Swan Hill North silo VK-SWH3 and Swan Hill silo VK-SWL3

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We were on the last leg of our trip on Wednesday, 5th November 2025, with our destination being Swan Hill in Victoria.

Above: Map showing the location of Swan Hill. Map c/o Google Maps

We left Wakool, travelling west on Wakool Road, crossing over several irrigation channels.

We then headed northwest on Tulla Road, passing through Tullakool, and then along Noorong Road. Our next stop was the Noorong Pioneer monument, which honours the early settlers of the district and those known to be buried at Noorong Station. Those recorded are:

  • Henry Robertson died 1859
  • Edward Phillips from London Died 1867
  • William McPhee from Scotland Died 1873 aged 40
  • George Oakly died 1874
  • James Kelly from Ireland Died 1878
  • Duncan Campbell from Scotland died 1879 aged 43
  • James C Steel Died 1879
  • William Anderson Ellis and his wife Alma Joyce Ellis nee Henderson

Noorong Station is still operational and is located near Barham.

Above: a wagon load of Noorong wool on the way to Koondrook Railway Station. Image c/o Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

William McPhee died on the 8th day of April 1873, at Noorong, after a tree fell on him. (Trove 2026)

Above: article from the Kilmore Free Press, Thu 24 Apr 1873. Image c/o Trove

Duncan Campbell was the Manager at Noorong Run. He died on the 2nd day of March 1879 at Noorong Run, having been thrown from his horse. (Trove 2026)

Above: article from the Evening News, Sydney, Thu 13 Mar 1879. Image c/o Trove

William ‘Bill’ Ellis was born in 1910 at Essendon, Victoria. In 1939, he married Alma Patricia Joyce Henderson. Bill spent time as a grazier on Mooloomoon Station and Gooparie Station, and was the overseer at Noorong Station from 1953 to 1976. Bill died in October 1992. His wife Alma died in 2001. Their ashes are scattered on Noorong Station.

Above: Bill Ellis. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

I found the interesting article below re a mystery that occurred on Noorong. On Saturday, the 22nd day of May 1920, a boundary rider at Noorong discovered a buggy with the seat burnt and the remnants of a policeman’s overcoat. The boundary rider returned to the homestead and raised the alarm. The police at Barham and Koondrook were notified, who then made their way to what was suspected to be a tragedy. (Trove 2026)

It was feared that the Constable from Moulamein and Mr George Oare had met their fate while searching for missing sheep. The horse from the buggy was located tied to a tree between Moulamein and Noorong. After an extensive search, the two missing men were found in a hut. It was established that the Constable and Oare had found a fire in the buggy on Saturday morning, believed to be caused by a spark from a fire. They extinguished the fire and continued in their search for the sheep. (Trove 2026)

Above: article from The Merbein Irrigationist, Wed 23 Jun 1920. Image c/o Trove

We were able to see Noorong Woolshed in the distance from Noorong Road. We would have very much loved to visit the historic woolshed, but it is located on private property. Marija and I always find old woolsheds to be extremely interesting.

We then stopped at the old Gee Gee Bridge on Noorong Road. Sadly, the heritage-listed bridge that crossed the Wakool River was demolished after the construction of a concrete bridge in 2020. The bridge was built in 1929 and was designed by Harvey Dare, who was the designer of various bridges. (Wikipedia 2024)

We continued on to Swan Hill, crossing into Victoria over the historic bridge and the Murray River. The bridge was built in 1896.

We made our way to our accommodation and unpacked the 4WD.

Marija and I then headed out to activate the two silos in Swan Hill. On the way, we stopped at the Giant Murray Cod, a monument to the large Murray Cod caught in the Murray River.

The Swan Hill North silo VK-SWH3 is located on the eastern side of Curlewis Street, opposite Pritchard Street, and alongside the Bendigo Piangil railway.

The Swan Hill silo VK-SWL3 is located on the western side of Monash Drive, alongside the Bendigo Piangil railway.

Marija and I parked on Monash Drive and operated from the 4WD, running the IOcom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

Above: the activation zone at the silos in Swan Hill. Image c/o SiOTA website

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2HAK
  2. VK3WSG
  3. VK2IOP
  4. VK5NJ
  5. VK5GY
  6. VK4GWC
  7. VK3PF
  8. VK2ZR
  9. VK2AZR
  10. VK3MCA
  11. VK3SPG
  12. VK2YAK
  13. VK4YAK

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2HAK
  2. VK3WSG
  3. VK2IO
  4. VK5NJ
  5. VK5GY
  6. VK4GWC
  7. VK3PF
  8. VK2ZR
  9. VK2AZR
  10. VK3MCA
  11. VK3SPG
  12. VK2YAK
  13. VK4YAK
  14. VK5OG
  15. VK3UZI

References.

  1. Trove. (2026). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931) – 13 Mar 1879 – p2. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/11605807?searchTerm=noorong [Accessed 10 Apr. 2026].‌
  2. Trove. (2026). Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 – 1954) – 24 Apr 1873 – p2. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/6755305?searchTerm=noorong%20%2B%20mcphee [Accessed 10 Apr. 2026].‌
  3. Trove. (2026). STATION MYSTERY. – The Merbein Irrigationist and Murray Valley Soldiers’ Gazette (Vic. : 1919 – 1920) – 23 Jun 1920. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/258152401/28741638 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2026].‌
  4. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Gee Gee Bridge. Wikipedia.‌

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