Our final activation for Sunday, 2nd November 2025, was Lake Urana Nature Reserve VKFF-1956. The reserve is located just to the northwest of the town of Urana, and about 45 km east of Jerilderie.
Above: Map showing the location of Lake Urana Nature Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps
We headed west out of Urana on Cocketgedong Road. What a name! We turned onto Dunraven Road and commenced travelling towards the reserve.
A little way along the dirt road, we reached the park sign.
We entered the reserve and drove along a dirt track, trying to find a clearing in the scrub to set up in. it was slow going as the reserve was full of emus and Eastern grey kangaroos. It was a great sight.
Lake Urana Nature Reserve is located on the western shore of Lake Urana. A section of South West Woodland Nature Reserve VKFF-2724 can be found on the eastern side of the lake.
Above: the reserve’s boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth
The reserve is about 302 hectares in size and was established on the 4th day of April 1996. (CAPAD 2024)
Above: Gazettal of the reserve, NSW Govt Gazette, Thu 4 Apr 1996. Image c/o Trove
Lake Urana is a large shallow, intermittent lake in a depression at the end of the drainage basin of Billabong, Coonong and Urangeline creeks. It fills every ten to 20 years and retains water for several years. The lake is kidney-shaped and has a surface area of about 61.43 km2. (NSW NPWS n.d.) (Wikipedia 2024)
Above: an aerial view of the reserve. Image c/o Google Maps
It appears that prior to the National Parks & Wildlife Service acquiring the property, duck hunting occurred at Lake Urana. I found several newspaper articles about this.
Above: article from The Canberra Times, Thu 21 Mar 1991. Image c/o Trove
Above: article from The Canberra Times, Sun 21 Mar 1993. Image c/o Trove
Aboriginal burial sites, grinding dishes and ovens have been discovered in the lunette on the eastern side of Lake Urana. The skeletal remains at this site have been dated between 25,000 and 30,000 years old. (NSW NPWS 2001)
Lake Urana Nature Reserve was formerly a sheep grazing property. In 1966, the CSIRO purchased the property. In 1992, the New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service purchased the property with the intention of creating the reserve. (NSW NPWS 2001)
A total of 37 bird species have been recorded, including red-rumped parrot, brown treecreeper, striated pardalote, spiny-cheeked honeyeater, striped honeyeater and grey-crowned babbler. When Lake Urana contains water, various waterbirds frequent the reserve, including wood ducks, Pacific black duck, Australian grey teal, yellow-billed spoonbill, black-fronted dotterel and magpie-lark. (NSW NPWS n.d.)
The reserve contains woodland of yellow box and white cypress pine. Shrubs that can be found in Lake Urana Nature Reserve include thorny saltbush, ruby saltbush, western golden wattle, emu bush and black cottonbush. Over 70 species of ground cover have been recorded in the park, including wiregrass, speargrass and several lilies, including nodding chocolate-lily. A narrow woodland of river red gum can be located on the shore of the lake. (NSW NPWS n.d.)
We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
The flies were absolutely relentless, so we both had to wear our fly netting hats.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK3SPG
- VK2IO/P (VKFF-0838)
- VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-0838)
- VK5HS
- VK3OAK
- VK3KLI
- VK3KRL
- VK1FM
- VK1AO
- VK2MET
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK6DS/P (VKFF-1425)
- VK6EMU/P (VKFF-1425)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK3SPG
- VK2IO/P (VKFF-0838)
- VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-0838)
- VK5HS
- VK3OAK
- VK3KLI
- VK3KRL
- VK1FM
- VK1AO
- VK2MET
- VK3MCA
- VK2NP
- VK2YK
- VK5GA
- VK3MCK
- VK2HJW
- VK1CHW
- VK2CHW
- VK3SO
- VK3SFG
- VK2ETI
- VK2AIT
- VK2AIQ
- VK2AIX
- VK2AIZ
- VK7IAN
- VK1DI
- VK3BWS
- VK3EJ
- VK3JV
- VK2VW
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
- VK3TDX
- VK5BRU
- VK2PWK
- VK2CDB
- VK1AD
- VK1NAM
- VK3MRT
- VK3TDK
- VK3NYC
- VK5WU
- VK2ZRD
- VK4SMA
- VK2KAD
- VK3AIM
- VK5ACC
- VK3AMO
- VK2DA
- VK1DA
- VK2YL
- VK2ZK/M
- VK3BDW
- VK2HAK
- VK3ARN
- VK3AIT
- VK5FANA
- VK5AYL
- VK3AIK
- VK5MSA
- VK2VIC
- VK1VIC
- VK2GOY
- VK3PF/M
- VK3ZS
- VK2NNN
- VK5KPR
- VK2ZR
- VK7PJM
- VK4GAP
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK4CEG
- VK2ZR
- VK4MUD
- VK4VD
- VK6DS/P (VKFF-1425)
- VK6EMU/P (VKFF-1425)
- F5PYI
After qualifying the park, Marija and I packed up and headed into Jerilderie, where we booked into our accommodation at the Jerilderie Motel.
We then drove to the BP truckstop at the western end of town and filled up with diesel. I took some photos of the trucks lined up for our grandson Flynn, who is truck mad.
We then went out for dinner at the Jerilderie Sports Club. They have a Chinese restaurant there, and wow, what a meal. There was so much that we had to get some ‘doggy bags’ to take away our leftovers. It was one of the best Chinese meals that Marija and I have had.
With a very full belly, it was time to head back to our motel room for a good night’s sleep.
References.
- Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2026]
- NSW National Parks. (n.d.). Lake Urana Nature Reserve. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/lake-urana-nature-reserve. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2026]
- NSW National Parks and WIldlife Service, 2001, Lake Urana Nature Reserve Plan of Management
- Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Lake Urana. Wikipedia.
VK5PAS 