Our next park activation for Saturday, 1st November 2025, was the Downfall Nature Reserve VKFF-2589. The reserve is located about 26 km west of the town of Batlow and 9km north of the small town of Rosewood.

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

After leaving Murraguldrie, Marija and I drove to the town of Humula. It was once named American Yards or American Fields during the 1850s gold rush. By 1888, the name Humula had been officially adopted by the local Post Office. (Wikipedia 2026)

The Humula Bush Fore Brigade features a magnificent mural. It features an NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer carrying a kangaroo joey away from a fire. It also features native flora and fauna, and ‘Elvis’, the NSW RFS helicopter. The mural was completed in March 2023 and is the work of Melbourne-based artist Alex Sugar. (City 2023)

The original Humula Hall was built in 1890. In 1955, the building was auctioned and demolished, and the current brick hall was built. Outside the front of the hall are the silhouettes of local returned service personnel. (Festival of Small Halls 2026)

The former Union Church at Humula is now a private property.

St Therese Catholic Church was built in c. 1937. Prior to the erection of the church, Mass was celebrated in the local School of Arts. (UBC Web Design 2022)

In 1874, the Washington Hotel was built at the Ravine Lobbs Hole near Kiandra in the Snowy Mountains. It was built to service the gold miners and later the copper mines in the area. In 1910, the entire building was pulled apart and moved piece by piece to the American Yards by bullock and cart. It ceased being a licensed premises and became the Humula village general store, haberdashery, baker, grocer, and service station. During the 1960s, it was registered as the Humula Post Office. After 50 years ot closed and falling into disrepair. (Familclub.com.au 2021)

Marija and I then drove south on Downfall Road. It was quite a warm day with plenty of snakes and lizards on the road.

Downfall Nature Reserve takes its name from the locality of Downfall, which in turn was named from a steep slope in the Rosewood Hills where those constructing the railway had to negotiate a very steep slope. (NSW NPWS 2006)

The first Europeans to visit the area were the explorers Hume and Hovell, who passed through the area in 1824. In c. 1836, settlement commenced in the Tumbarumba area. From about 1850, the reserve was part of the American Yards pastoral run. Prior to 1885, the land became part of the Humula Run. In 1906, the reserve became Crown Land. (NSW NPWS 2006)

The Carabost State Forest is located to the south and southwest of the reserve. The forest is primarily pine plantation; however, it also contains native forest. To the southwest of the reserve is a Travelling Stock Route (TSR)

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

Downfall Nature Reserve is about 496 hectares in size and was gazetted in 2001 as part of the Southern Regional Forest Agreement. The reserve is dominated by moderately steep slopes with an elevation range between 400 metres and 690 metres. The reserve is a piece of remnant vegetation in an area where there has been a significant history of clearing of the land. (NSW NPWS 2006)

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

This was not an entirely easy reserve to access. There are no signs. Access is via 4WD tracks. We also had to do some creek crossings.

The reserve contains six distinct forest types, including Apple box forest, Peppermint moust forest, Red Stringybark-Scribbly Gum-Rough barked Red Box-Tussock grass open forest, Peppermint-mixed box grassy forest, Norton’s Box-Peppermint grassy open forest, and Secondary wattle shrubland. (NSW NPWS 2006)

A total of 16 native mammals can be found in the park. A total of 72 species of birds have been recorded in Downfall. The reserve has several species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, including the Barking Owl, Turquoise Parrot, Black-chinned honeyeater, Diamond Firetail, and Squirrel Glider. (NSW NPWS 2006)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3KLI/p (VKFF-4283)
2. VK3EPL
3. VK3JV
4. VK3WSG
5. VK2IO/P (VKFF-0865)
6. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-0865)
7. VK3DAC
8. VK5DW
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3CEO
12. VK3PF (VKFF-4549)
13. VK3KAI (VKFF-4549)
14. VK1CHW/P (VKFF-1775)
15. VK2CHW/P (VKFF-1775)
16. VK1AD/P (VKFF-0864)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3KLI/p (VKFF-4283)
2. VK3EPL
3. VK3JV
4. VK3WSG
5. VK2IO/P (VKFF-0865)
6. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-0865)
7. VK3DAC
8. VK5DW
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3CEO
12. VK5LA
13. VK5KAW
14. VK2KHA
15. VK2JSW
16. VK3PF (VKFF-4549)
17. VK3KAI (VKFF-4549)
18. VK3HJW
19. VK3TKK
20. VK1CHW/P (VKFF-1775)
21. VK2CHW/P (VKFF-1775)
22. VK3ACZ
23. VK3AMO
24. VK2MG
25. VK2VW
26. VK2HFI
27. VK2AKA
28. VK2BUG
29. VK3APJ
30. VK3BAP
31. VK2NP
32. VK2VH
33. VK4AAC
34. VK2BPL
35. VK2AWA/P
36. VK3KRL
37. VK2JEF
38. VK2NGD
39. VK5AYL
40. VK3CJN
41. VK3QHU
42. VK1AD/P (VKFF-0864)
43. VK3STV
44. VK2ADF
45. VK3OAK
46. VK3TDX
47. VK2PKT
48. VK2KFT
49. VK3ZS

References.

1. City, W. (2023). Humula Bush Fire Brigade Shed brought to life with mural. [online] Council News. Available at: https://news.wagga.nsw.gov.au/news-articles/2023/september-2023/humula-bush-fire-brigade-shed-brought-to-life-with-mural [Accessed 14 Mar. 2026].
2. ‌Familclub.com.au. (2021). Humula Heritage Hotel – STEP BACK IN TIME – Renovation Project – Familclub – Business Invitations, Events, Product Launches, Familiarisations & Networking. [online] Available at: https://familclub.com.au/familclub-venues-by-location/familclub-venues-in-act/familclub-country-nsw-listings/829-humula-stepbackintime [Accessed 14 Mar. 2026].
3. ‌Festival of Small Halls. (2026). Home – Festival of Small Halls. [online] Available at: https://festivalofsmallhalls.com [Accessed 14 Mar. 2026].
4. ‌NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2006, Downfall Nature Reserve Plan of Management
5. UBC Web Design (2022). St Therese’s Catholic Church | Churches Australia. [online] Churchesaustralia.org. Available at: https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/new-south-wales/f-k-towns/directory/9021-st-thereseand%2339%3Bs-catholic-church [Accessed 14 Mar. 2026].
6. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2026). Humula. Wikipedia.‌