After leaving Oolambeyan National Park on Tuesday, 21st October, 2025, Marija and I headed towards Wagga Wagga, where we planned to stay for 3 nights. As we drove along Conargo Road heading towards the Sturt Highway, we passed dozens of paddocks of cotton.

We then drove east on the Sturt Highway towards Darlington Point. We had hoped to see the historic Toganmain woolshed, but the internet said that it was temporarily closed. So we had to view the woolshed at a distance from the highway.

Toganmain Station was established in the 1840s by Sir Alexander MacLeay. He and his son George ran the pastoral property, which comprised 192,000 acres on the south bank of the lower Murrumbidgee. (Trove 2025)

Alexander MacLeay was born in 1767 in Ross-shire, Scotland. In 1791, he married Elizabeth Barkclay. He emigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney in January 1826 with his wife and 9 children. He was appointed the Colonial Secretary for New South Wales. He owned several pastoral stations throughout New South Wales. (Wikipedia 2025)

Sir George MacLeay was born in London and was the third son of Alexander MacLeay. He emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1826. Just 3 years later, he accompanied Captain Charles Sturt on his second expedition to the mouth of the Murray River and return. (Wikipedia 2025)

In 1876, Toganmain station was sold to Thomas Robertson. The station remained in the Robertson family until 1988. (Trove 2025)

The station was 167,000 acres in size and had a significant river frontage to the Murrumbidgee River. The woolshed is 75 by 25 metres in length and was equipped with 110 blade stands and later Wolseley machines. (Ian 2025)

In 1891, a total of 218,000 sheep were shorn at Toganmain. In 1893, Toganmain exceeded just over 300,000 acres. The property included the homestead, barracks, store, a carpenter shop, and a blacksmith’s shop. (masters n.d.)

Marija and I continued east and soon reached the town of Narrandera. The name Narrandera is derived from the Wiradjuri Aboriginal word ‘nharrang’, meaning ‘frill-necked lizard’. The first Europeans in the area were those who occupied Narrandera Run in the 1840s. The property was held by Edward Flood and comprised about 76,800 acres. In 1850, surveyor James Larmer reserved a site which would later become the town of Narrandera. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: James Larmer. Image c/o Wikipedia

Our first stop was the Charles Sturt memorial on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It commemorates the explorer’s passing of this spot back on the 12th day of December 1829.

We then visited the Aerial Trunk Route memorial to commemorate the telecommunications “J” trunk route and the men who built it. Construction commenced in 1950 and was completed in 1965.

We then visited the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre. They have several information boards detailing the history of Narrandera.

But the main reason for our visit was to see the ‘Big Guitar.’ It was built in 1988 by Robert Palmer, a Narrandera local, to help promote the Country Music Club of Narrandera. No, not the English singer and songwriter, but another Robert Palmer. The guitar measures 5.820 metres by 2.019 metres and took more than 300 hours to complete. Until the year 2000, it held the record as the largest playable guitar in the world. (Visitnsw.com 2015)

We then went next door to the Tiger Moth Memorial, which commemorates the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 8 Elementary Flying School, which was established in August 1940 on the site of the present airport. (Visitnsw.com 2015)

Over a period of 5 years, a total of 3,818 student pilots commenced their elementary flying training on DH82 Tiger Moth Aircraft. (Visitnsw.com 2015)

Above: Leading Aircraftman Eliot Barnfather in front of the sign of the flying school at Narrandera. Image c/o WIkipedia

We then headed to the Narrandera Water Tower Art. It was completed in July 2019 and was the work of Geoff Filmer and his father. (Australiansiloarttrail.com 2025)

The water tower features the region’s natural beauty including koalas, banksias, an Eastern Bearded Dragon and a Murray Cod. They also feature the Tiger Moth, a paddle steamer, and the old Oakbank brewery.

There is quite a nice view of Narrandera from the water towers.

Just below the water tower is the historic Star Lodge Hotel. It was built in 1916 and closed in 1973. (Chirp 2025)

Our next stop was the Narrandera railway station, which is situated on the Hay railway line. It was formerly the junction station for the Tocumwal railway line. The station was built in 1880 by Charles Hardy to a design attributed to John Whitton. (Wikipedia 2025)

The old Oakbank brewery at Narrandera is a prominent landmark situated beside the Murrumbidgee River. In recent years, it has become part of a private residence.

