Our next activation for Sunday 24th November 2024, was Engelbrook Reserve VKFF-4034. The reserve is located in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’, about 25 km east of the city of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of Engelbrook Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located at the southern end of Wattle Street, Bridgewater.
Above:- An aerial view of Engelbrook Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
Engelbrook Reserve is a Heritage Agreement that is owned by the National Trust. The National Trust of South Australia was established in 1955 for the conservation of lands and buildings of beauty, historical, scientific, artistic, or architectural interest, the preservation of natural features in land and the protection of animal and plant life. (National Trust)
On the 14th day of January 1964, the Engelbrook property was donated to the National Trust by Karl and Vera Engel. Karl Gustav Oswald Engel was born on the 19th day of February 1896 at Adelaide, South Australia. In 1928, Karl married Vera Ethel Smith. Karl was a very keen botanist. For the majority of his life, he operated a nursery at Arrona Road, West Croydon. Karl died on the 20th day of August 1986 in Adelaide. (Ancestry.com.au 2021)
The reserve is about 27.5 hectares in size. Cox Creek flows through the park, along with Bog Creek, which is a peat bog that flows into Cox Creek. (National Trust 2025)
Above:- An aerial view of the park, looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.
Cox Creek, also known as Cox’s Creek, is named after Robert Cock (b. 1801. d. 1871) who was one of the first European explorers of the Adelaide region following the establishment of the colony of South Australia in 1836. He emigrated to South Australia aboard the HMS Buffalo in 1836. In 1837, he led a small exploration party from Adelaide to Lake Alexandrina. On Christmas Day he camped at the creek, which was named in his honour. A settlement was subsequently established on the creek and was first known as ‘Cock’s Creek’, then ‘Cox’s Creek’ and then ‘Bridgewater’. (Wikipedia)
Above:- Robert Cock. Image c/o Wikipedia.
Engelbrook Reserve contains several vegetation types, including Blechnum and Coral Fern Bog areas, to Candlebark forest along the Cox Creek valley and steep hillsides with sclerophyll shrub layer under Messmate Stringy bark canopy. During springtime, the park is alive with wildflowers, herbs, lilies, and orchids. (National Trust, 2025)
We walked down the track from the entry gate and set up. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK3KRL/P (VKFF-5031)
- VK5LA
- VK5KAW
- VK3PWG/P (VKFF-3781)
- VK2YK
- VK5GA
- VK5QA
- VK3CLD
- VK2DBF
- VK3GJG
- VK3CEO
- VK3PF/P (VKFF-5790)
- VK3MCA/P (VKFF-2141)
- VK3GRK/P (VKFF-5668)
- VK3KLI/P (VKFF-5736)
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK1AO/P (VKFF-2740)
- VK2MET/P (VKFF-2740)
- VK7XX
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK3KRL/P (VKFF-5031)
- VK5LA
- VK5KAW
- VK3PWG/P (VKFF-3781)
- VK2YK
- VK5GA
- VK5QA
- VK3CLD
- VK2DBF
- VK3GJG
- VK3CEO
- VK3PF/P (VKFF-5790)
- VK3SO
- VK3SFG
- VKDD
- VK3WSG
- VK1AO/P (VKFF-2740)
- VK2MET/P (VKFF-2740)
- VK3SPG
- VK2EXA
- VK3UH
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- VK3MCA/P (VKFF-2141)
- VK3KLI/M
- VK5DW
- VK3HX
- VK3GRK/P (VKFF-5668)
- VK2HAK
- VK3SMW
- VK3KLI/P (VKFF-5736)
- VK3BEL
- VK4DNO
- VK3DNO
- VK5MK
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK7XX
- VK4NH
- VK4DXA
- VK3MCK
- VK3CEO
- VK3GJG
- VK2XXM
I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-
- VK7XX
- VK3CEO
- VK2POP
- VK3UH
- VK3IK
- VK3SPG
References.
- Ancestry.com.au. (2021). Ancestry – Sign in. [online] Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/181680702/person/122617375093/facts [Accessed 13 Jun. 2025].
- 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 13 Jun. 2025].
- National Trust. (2025). Engelbrook Reserve – National Trust. [online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/englebrook-reserve/ [Accessed 13 Jun. 2025].
- Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Robert Cock. Wikipedia.
VK5PAS 