Our next activation for Tuesday, 28th October 2025, was the Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve VKFF-0865.

Above: Map showing the location of Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The reserve is located in the suburb of Fadden which is named in honour of Sir Arthur William Fadden who was the 13th Prime Minister of Australia, for a very short period from 29th August 1941 to 7th October 1941. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Sir Arthur William Fadden. Image c/o Wikipedia

The reserve’s western boundary os Erindale Drive. Its northern boundary is Yamba Drive and Long Gully Road. Its eastern boundary is Mugga Lane. Its southern boundary is the suburb of Fadden.

Above: An aerial view of the reserve showing its boundaries. Image c/o Protected Planet.

The reserve includes Mount Wanniassa which is 809 metres above sea level. (Wikipedia 2022)

Above: An aerial view of Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. Image c/o Google Maps

The reserve takes its name from a pastoral property that was granted to Thomas McQuoid in 1835. He named the property Wanniassa after an estate he previously owned in Wanayas in West Java Indonesia, where he produced coffee crops for the East India Company. (Canberra Homestead n.d.) (Wikipedia 2025)

Prior to the acquisiton of the land by MacQuoid, the land around Wanniassa was owned by Peter Murdoch. Murdoch was born in January 1795 and arrived in Australia in 1821. He was accompanied by his friend Sir Thomas Brisbane. Murdoch was appointed by Brisbane to the role of Superintendent of the government Agricultural Establishment at Emu Plains, New South Wales. The Establishment had been implemented by Lachlan Macquarie, the Governor of New South Wales. It held up to 500 convicts. Brisbane would later go on to defend Murdoch who was accused of misconduct with female convicts. (Canberra Homestead n.d.) (Eldershaw 1967) (Nsw.gov.au 2026)

In 1829 Murdoch was appinted a a position n Tasmania. The area then became part of a grant to John McLaren. He had arrived from Glasgow, Scotland in 1828. It was managed by William Wright who had several convicts on the property. In 1835 McLaren sold the property to MacQuoid. (Canberra Homestead n.d.) (Wikipedia 2025)

Thomas Hyacinth MacQuoid was born in 1779 in Ireland. He emigrated to Australia arriving in Sydney in 1829. He was appointed the Sheriff of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. MacQuoid built a stone cottage and barn on the Wanniassa property using convict labor. This ended up becoming Tuggeranong Homestead. (Canberra Homestead n.d.) (Find a Grave 2019)

MacQuoid took his own life on the 12th day of October 1841, aged 62 years. It is suspected his sicide was due to a severe drought which has caused MacQuoid to suffer fromdepressed economic circumstances. He was originally buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery. In 1901 his remains and headstone were relocated to Bunnerong Cemetery. (Canberra Homestead n.d.) (Find a Grave 2019)

Above: article from The Sydney Monitor & Commercial Advertiser, Wed 13 Oct 1841. Image c/o Trove

Following Macquoid’s death, his son Thomas MacQuoid Jr remained on the property and successfully paid off all debts. In 1857 he returned to England to visit family. On the return voyage to Australia aboard the clipper Dunbar, the vessel was wrecked at South Head, Sydney. A total of 120 persons aboard the Dunbar drowned. MacQuoid’s body was never recovered. (Canberra Homestead n.d.) (Nla.gov.au 2026)

Above: part of an article from The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 22 Aug 1857. Image c/o Trove

In 1858 the property was purchased by Andrew Cunningham who owned the nearby Lanyon property. It was renamed Tuggeranong following its purchase by Cunningham. In 1917 the land was acquired by the Australian Commonwealth Government for military purposes. Marija and I visited Lanyon homestead during our trip, and I will detail that extensively in a subsequent post. (ACT Govt 2023) (Canberra Homestead n.d.)

The Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve is about 262 hectares in size and was established in 1993. It contains an area of the critically endangered Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland. (ACT Govt 2023)

Marija and I parked our vehicle and walked through a gate and set up on the edge of a walking track. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1988)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1988)
3. VK3PF/P (VKFF-3057)
4. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-3057)
5. VK1AD
6. VK1NAM
7. VK2DA
8. VK1DA
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3UH

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1988)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1988)
3. VK3PF/P (VKFF-3057)
4. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-3057)
5. VK1AD
6. VK1NAM
7. VK2DA
8. VK1DA
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3UH
12. VK2NP

References.