In 1879, George Wildman established the Narrandera Brewery and Cordial Works. He had established a brewery in nearby Wagga Wagga in August 1873. In 1880, Wildman sold the brewery to William Jones. (Facebook 2016)

In 1882, Richard Heath built the Oakbank Brewery in opposition to the Narrandera Brewery. In 1885, it was purchased by George Rogers, who renamed it the Crystal Fountain Brewery. The brewery was then taken over by George Young and John Ferrier, who changed the name back to the Oakbank brewery. (Facebook 2016)

In 1888, the brewery was purchased by William Jones and Thomas Lincoln. They closed the Oakbank brewery and renamed the Narrandera brewery to the Oakbank Brewery. (Facebook 2016)

In 1894, the brewery was purchased by McIntyre Lincoln & Co. The brewery’s capacity at this time was about 10,000 bottles per day. (Facebook 2016)

On Tuesday, the 25th day of September 1894, the brewery was destroyed by fire. An employee by the name of Sheppard, who was sleeping on the premises, had to be pulled to safety. (Trove 2025)

Above: article from the Evening News, Sydney, Tue 25 Sept 1894. Image c/o Trove

By 1903, Tom Lincoln had become the sole proprietor and was trading as Lincoln & Co. A 1910 newspaper article stated:

“The excellence of the preparations turned out by the firm is certified to throughout the country and the extent of the business done proves their quality.”

Above: article from The Catholic Press, Thu 30 Jun 1910. Image c/o Trove

The 5-storey tower was built in 1912. It was designed by John Hill Robertson, an architect from Narrandera. (Facebook 2016)

In June 1920, Tom Lincoln died, leaving his brother Henry ‘Harry’ to carry on the brewery. By 1921, the brewery was daily producing 20,000 gallons of draught beer and stout, 10,000 bottles of beer and 15,000 bottles of cordial. (ancestry 2016) (Service 2023)

Above: Horsedrawn wagon with cordial from Oakbank Brewery, outside hotel – Jerilderie, NSW. Image c/o State Library NSW

In October 1923, the brewery was sold to Mr J.M. Whelan of Wagga. The brewery was sold to Tooths & Co in late 1924 for a reported price of between £100,000 and £200,000. It was subsequently closed. (Service 2023) (Trove 2025)

Above: article from The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 20 Nov 1924. Image c/o Trove

However, cordial was manufactured by various companies up until the 1980s. The last company to operate there was Webster’s Cordials. (Service 2023)

Above: Webster’s Cordials advertisement. Image c/o collections.monash.edu

We then visited the site of the wreck of the PS Wagga Wagga. The paddle steamer Wagga Wagga was the last operational paddle steamer on the Murrumbidgee.

Above: the PS Wagga Wagga. Image c/o State Library SA

On the 11th day of November 1918, it developed a fatal leak in the starboard side and was beached. Not much remains, and what does can only be seen when the river is low.

We then headed to the Murrumbidgee Valley Nature Reserve VKFF-1974. The park is located on the southeastern side of Narrandera.

Above: the boundaries of the Murrumbidgee Valley Nature Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth

The southern boundary is the Murrumbidgee River.

The park is about 1,998 hectares in size and was established in July 2010. It is part of the Murrumbidgee Parks, including the Murumbidgee Valley National Park, the Murrumbidgee Valley Regional Park, and the Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve was originally reserved as Narrandera Nature Reserve in 1965 and changed its name under the Riverina Red Gum Reservations Act. (NSW NPWS n.d.) (NSW National Parks 2024)

We accessed the park via the end of Oakbank Street.

We travelled through the Narrandera Flora and Fauna Reserve, along the Buridgerry Track. The Flora and Fauna Reserve is managed by the Narrandera Shire Council. We soon reached the sign for the Nature Reserve. (NSW National Parks 2024)

There is an excellent sign here detailing the Murrumbidgee Valley Nature Reserve.

We stopped at the Koala picnic area.

There is a monument for the release of koalas in the park and for Ken Kiesling, who was in the Narrandera Koala Committee.

Koalas were released into Narrandera Nature Reserve on the 16th day of December 1972, to re-establish a natural colony. Koalas were found along the Murrumbidgee but became extinct during the early 1900s. The koalas came from Victoria and Queensland. More than 200 koalas live in the park’s river red gums and other habitat trees. (NSW NPWS 2008) (NSW National Parks 2024)

Councillor Ken Kiesling O.A.M. was the inaugural Chairman of Narrandera Koala Committee 1966-1989. Kenneth Lionel Kiesling was born in May 1920 at Narrandera. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. He and his wife, Jeannette, owned Kiesling’s Jewellers in Narrandera for a number of decades. He also served two terms as Mayor of Narrandera Shire from 1973-1975 and 1977-1979. He died in July 1989 at Narrandera. (ancestry 2016) (Argus 2023)

