived from the German word underbolt, given to it by surveyor Dr. Georg von Neumayer who camped in the area in October 1861. (Blake 1978)

Above:- Georg von Neumayer. Image c/o Wikipedia.

By 1883, the Mallee Leases Act approved the establishment of A and B Blocks by dividing Mallee land in lines of 10 mile intervals. T.H.Turner surveyed the County of Weeah into A and B blocks in 1887. (Underbool 2024)         

During the early 1900’s the then Premier of Victoria, Sir Thomas Bent, recognised the potential for agricultural development along the Ouyen to Kow Plains route. This followed the successful settlement of Mallee land in the nearby South Australia. (Underbool 2024)

By 1907, the Mallee Select Committee recommended that Kow Plains be opened for selection and that a rail link should be established. Land was opened for selection as rail selections were completed. The block sizes were set at 600-700 acres. (Underbool 2024)

The Parish of Underbool was surveyed on the 24th day of July 1910. By August 1910, 31,000 acres of land were declared available in the Parish of Underbool. This consisted of 92 blocks. The demand was immediate and a list of the successful applicants appeared in The Age newspaper on the 20th day of December 1910. (Underbool 2024)

Above:- Article from The Age, Mon 12 Sep 1910. Image c/o Trove.

A post office opened ay Underbool on the 15th day of July 1912 when a regular mail service was provided following he opening of the railway from Ouyen to Murrayville a month earlier in June 1912. Underbool Primary School (No. 3819) opened on the 5th day of November 1913. (Phoenix 2012) (Underbool 2024)

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Mon 18 Sep 1933. Image c/o Trove

I continued along the Mallee Highway and crossed into South Australia.

My next stop was the little town of Parilla in South Australia. As I entered the town I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

Parilla is believed to be an aboriginal word meaning ‘cold place’. The township of Parilla was proclaimed on the 4th day of January 1894. There is a magnificent mural in Parila entitled “Impression of Parilla 1914” acknowledges the early pioneers who established the town. The images appearing on the mural were designed from various photographs in a local history book. (Monument Australia 2024)

I then stopped briefly to have a look at the Lameroo silo. Unfortunately, I was running short of time and decided not to activate the silo for the Silos On the Air (SiOTA) program. The silo was completed in April 2024. I had been through Lameroo numerous times before but this was prior to the silo art being completed. The silo art features a Mallee farmer and a windmill. The artist was ‘Smug’ Sam Bates. (Silo Art 2024)

I stopped off along the way to get a bite to eat and made it home by earlu evening.

Thank you to everyone who called me while I was away.

References.

1. Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2024). Lameroo Silo Art. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/lameroo [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
2. ‌Clark, I, Hercus, L, Kostanski, L, 1958, Indigenous and Minority Places Names.
3. 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 12 Dec. 2024].‌
4. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
5. Phoenixauctions.com.au. (2022). Post Office List – Phoenix. [online] Available at: https://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=. [Accessed 13 Dec 2024]
6. ‌UBC Web Design (2020). Impression of Parilla 1914 | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org.au. Available at: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/landscape/settlement/display/119375-impression-of-parilla-1914 [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
7. ‌Underbool.vic.au. (2023). History – Underbool, Victoria. [online] Available at: https://www.underbool.vic.au/about-us/history/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌

My next park for Friday 23rd August 2024 was the Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4191.

The reserve is located about 7 km south of the town of Walpeup in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Along the way, I had another look at access to the Gnarr I237 Bushland Reserve. It shows as bright green on MapshareVic which indicates the public can access it. However, the only apparent access point was a road running off Aikman Road, and there were two gates at this location and they were padlocked.

