After leaving Jeparit, Marija and I drove a short distance north towards Ellam where we planned on activating the Ellam silo VK-ELM3.
Ellam is located about 384 km northwest of the city of Melbourne, and about 15 km north of the town of Jeparit.
Marija and I drove down to the Wimmera River along the way to view the old bridge. The Wimmera River flows for a distance of about 278 km. It rises from the Great Dividing Range below Elmhurst and flows generally north and west before reaching its mouth at Lake Hindmarsh. The Wimmera River is joined by 14 minor tributaries. (Wikipedia 2023)
The Jeparit Bridge was constructed in 1891 and was opened the following year in 1892. It is one of Victoria’s oldest surviving timber road bridges. (Vic.gov.au, 2025)
There was a variety of birdlife along this stretch of the Wimmera River.
We then drove to the Ellam silos. They are located on the Ellam-Willenabrina Road. Ellam is Mallee spelt backwards. (Blake 1978)
We parked right alongside the silos and operated from the 4WD. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre staineless steel whip.
Above:- the activation zone at the Ellam silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5LA
VK3DAC
VK4FE/p
VK3DL
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5LA
VK3DAC
VK4FE/p
VK3DL
VK3APJ
VK3PF
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3QH
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK5EBA
VK3PWG
VK3TTK
VK5FB
VK2VOM
VK5GMH
References.
Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
After leaving Crymelon on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, Marija and I headed to Jeparit, intending to activate the Jeparit silo for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.
Above: The map shows the location of Jeparit in western Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.
As we drove along the Jeparit-Warracknabeal Road, we passed through Peppers Plain. The area takes its name from John H. Pepper who held Coolanuck station in 1848.
Peppers Plain was once a thriving community. The old tennis courts are now an overgrown paddock. The clay tennis courts were the centre of the sporting and social life of the community from the 1930s until 1956. The Peppers Plain football oval was also located nearby.
The Peppers Plain School No. 3121 operated from 1922 to 1951. The school buildings were removed from the site in 1960.
One building that does remain is the old Peppers Plain Baptist Church. The foundation stone was laid in 1924 by Henry Sprigg. (UBC Web Design, 2018)
Marija and I soon reached the little town of Jeparit. It is famous for being the birthplace of Sir Robert Menzies. Jeparit is believed to be a corruption of an aboriginal word meaning ‘the home of small birds’. (Aussie Towns 2024)
Robert Gordon Menzies (b. 1894. d. 1978) was Australia’s 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister. Menzies held the office of Prime Minister twice, from 1939 to 1941 and from 1949 to 1966. He held the office for over 18 years which to this day, is still the record term for an Australian Prime Minister. (National Archives of Australia, 2021)
We stopped at Menzies Square on the corner of Roy Street and Dimboola-Rainbow Road. There is an impressive mural painted on the side of a shed which features several local bird species.
Menzies Square is a tribute to the Menzies family. Several information boards detail the life of Sir Robert Menzies and his family.
In 1894, Mr. J Jeffrey announced his intention of erecting a Coffee Palace in Roy Street, Jeparit. The Coffee Palace was intended to be a spot where travellers and the general public could find the best accommodation, ample yard room, and good stabling for horses. Jeffrey erected a weatherboard premises and soon afterwards, his wife applied for a licence for the sale of wine and the operation of a billiard room. Unfortunately, the success of the business was seasonal and the Jeffries ran into financial difficulty, forcing them to close the business. (Vic.gov.au, 2024)
In 1895, John Rae, a timber merchant and undertaken, took over the business. However his life as the proprietor of the business was short-lived, and Mrs. Ellen Sheil took over and became the owner of Shiell’s Coffee Palace. (Vic.gov.au, 2024)
In November 1928 the original building was totally destroyed by fire. Four motor vehicles were also destroyed and several horses perished in the fire. (Vic.gov.au, 2024)
Above:- Article from The Horsham Times, Fri 9 Nov 1928. Trove.
In 1929 the current building was constructed in Spanish style. It is named after the first Governor of South Australia. (Vic.gov.au, 2024)
In 1925 the Jeparit Memorial Hall was opened with the dual purpose of being a public venue for the citizens of Jeparit and clubrooms for the Returned Soldiers League. (Vic.gov.au, 2024)
We then visited the Menzies Spire, an 18-metre-tall grey steel column with a thistle on the top. It is located at the corner of Charles Street and Sands Avenue at the entrance to Robert Menzies Park. (Aussie Towns 2024)
There is a lot of history in the town of Jeparit which is reflected in the many information boards along the Jeparit Heritage Walk.
Marija and I then headed to the Jeparit silos, located on Mill Street.
We operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- Map showing the activation zone at the Jeparit silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
VK5PAS 