Our next stop on Monday, 3rd November 2025, was Coleambally in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Coleambally is about 658 km west of Sydney and about 31 km south of Darlington Point.

Above: Map showing the location of Coleambally, NSW. Map c/o Google Maps

Coleambally is a new town, having been gazetted in June 1968. The Post Office opened 2 years later in April 1970. The town was designed to act as the centre for the surrounding Coleambally Irrigation Area. Coleambally is an Aboriginal word believed to mean ‘swift in flight.’ The spine-tailed swift can be found in the area and is one of the most powerful fliers known. The town features street names that are named after local birds. (Wikipedia 2025)

As you enter the town, you cannot miss the Bucyrus Class Dragline. It was one of four machines used to excavate the main irrigation channels in the district.

Another interesting attraction is the Coleambally water tower on Kingfisher Avenue. The base of the tower features a mosaic that depicts the history of the district. The tower is uniquely shaped and stands 24 metres tall. It had a capacity of over one million litres and is filled from two deep bores. (Service 2023)

Now this can be a little confusing as Coleambally has so many silos that are located in the industrial area.

Coleambally silo VK-CLY2 is located on Bencubbin Avenue. This site is run by AgConnex and takes speciality grains including maize in the Riverina region. (AgConnex 2025)

And Coleambally 2 silo VK-CLB2 is located on Jimmy Cull Road. Marija and I only saw one silo structure there. This is the Coprice facility which, according to the internet, was owned by SunRice and is now closed as of September 2025.

But, then there are other silos, including the YPG Coleambally site on Calrose Avenue and the Coleambally Graincorp silos further along Bencubbin Road. I am not sure why these are not included in the SiOTA program.

Marija and I parked on Calrose Avenue, in the activation zone of both silos. We operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

Above: the activation zone of the 2 silos at Coleambally, NSW. Image c/o SiOTA website

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3KLI/p (VKFF-5032)
2. VK2IO/P (VKFF-0985)
3. VK5HS
4. VK2YAK/P (VKFF-0196)
5. VK4YAK/P (VKFF-0196)
6. VK2ZR
7. VK2AZR

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3KLI/p (VKFF-5032)
2. VK2IO/P (VKFF-0985)
3. VK5HS
4. VK2YAK/P (VKFF-0196)
5. VK4YAK/P (VKFF-0196)
6. VK2ZR
7. VK2AZR
8. VK2HAK
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK2MOE
12. VK1MO
13. VK5AYL

References.

1. AgConnex. (2025). Sites – AgConnex. [online] Available at: https://agconnex.com.au/sites/ [Accessed 24 Mar. 2026].‌
2. Service, C. (2023). Coleambally Water Tower. [online] NSW Government. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/coleambally-water-tower [Accessed 24 Mar. 2026].
3. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Coleambally. Wikipedia.‌

On Monday, 3rd November 2026, after leaving Buckingbong, Marija and I headed to Morundah where we intended to activate the Morundah silo VK-MRH2 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

Above: Map showing the location of Morundah, NSW. Map c/o Google Maps

It had started to rain at Buckingbong, and it was a slow drive into Morundah as a lot of wildlife had ventured onto the road for a drink.

Morundah is only a tiny town, with a hotel, a few houses, and the silos. The 2021 Census places the population at 24 people. It is believed the Morundah is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘stuck in mud’. (Wikipedia 2024)

The Colombo Creek Post Office was opened on the 1st day of May 1877 and was renamed Murundah in 1889 and Morundah in 1895. It closed in 1982. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above: article from The Australian Star, Wed 4 Dec 1889. Image c/o Trove

Morundah once had its own football club, cricket club, and Cycle Club.

Above: article from the Narandera Argus, Fri 14 Jun 1935. Image c/o Trove

The Morundah Hotel was built in 1919 and over the years has also been known as Mary’s Hotel and the Bellvue Hotel. (Facebook 2016)

Above: the Morundah Hotel. Image c/o Los Narrandera Facebook page

One of the interesting attractions at Moorundah is the Toolbox Horse and Jockey sculpture in Browley Street. It was commissioned to commemorate 100 years of both registered and bush picnic horse racing in Morundah. It was created in 2009 and is the work of Andrew Whitehead from nearby Urana. It is constructed of pieces of scrap metal. (Service 2023)

Since the early 1900s the Moorundah races were a very popular event.

Above: article from The Sun, Melbourne, Fri 22 Mar 1935. Image c/o Trove

Nearby to the Toolbox sculpture, is a small joey sculpture, another work of Andrew Whitehead.

The Morundah silos are located on the northwestern side of the Newell Highway, alongside the old Tocumwal railway line. The Morundah Railway Station was opened on the 16th day of September 1884 and was closed on the 17th day of November 1975. Sadly, the old railway station has been demolished.

Above: the Morundah Railway Station. Image c/o Lost Narrandera Facebook page

The Morundah silos are operated by Graincorp.

Marija and I parked the 4WD at the Graincorp gate and operated from the vehicle. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

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

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-0985)
2. VK5AYL
3. VK3TBS
4. VK3PF
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK2YAK
8. VK4YAK

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-0985)
2. VK5AYL
3. VK3TBS
4. VK3PF
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK2YAK
8. VK4YAK
9. VK3CLD
10. VK3MCK
11. VK3SKS
12. VK2NP

References.

1. Service, C. (2023). Toolbox Horse and Jockey Sculpture. [online] NSW Government. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/toolbox-horse-and-jockey-sculpture [Accessed 24 Mar. 2026].‌
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Morundah. Wikipedia.‌

A few days ago, I received my latest global WWFF Activator certificate. It is issued for having activated 576 WWFF references and obtaining 44 QSOs.

Thanks to all of the WWFF hunters, and thank you to Hugo CT7AOV, the Awards Manager.