1. ACT Government (2023). Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. [online] Act.gov.au. Available at: https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park/wanniassa-hills-nature-reserve [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].
2. ‌Canberra Homestead. (n.d.). History. [online] Available at: https://canberrahomestead.com/history/. [Accessed 9 Feb. 2026]
3. ‌Eldershaw, P.R. (1967). Murdoch, Peter (1795–1871). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murdoch-peter-2492 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].
4. ‌Find a Grave (2019). Find a Grave. [online] Findagrave.com. Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/. [Accessed 9 Feb. 2026]
5. ‌Nla.gov.au. (2026). Making sure you’re not a bot! [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189959142?searchTerm=thomas%20macquoid%20%2B%20dunbar [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].
6. ‌Nsw.gov.au. (2026). Adlib Internet Server 5 | Details. [online] Available at: https://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110341368 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].
7. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Arthur Fadden. Wikipedia.‌
8. Wikipedia Contributors (2022). Mount Wanniassa. Wikipedia.‌
9. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Tuggeranong Homestead. Wikipedia.
10. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2026). Wanniassa. Wikipedia.‌
11. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Tuggeranong Homestead. Wikipedia.‌

Our third park activation for Tuesday, 28th October 2025, was Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0845.

Above: Map showing the location of Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The reserve is located in the suburb of Isaacs, which is named in honour of Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs. He was born in August 1855 in Melbourne, Victoria. He was an Australian lawyer, politician and Judge. He served as the ninth Governor-General, in office from 1931 to 1936. Isaacs died in February 1948 in Melbourne, aged 92 years. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Sir Isaac Isaacs. Image c/o Wikipedia

Isaac Ridge Nature Reserve is located in the south-eastern part of the Woden Valley in Canberra. The reserve’s eastern boundary is Mugga Lane. Its southern boundary is Long Gully Road. To the west of the reserve are the suburbs of O’Malley, Mawson, and Farrer. The reserve connects with Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve and Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. (ACT Govt 2023)

Above: An aerial view of Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve. Image c/o Google Maps

The area in which the reserve is located was once part of the Duntroon pastoral lease and also part of Mugga Mugga Station. (ACT Govt 2023)

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve is about 387 hectares in size and was established in 1993. The reserve protects one of the largest areas of critically endangered Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland remaining in Australia. The park is home to the vulnerable Glossy Black-cockatoo and the vulnerable Pink-tailed Worm-lizard. (ACT Govt 2023)

Marija and I set up our station off Mugga Lane. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)
3. VK3HJW
4. VK2NP
5. VK3SQ
6. VK3JT
7. VK2BD
8. VK1AD
9. VK1NAM
10. VK5CZ
11. VK5XE
12. VK2USH/P (VKFF-0597)
13. VK1CHW/P (VKFF-0839)
14. VK2CHW/P (VKFF-0839)
15. VK3YV/P (VKFF-0287)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)
3. VK3HJW
4. VK2NP
5. VK3SQ
6. VK3JT
7. VK2BD
8. VK1AD
9. VK1NAM
10. VK5CZ
11. VK5XE
12. VK2VW
13. VK2HFI
14. VK2AKA
15. VK2BUG
16. VK2USH/P (VKFF-0597)
17. VK3KRL
18. VK2GSV
19. VK3CEO
20. VK2YAK
21. VK4YAK
22. VK1CHW/P (VKFF-0839)
23. VK2CHW/P (VKFF-0839)
24. VK3BEL
25. VK3BEB
26. VK5NJ
27. VK3KYF
28. VK2DA
29. VK1DA
30. VK2MOE
31. VK1MO
32. VK1AO
33. VK2MET
34. VK2HBR
35. VK2PKT
36. VK2KFT
37. VK3SMW
38. VK6ASK/M
39. VK3PF/M
40. VK3MDC
41. VK5WU
42. VK5DW
43. VK3YV/P (VKFF-0287)
44. VK1DI
45. VK3XEM
46. VK3BWS
47. VK2HLM
48. VK2BYO

References.