The reserve is located on the western side of Donnelly Road and to the north of Stock Route Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 43 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I found a dirt track leading into the park. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3APJ
3. VK3HJW
4. VK3PF
5. VK5TUX
6. VK3SQ
7. VK2BD
8. VK5AYL
9. VK3PWG/P
10. VK3TTK/P
11. VK2HAK
12. VK7DW
13. VK2VW
14. VK2HFI
15. VK2AKA
16. VK2BUG
17. VK3CEO
18. VK3MTT
19. VK3ZPF
20. VK3JW
21. VK2RK
22. VK2ACR
23. VK5JK
24. VK3ZSC
25. VK5AC
26. VK5HS/M
27. VK2IO/M
28. VK2GEZ/M
29. VK2SLB
30. VK2BRN
31. VK2KBT
32. VK3EJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7XX
2. VK2KBT
3. VK2BRN
4. VK2SLB
5. VK5MAZ
6. VK7HBR
7. VK5QA/4
8. VK3CLD/4
9. VK2DBF/4
10. VK4EMP
11. VK4TI
12. VK4GKO
13. VK2VW
14. VK2HFI
15. VK2AKA
16. VK2BUG
17. KG5CIK
18. VK7HCK
19. VK2MW
20. VK2COS
21. VK2IO/M
22. VK2GEZ/M
23. VK2TM
24. OH2CGU
25. VK7SW
26. VK7AAE
27. VK7DWS
28. IW2NXI
29. IK4IDF
30. VK4HNS
31. VK2TER
32. ZL4KD
33. OH5EP
34. VK6XL/5
35. F5PYI
36. VK3SX
37. SQ9CWO

References.

1. 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 12 Dec. 2024].‌

My third park activation for Friday 23rd August 2024 was the Mamengoroock I18 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4234.

The reserve is located about 18 km north of Underbool in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mamengoroock I18 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

To access the park I took a dirt track that ran off Bertalli Road. It took me passed the ruins of an old farm with several old tractors rusting away.

This was quite an isolated location. The reserve is located just to the south of the remote expanse of the Murray Sunset National Park.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mamengoroock I18 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 16 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. Mount Gnarr is just to the south of the park. It is not really a mountain, more like a hill at just 99 metres above sea level. (CAPAD 2022) (Peak Advisor 2024)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK7XX
3. VK2SLB
4. VK2BRN
5. VK2KBT
6. VK3SO
7. VK3SFG
8. VK7HBR
9. VK2VW
10. VK2HFI
11. VK2AKA
12. VK2BUG
13. VK3PF
14. VK3MCK
15. VK2DML
16. VK7AAE
17. VK7DWS
18. VK4EMP
19. VK4TI
20. VK4GKO
21. VK2EXA
22. VK2IO
23. VK2GEZ
24. VK3PWG/P
25. VK3TTK/P
26. VK2JDL
27. VK5HS
28. VK4MUD

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK5HS
4. VK3WSG/P (VKFF-2151)
5. VK2EXA
6. VK3EJ
7. VK3APJ
8. VK3VIN
9. VK3MTT
10. VK2DWPO
11. VK5FANA
12. VK3SQ
13. VK2BD
14. VK3CA
15. VK3HM
16. VK5TUX
17. VK2MOE
18. VK1MO
19. VK3PWG
20. VK3TTK
21. VK2SLB
22. VK2BRN
23. VK2KBT
24. VK5WU
25. VK3ANL
26. VK3HJW
27. VK2VW
28. VK2HFI
29. VK2AKA
30. VK2BUG
31. VK2GQR
32. VK5AC
33. VK3UAO
34. VK3ZPF
35. VK3JW

References.

1. 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 12 Dec. 2024].‌
2. PeakVisor (2022). Mount Gnarr. [online] PeakVisor. Available at: https://peakvisor.com/peak/mount-gnarr.html [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌

After leaving the Worooa Bushland Reserve on 23rd August 2024, I headed to my next planned park activation, the Purnya Bushland Reserve. However, this did not end well. The park showed up as bright green on the MapshareVic website, which indicates public access is allowed. However, it was not easy to access the park. I initially took Megaw Road which ran off the northern side of the Mallee Highway which turned into Kinnersley Road. But I soon started encountering gates. In the end, I decided not to continue.

It was off to option number two, the Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4174.

The reserve is located about 14 km north of Underbool in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The park is located at the corner of Mamengoroock Road and Bertalli Road, Underbool.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

Mamengoroock is an aboriginal reference to great father, e.g. spirit god. (Blake 1978) It is interesting to note that there is a Mamengorook I236 Bushland Reserve. Note the spelling difference.

The Mamengoroock I71 Bushland Reserve is about 144 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

To the north of the park is the great expanse of the Murray Sunset National Park.

