On Sunday, 2nd November 2025, Marija and I left Mibrulong and drove west on the Lockhart-The Rock Road. We drove past this farmer’s obvious tribute to the military.

At the entrance to Lockhart is the ‘Rain Dragon’ sculpture. It is the work of Andrew Whitehead and is made from recycled farm machinery. It is one of 20 farm art sculptures on Lockhart’s Sculpture and Heritage Trail walk.

The town was originally called Greens Gunyah, named after an early settler, Mr Green. He was a stockman who ran a grog shop on the Urana – Wagga Wagga stagecoach route. (Wikipedia 2021)

On the 16th day of May 1882, the Ferriers Post Office opened and was later renamed Lockhart in November 189). (Wikipedia 2021)

In 1897, the town was renamed Lockhart, in honour of Charles Gordon Norman Lockhart, who was a Commissioner for Crown Lands in the Murrumbidgee River district during the 1850s. Lockhart was born in July 1808 in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He emigrated to Australia, and in August 1850, he married Frances Caroline Fartier. He died in February 1893 in London. (ancestry 2016) (Wikipedia 2021)

In 1897, the Wagga Wagga Advertiser reported the following:

“Lockhart, formerly called Green’s Gunyah……is in the centre of a large agricultural district, the soil of which is stated to be equal to any in the colony for wheat growing purposes.” (Trove 2026)

Above: part of an article from the Wagga Wagga Advertiser, Tue 27 Apr 1897. Image c/o Trove

Lockhart is known as the Verandah town due to its heritage-listed buildings in the main street, which feature grand verandahs.

The Commercial Hotel was built in 1906. On the side of the hotel is a life sized corrugated iron cut out of the bushranger Ned Kelly

Cornell’s building was built c. 1902/1903. It was originally occupied by a barber called M. Sheey. It was then occupied by a greengrocer and baker, before G & C Cornell moved into the building as wheat buyer and estate agents. During the 1930s and 1940s a kerb side petrol pump existed out the front of the building.

In the main street, you can find the sculpture George the Fresian Bull. It is the work of Andrew McGill. (Region Riverina n.d.)

While we were on the main street, I saw the magnificent Valiant below. While we were admiring the vehicle, the owner came along and we had a long chat about his vehicle and my Valiant.

The Lockhart Showgrounds are located on Treasure Street on the southwestern side of town. The gate at the entrance to the Showgrounds commemorates the early settlers of the district. The columns of the entrance gates feature 22 replica wool bales which have stencils of the district’s original sheep stations. (UBC Web Design 2026)

The plaque is inscribed:

‘They came with faith alone – Drought hindered but nothing daunted them – Green fields rose from the wilderness God has blessed us with the fruits of their toil.”

Just down from the silos is the Railway Hotel, located at Brookong Street. The hotel was the first official business in the town and was opened in 1878. It was situated on the Cobb & Co route between Wagga Wagga and Urana. (Facebook 2026)

The Lockhart railway station is located on the Oaklands railway line. The original station was demolished and in 1987 was replaced with the station building from Gerogery.

In 1920, the railway station was destroyed by fire. (Trove 2026)

Above: article from the Daily Advertiser Wagga Wagga, Mon 26 Apr 1920. Image c/o Trove

And then in 1944, another fire occurred at the railway station. The refreshment room and the waiting room were completely destroyed. The ticket office and parcel room were saved.

Above: article from the Daily Advertiser Wagga Wagga, Mon 13 Mar 1944. Image c/o Trove

The Lockhart silos are located on the northern side of Osborne Street and the southern side of the railway line.

Marija and I parked near the railway station and operated from the 4WD. We ran the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

Above: the activation zone at the Lockhart silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/P (VKFF-2139)
2. VK2HRX
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3HJW
6. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3932)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/P (VKFF-2139)
2. VK2HRX
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3HJW
6. VK3JV
7. VK5HS
8. VK3CLD
9. VK5QA
10. VK2DBF
11. VK2DA
12. VK1DA
13. VK3TDX
14. VK2VH
15. VK4AAC
16. VK3WSG
17. VK2EG/P
18. VK2YL
19. VK3OAK
20. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3932)
21. VK3TDK
22. VK3NYC
23. VK3VRL
24. VK1CHW
25. VK2HAK
26. VK3EJ

References.

1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026]
2. ‌Facebook.com. (2026). Explored Visions by GD. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/exploredvisions/posts/around-lockhart-nswlockhart-is-known-as-the-verandah-town-due-to-its-heritage-li/262268368600469/ [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026].
3. ‌Region Riverina. (n.d.). Region Riverina. [online] Available at: https://regionriverina.com.au/. [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026]
4. ‌Trove. (2026). Lockhart. – Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW : 1875 – 1910) – 27 Apr 1897. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101822307?searchTerm=lockhart%20post%20office [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026].
5. ‌Trove. (2026). FIRE AT LOCKHART RAILWAY STATION – Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 – 1954) – 13 Mar 1944. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144232159?searchTerm=lockhart%20railway%20station [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026].
6. ‌Trove. (2026). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 – 1954) – 26 Apr 1920 – p2. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/15626187?searchTerm=lockhart%20railway%20station [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026].
7. ‌UBC Web Design (2026). Pioneer Memorial | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org. Available at: https://www.monumentaustralia.org/themes/landscape/settlement/display/21925-pioneer-memorial [Accessed 20 Mar. 2026].
8. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Lockhart. Wikipedia.‌