1. ACT Government (2023). Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve. [online] Act.gov.au. Available at: https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park/isaacs-ridge-nature-reserve [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].
2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Isaac Isaacs. Wikipedia.‌

After packing up at Red Hill on Tuesday, 28th October 2025, Marija and I drove into the suburb of Deakin for some breakfast and coffee. Deakin is named in honour of Australia’s second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin. He was born in August 1856 in Melbourne and served as Prime Minister from June 1909 to April 1910. He died in October 1919. (Wikipedia 2019)

We then drove along Mugga Way to Calthorpe’s House, which, unfortunately, was not open. The home was built in 1927 for the Calthorpe family. This was the same year that the Federal Parliament and public service were transferred to Canberra. (ACT Historic Places 2017)

For more information on this historic home, please have a look at the YouTube video below.

We then headed to our second park activation for the day, the Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve VKFF-0852.

Above: Map showing the location of Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The northern boundary of the reserve is Hindmarsh Drive. Its eastern boundary is Mugga Lane. To the west of the reserve is the suburb of O’Malley, which contains several embassies, including the Embassy of Nepal, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Lebanese Embassy.

Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve is about 148 hectares in size and is located on the eastern edge of the Woden Valley in Canberra. The reserve is connected with the Red Hill Nature Reserve and Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve. It was established in 1993 and was extended in 2005. (ACT Govt 2023)

Above: Aerial view of Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve. Image c/o Google Maps

The reserve is part of one of the largest areas of the critically endangered Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland remaining in Australia. Native birds found in the park include the threatened Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Wedge-tailed Eagle, and Speckled Warbler. (ACT Govt 2023)

Just to the south of the reserve is the Mugga Quarry, which provided material in the building of early Canberra during the 20th century. (ACT Govt 2023)

During the early 1900s, plantings were undertaken in the reserve of various species, including Argyle Apple, White Box, and Golden Wattle. These were initiated by Walter Burley Griffen and were supervised by Charles Weston. (ACT Govt 2023)

Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, and was the designer of Canberra. (Wikipedia 2019)

Above: Walter Burley Griffin. Image c/o Wikipedia

Thomas Charles George Weston was an Australian horticulturist and was responsible for the establishment of trees in Canberra. (Wikipedia 2026)

Above: Charles Weston. Image c/o Wikipedia

Marija and I set up our station off Mugga Lane, not far from the ACT Dog Pound. I am sure all those who worked us during the activation could hear the dogs barking in the background.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)
3. VK3TDK/P (VKFF-0773)
4. VK3NYC/P (VKFF-0773)
5. VK3SX
6. VK2VW
7. VK2HFI
8. VK2AKA
9. VK2BUG
10. VK3KRL
11. VK1DI

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)
3. VK3PF/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-034)
4. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-034)

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)
3. VK3TDK/P (VKFF-0773)
4. VK3NYC/P (VKFF-0773)
5. VK3SX
6. VK2VW
7. VK2HFI
8. VK2AKA
9. VK2BUG
10. VK3KRL
11. VK3UCD
12. VK2HBR
13. VK2HLM
14. VK2ZRD
15. VK1DI
16. VK3AMO
17. VK3APJ
18. VK3MRT
19. VK2DA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2DA
2. VK1DA
3. VK2NP
4. VK1AD
5. VK1NAM
6. VK3IDM
7. VK2YAK
8. VK4YAK
9. VK2VW
10. VK2HFI
11. VK2AKA
12. VK2BUG
13. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
14. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)
15. VK1AO
16. VK2MET
17. VK3APJ
18. VK3CEO
19. VK3PF/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-034)
20. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-034)
21. VK1DI
22. VK2ZRD
23. VK3DAC
24. VK2MWD
25. VK5WU
26. VK3ZSC
27. VK2VAR
28. VK2GOM
29. VK4FGCW/2
30. VK2MZ
31. VK2AHP

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EMP
2. VK4TI
3. VK4GKO
4. VK1AD
5. VK1NAM
6. VK5WU
7. VK5WY
8. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3182)
9. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3182)

References.

1. ACT Government (2023). Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve. [online] Act.gov.au. Available at: https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park/mount-mugga-mugga-nature-reserve [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].‌
2. ACT Historic Places. (2017). About. [online] Available at: https://www.historicplaces.com.au/calthorpes-house/about [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].
3. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Walter Burley Griffin. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Burley_Griffin. ‌[Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].‌
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2026). Charles Weston (horticulturalist). Wikipedia.‌
5. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Alfred Deakin. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Deakin.‌ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2026].‌

After breakfast on Tuesday, 28th October 2025, Marija and I headed to the Red Hill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-0860.