Above:- An aerial view of the park looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I logged a total of 67 QSOs.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK3CEO
4. VK5JK
5. VK3APJ
6. VK3VIN
7. VK3BBB
8. VK2CCP
9. VK5GY
10. VK5TUX
11. VK3SMW
12. VK2IO
13. VK2GEZ
14. VK3PWG
15. VK3TTK
16. VK3ANL
17. VK3WSG/P (VKFF-2151)
18. VK2VAR
19. VK2GOM
20. VK3EJ
21. VK2VW
22. VK2HFI
23. VK2AKA
24. VK2BUG
25. VK3CA
26. VK3HM
27. VK2SLB
28. VK2BRN
29. VK2KBT
30. VK5CZ
31. VK3KRL
32. VK3HJW
33. VK7EE
34. VK3ZPF
35. VK3JW
36. VK1XX/M
37. VK1CHW/P (VKFF-0834)
38. VK3UAO
39. VK1AD/P (SOTA VK1/ AC-021 & VKFF-033)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IP
2. VK2GEZ
3. VK3PWF
4. VK3TTK
5. VK3PF
6. VK4EMP
7. VK4TI
8. VK4GKO
9. VK3ZZS
10. VK2VW
11. VK2HFI
12. VK2AKA
13. VK2BUG
14. VK2SLB
15. VK2BRN
16. VK2KBT
17. VK4HNS
18. VK2VAR
19. VK2GOM
20. VK7XX
21. VK4KLA
22. VK4CEG
23. VK1DI
24. VK2VIN
25. VK7MAZ
26. VK7AAE
27. VK7DWS
28. VK6NU

References.

1. 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 12 Dec. 2024].‌
2. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.

It was now Friday 23rd August and it was to be my last day of activating on the Werrimul Victoria trip. My plans for the day were to activate some parks and then head home to Ashbourne.

My first park for the day was the Worooa Bushland Reserve VKFF-4165.

The park is located about 41 km east of Murrayville in northwest Victoria.

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

Before heading to the park, I drove around the town of Murrayville to take a few photographs. Marija and I have visited Murrayville several times and love this little town.

Before European settlement, the Murrayville area was home to the Wergaia or Werriga Aboriginal people who lived in the Wimmera and Mallee regions. (Aussie Towns 2024)

Above:- Map of aboriginal tribal territories in Victoria. Image c/o Tirin aka Takver, WIkipedia.

In 1849 Edward Riggs White was appointed to survey the border between South Australia and Victoria. He attempted to develop a road between the Murray Darling junction and the upper Wimmera in Victoria. Between 1852 and 1862, annual depasturing licences were being issued, however few were taken up. During the 1860s cattle was being driven from Kow Plains near Murrayville to Nhill Station. (Aussie Towns 2024)

The area around Murrayville was not settled until the early 1900s. Test bores were sunk by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission to establish if there was reliable water. By 1909 selectors commenced to move into the district and began clearing scrub for farming. (Aussie Towns 2024)

The town of Murrayville was surveyed in 1910. In that same year, the Post Office opened. In 1911 a hotel was built. In 1912 a school and a mechanics institute were opened. Murrayville’s first agricultural show was held in 1917. In 1923 St Peters Lutheran church was built and in 1929 the Anglican church was consecrated (Aussie Towns 2024)

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

Murayville is named in honour of John ‘Jack’ Murray (b. 1851 d. 1916) who was the Premier of Victoria from 1909-1912. (Aussie Towns 2024)

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

On the 4th day of May 1916, Murray was riding on his horse, along a street in Warrnambool. His horse was frightened and bolted. Murray eventually controlled the horse and upon his alighting, he collapsed and died. He was buried with a State funeral attended by nearly 2,000 people including First Nation’s people. His funeral procession was nearly 3.2 km long. (Aust. Dict. Biography 2024)

Above:- Article from the Dungog Chronicle, Tues 9 May 1916. Image c/o Trove.

The Murrayville Hotel is the town’s most impressive building. It was built in 1918.

Murrayville’s main street is evidence of what was once a thriving town.

Murrayville is home to former Olympic basketball Rachael Sporn.

And of course, Murrayville has a Bill’s horse trough

Murrayville also has a rather unusual collection of old army tanks. They are located next to the self-serve service station on the eastern side of town.