Above: the memorial plaque for Keneth Kiesling. Image c/o findagrave.com

Other wildlife in the park includes grey kangaroos, eastern rosellas, galahs and sulphur-crested cockatoos. (NSW National Parks 2024)

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

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK2ZR
4. VK5HS
5. VK3UH
6. VK2VW
7. VK2HFI
8. VK2AKA
9. VK2BUG
10. VK3APJ
11. VK2IO
12. VK2GEZ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK2ZR
4. VK5HS
5. VK3UH
6. VK2VW
7. VK2HFI
8. VK2AKA
9. VK2BUG
10. VK3APJ
11. VK2IO
12. VK2GEZ
13. VK2TM
14. VK5WU
15. VK2HAK
16. VK1HF
17. VK5IS
18. VK3MGM
19. VK3FS
20. VK3ATT
21. VK5DW
22. VK3CEO
23. VK3XEM
24. VK5AYL
25. VK5FANA
26. VK2BW
27. VK3PWG
28. VK2NWT
29. VK3UZI
30. VK3ABE
31. VK3MCK
32. VK2VAR
33. VK2GOM
34. VK5LA
35. VK5KAW
36. VK1DI
37. VK1DO
38. VK3EJ
39. VK2DA
40. VK1DA
41. VK4DJF
42. VK3HBG
43. VK3KRL
44. VK5CZ
45. VK5XE
46. VK7PJM
47. VK3GCM/p (Silo VK-BLN3)
48. VK3AIW
49. VK3AJE
50. VK3HJW
51. VK4SMA

After packing up at the park, we drove towards Wagga Wagga. We stopped briefly to have a look at the Colingullie Water Tank Art. They are located on the Sturt Highway in a truck parking bay 3km on the Wagga Wagga side of Colingullie. The tanks were painted in May 2019 by Wiradjuri Aboriginal artist Owen Lyons. (Australiansiloarttrail.com, 2022)

We continued into Wagga Wagga, where we booked into our accommodation, the Best Western Ambassador Motor Inn.

We then attended the Namaste restaurant for dinner. The meal was sensational and the staff were extremely friendly. And way too much to eat. We had to take away some of our meal in a ‘doggy bag.’

It was then back to the motel room for a good night’s sleep.

References.

1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025]
2. ‌Argus, N. (2023). Kiesling history book gifted to shire. [online] Narranderaargus.com.au. Available at: https://www.narranderaargus.com.au/news/kiesling-history-book-gifted-to-shire-o3m6yxbh [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
3. ‌/Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2025). Narrandera Water Tower Art. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/narrandera [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
4. ‌Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2022). \r\n \n Collingullie Water Tank Art\n \r\n. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/collingullie-water-tank-art. [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
5. ‌Chirp Internet (2025). Former Star Lodge Hotel in Narrandera < New South Wales | Gday Pubs – Enjoy our Great Australian Pubs. [online] Gdaypubs.com.au. Available at: https://www.gdaypubs.com.au/NSW/narrandera/48220/former-star-lodge-hotel.html [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
6. ‌Ian (2025). Home. [online] Toganmain. Available at: https://toganmain.org.au/ [Accessed 22 Dec. 2025].‌
7. Masters, B. (n.d.). Home. [online] http://www.csu.edu.au. Available at: https://www.csu.edu.au/.
8. ‌NSW National Parks. (2024). Murrumbidgee Valley Nature Reserve. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/murrumbidgee-valley-nature-reserve. [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
9. ‌NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Statement of Management Intent – Murrumbidgee Valley River Parks
10. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, 2008, Narrandera Nature Reserve Plan of Management
11. Service, C. (2023). Brewery Flat. [online] NSW Government. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/brewery-flat [Accessed 25 Dec. 2025].
12. ‌Trove. (2025). NARRANDERA. – Tuesday. – The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW : 1894 – 1939) – 25 Sep 1894. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124730280?searchTerm=narrandera%20brewery [Accessed 25 Dec. 2025].
13. ‌Trove. (2025). SALE OF A BREWERY. – Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 – 1949) – 30 Oct 1923. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/190187721?searchTerm=narrandera%20brewery [Accessed 25 Dec. 2025].
14. ‌Visitnsw.com. (2015). Narrandera’s Big Guitar. [online] Available at: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/riverina/narrandera/attractions/narranderas-big-guitar [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
15. ‌Visitnsw.com. (2015). Tiger Moth Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/riverina/narrandera/attractions/tiger-moth-memorial [Accessed 23 Dec. 2025].
16. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Alexander Macleay. Wikipedia.
17. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). George Macleay. Wikipedia.‌‌
18. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Narrandera railway station. Wikipedia.‌
19. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Narrandera. Wikipedia.‌