After leaving Tuggeranong Hill on Tuesday, 28th October 2025, Marija and I headed to our next activation for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, the Melrose Nature Reserve VKFF-3183.
Above: Map showing the location and boundaries of Melrose Nature Reserve. Map c/o parks.act.gov.au
Over the years, Marija and I have activated some beautiful parks around Australia. I am saddened to report that this was not one of those. The rest area on the Monaro Highway, where the park sign is located, was littered with rubbish and a burnt-out car. In fact, the entire boundary of the park along Monaro Highway was full of rubbish. And the park itself was not much better, with discarded rubbish blowing over into the park. We even found discarded needles. This was one park which we were quick to activate and get out of asap.
Melrose Nature Reserve is about 193 hectares in size and was established in 1993. About 20% of the reserve contains the critically endangered Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy woodland. (ACT Govt 2023)
Above: an aerial view of the reserve. Image c/o Google Maps
Grazing by European settlers has occurred in the area since the 1860s. In 1861, the NSW Crown Lands Alienation Act was enacted. This provided for the legal purchase and occupation of Crown land. The Brennan family established a house above Tuggeranong Creek. (ACT Govt 2023)
John Brennan was born c. 1820 in County Roscommon, Ireland. He married Mary Cunningham. Mary died in 1881. John died on the 5th day of July 1895 at Tuggeranong, ACT. They are buried at the Queanbeyan Riverside Cemetery, New South Wales. (ancestry 2016) (Chirp 2023) (Findagrave.com 2016)
Above: Headstone of John and Mary Brennan. Image c/o findagrave.com
In 1937, the majority of the land became part of the Melrose Valley Station. The ruins of the Brennan home can be found to the east of Tuggeranong Creek. (ACT Govt 2023)
In the northeast of the reserve is a former Travelling Stock Route (TSR), which is listed on the ACT Heritage Register. This TSR was 7 hectares in size and allowed cattle to be moved from properties located in the Tuggeranong Valley, along the Old Tuggeranong Road, to the Tuggeranong railway siding. The cattle were then transported by train to locations as far away as Sydney. (ACT Govt 2023)
The New South Wales State border is the eastern boundary of Melrose Nature Reserve. It is followed by the old Bombala Railway Line just inside New South Wales. From 1887 to 1921, sections of this railway line southward from Queanbeyan were completed in stages. In 1988, the last passenger service was run on the line. In the following year, 1989, the last freight train operated. (ACT Govt 2023)
Above: part of an article from The Manaro Mercury, Wed 6 Jan 1886. Image c/o Trove
Marija and I operated from the reserve using the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole, supported on the 7 metre heavy duty telescopic squid pole.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK2USH/P (VKFF-1170)
- VK3MCK
- VK3US
- VK3ACR
- VK3AQ
- VK3ZUG
- VK3PF/P (VKFF-3062)
- VK3KAI/P (VKFF-3062)
- VK3SMW
- VK3BWS
- VK2DA
- VK1DA
- VK5DG/2 (VKFF-0143 & SOTA VK2/ MN-081)
- VK3TUN/P (VKFF-0143 & SOTA VK2/ MN-081)
- VK5ANB/P (VKFF-0143 & SOTA VK2/ MN-081)
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK2IO/P (VKFF-0836)
- VK2GEZ/P 9VKFF-0836)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK2USH/P (VKFF-1170)
- VK3MCK
- VK3US
- VK3ACR
- VK3AQ
- VK3ZUG
- VK3PF/P (VKFF-3062)
- VK3KAI/P (VKFF-3062)
- VK3SMW
- VK3BWS
- VK1AO
- VK2MET
- VK2DA
- VK1DA
- VK3FTOM
- VK2YAK
- VK4YAK
- VK2NP
- VK5DG/2 (VKFF-0143 & SOTA VK2/ MN-081)
- VK3TUN/P (VKFF-0143 & SOTA VK2/ MN-081)
- VK5ANB/P (VKFF-0143 & SOTA VK2/ MN-081)
- VK1AC
- VK1CHW
- VK2CHW
- VK3UH
- VK3SG
- VK3JT
- VK2BD
- VK3PAH
- VK2HAK
- VK2RB
- VK5WU
- VK3DCQ
- VK3EJ
- VK3BDW
- VK3KRL
- VK2BL
- VK3MGM
- VK3MCA
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK4EMP
- VK4TI
- VK4GKO
- KG5CIK
- VK4HHL
- VK2IO/P (VKFF-0836)
- VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-0836)
- ZL4NVW
- VK6HDY
References.
- ACT Government (2023). Melrose Nature Reserve. [online] Act.gov.au. Available at: https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park/melrose-nature-reserve [Accessed 11 Feb. 2026].
- ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 11 Feb. 2026].
- Chirp Internet (2023). Paterson [nee Brennan], Mrs Bridget | Hall Heritage Centre. [online] Hall.act.au. Available at: https://heritage.hall.act.au/teacher/3210/paterson-nee-brennan-mrs-bridget.html [Accessed 11 Feb. 2026].
- Findagrave.com. (2016). John Brennan (unknown-1895) – Find a Grave… [online] Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159780291/john-brennan?_gl=1 [Accessed 11 Feb. 2026].
VK5PAS 