The story behind these tanks varies depending on what you read on the internet. I found some YouTube posts where it was reported that the tanks were purchased from an army disposal sale at Bandiana near Wodonga. It is reported that they were purchased for steel to be used in an engineering manufacturing business owned by Peter Peers. Two were used in his limestone surface quarry at Cowangie. Several others were sold to military collectors while another was donated to a military museum. Engines were used in other earthmoving machinery built by Peers. Armour plate from the tanks was also used to construct chain which was pulled to clear mallee scrub. (Murrayville Tank Graveyard 2017) (On Roads Less Travelled 2024)

Other sites report that the tanks were purchased in Darwin and were to be converted into tractors or bulldozers to be used by farmers for use in agricultural and earthmoving duties.

The tanks include some M3 Grant tanks.

Above:- M3 Lee/Grant tanks, Egypt, 1942. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Below is an interesting video on the M3 Lee/Grant army tank.

The story about Mr. Peter Peers is very interesting. Peter Robert Nelson Peers was born in 1911 at Fairfield, Victoria. Peter was just 4 years old when he was lost in the bush. He rode a horse to school. He studied electrical and mechanical engineering and worked on the family farm at Duddo. In 1942 he married Lucy Stella Duffin who was a teacher. They had four children. Peter had an engineering workshop in Murrayville. He also ran a school bus service. In the early 1960s he established a surface limestone quarry and crushing plant. He retired at the grand old age of 93. Peter was a life member of the Ouyen Harness Racing Club and the Murrayville Lawn Tennis Club. He was a renowned storyteller and loved music from the 1920s to 1940s. He played piano, banjo and steel guitar. Peter died in 2010 at Pinaroo, South Australia, aged 99 years. His wife Lucy of 67 years, died 4 days later. (Ancestry.com.au) (The Age 2024)

The Worooa Bushland Reserve is located on Cummings Road.

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

Worooa is an aboriginal word meaning ‘green’. The Reserve is about 2 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (Blake 1978) (CAPAD 2022)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK2GEZ
4. VK3TV
5. VK1DI
6. VK3VIN
7. VK5GY
8. VK3CA
9. VK3HM
10. VK5MAZ
11. VK5CZ
12. VK2EXA
13. VK3MTT
14. VK4FDJL
15. VK4GOB
16. VK3APJ
17. VK3ZPF
18. VK3JW
19. VK2SLB
20. VK2BRN
21. VK2KBT
22. VK5TUX
23. VK3CEO
24. VK3HJW
25. VK3SO
26. VK3SFG
27. VK6XL
28. VK2VW
29. VK2HFI
30. VK2AKA
31. VK2BUG
32. VK1ARQ
33. VK3SQ
34. VK2BD
35. VK3MCK
36. VK4HNS
37. VK3AMO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2SLB
2. VK2BRN
3. VK2KBT
4. VK5MAZ
5. VK4EMP
6. VK4TI
7. VK4GKO
8. VK2KET
9. VK5AYL
10. VK6LK
11. VK6LMK
12. VK2IO
13. VK2GEZ
14. VK2VW
15. VK2HFI
16. VK2AKA
17. VK2BUG

References.

1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/ [Accessed 12 Dec 2024]
2. ‌Aussie Towns. (n.d.). Murrayville, VIC. [online] Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/murrayville-vic. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2024].
3. ‌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 12 Dec. 2024].‌
4. Elagabalus65 (2017). Murrayville Tank Graveyard: June 2017. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jx18KwpAVA [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
5. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
6. On Roads Less Travelled Off-Road Adventures (2024). WW2 tank’s Murrayville: inside and out. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FSeb7aDgzY [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
7. ‌rodeime (2024). WWII tanks in the Aussie bush. [online] Travel-news-photos-stories.com. Available at: https://www.travel-news-photos-stories.com/2016/01/wwii-tanks-in-aussie-bush.html [Accessed 8 Dec. 2024].
8. ‌Serle, G. (1986). Murray, John (Jack) (1851–1916). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-john-jack-7710 [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌
9. The Age. (2010). Engineer helped build the Mallee. [online] Available at: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/engineer-helped-build-the-mallee-20100318-qidd.html [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