Above: Map showing the location of Red Hill Nature Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

Prior to activating, we discovered the police box, the TARDIS, which is located in the park. It is actually a utility box that has been painted blue to resemble the TARDIS. The TARDIS stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space, and is the time machine of Doctor Who.

The Red Hill Nature Reserve is about 293 hectares in size and is located on the eastern edge of Woden Valley in Canberra. The reserve includes Davidson Hill, which is 750 metres above sea level, and Red Hill, which is 720 metres above sea level. The reserve is adjacent to the Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve. (and 2023)

Red Hill was once part of the Narrabundah lease, which was held by Charles ‘Charlie’ Croft Russell. He grazed sheep there from 1938 until 1992. As the Canberra suburb of Red Hill became more populated, local dogs often attacked his sheep, and as a result he moved to cattle. He finally relinquished the lease in 1992 and died in 1998. (ancestry 2016) (Wikipedia 2020)

Above: Charles Russell. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

The land was previously part of the Duntroon Estate run by Patrick Sheedy.

Above: A 1942 map showing the location of Narrabundah. Map c/o mapsearch.nla.gov.au

In 1952, several devastating fires raged across the Canberra region. During one of those fires, the Narrabunda homestead was destroyed.

Above: part of an article from The Canberra Times, Sat 26 Jan 1952. Image c/o Trove

The Red Hill Nature Reserve contains the critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland. It is the fifth-largest known population of the endangered, heritage-listed Button Wrinklewort and an important habitat for the rare Pale Flax Lily. Hollows in old trees in the reserve provide breeding habitat for the NSW vulnerable-listed Gang-gang Cockatoo. (and 2023)

There are some panoramic views of Canberra to be enjoyed from the reserve.

Marija and I set up on the side of Red Hill Drive. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported on the 7 metre heavy duty squid pole.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0991)
2. VK2GEZ/p (VKFF-0991)
3. VK2YAK
4. VK4YAK
5. VK3SQ
6. VK2BD
7. VK3JT
8. VK3HJW
9. VK2DRB
10. VK2BED
11. VK1CHW/P (VKJFF-0838)
12. VK2CHW/P (VKFF-0838)
13. VK3TDK/P (VKFF-0773)
14. VK3NYC/P (VKFF-0773)
15. VK2XWB/P (VKFF-3931)

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0991)
2. VK2GEZ/p (VKFF-0991)
3. VK3PF/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-043)
4. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-043)
5. VK2XWB/P (VKFF-3931)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0991)
2. VK2GEZ/p (VKFF-0991)
3. VK2YAK
4. VK4YAK
5. VK3SQ
6. VK2BD
7. VK3JT
8. VK3HJW
9. VK2DRB
10. VK2BED
11. VK3FS/M
12. VK3ATT/M
13. VK2BAI
14. VK1AD
15. VK1NAM
16. VK3DAC
17. VK3SMR/M
18. VK1DI
19. VK2HMV
20. VK3KRL
21. VK7PJM
22. VK1AO
23. VK2MET
24. VK3EJ
25. VK7LTD
26. VK3PF/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-043)
27. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-043)
28. VK1CHW/P (VKJFF-0838)
29. VK2CHW/P (VKFF-0838)
30. VK3CLD
31. VK5QA
32. VK2DBF
33. VK2VAR
34. VK2GOM
35. VK2VW
36. VK2HFI
37. VK2AKA
38. VK2BUG
39. VK3MH/M
40. VK3TDK/P (VKFF-0773)
41. VK3NYC/P (VKFF-0773)
42. VK2XWB/P (VKFF-3931)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0991)
2. VK2GEZ/p (VKFF-0991)
3. VK3PF/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-043)
4. VK3KAI/P (VKFF-1392 & SOTA VK2/ SW-043)
5. VK1AD
6. VK1NAM
7. VK2XWB/P (VKFF-3931)
8. VK5HS

References.

1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 7 Feb. 2026]
2. ‌and, P. (2023). Red Hill Nature Reserve. [online] Act.gov.au. Available at: https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park/red-hill-nature-reserve [Accessed 7 Feb. 2026]
3. Wikipedia. (2020). Red Hill. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hill [Accessed 7 Feb. 2026]‌

Here are some more FT8 award certificates received for VK5IPA.

Here are some more FT8 award certificates received for VK5IPA.