Our final activation for Wednesday, 5th November 2025, was the Murray Downs silo VK-MRD2 in New South Wales.
Above: Map showing the location of Murray Downs, N.S.W. Map c/o Google Maps
Marija and I crossed over the Murray River on the historic bridge from Victoria into New South Wales.
Prior to European settlement, it is believed that the largest population of Aboriginal people in what was to become the Colony of Victoria lived in the Swan Hill area. It is estimated that this was about 600 people. The first Europeans in the district were Captain Charles Sturt and his expeditionary team in 1830. This was followed by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836 during his Australia Felix explorations in Victoria. It was Mitchell who named the district Swan Hill. In 1838, Joseph Hawdon, Charles Bonney, and Edward Eyre had all overlanded the very first cattle and sheep from Albury in New South Wales, along the Murray River, into South Australia. (Flickr 2026)
In 1847, one of the first official leaseholds was granted for Murray Downs. From c. 1862 Murray Downs was owned by Suetonius and Charles Officer. The run was 150,000 acres in size. In 1870, the Murray Downs homestead was built. In 1884, Charles Campbell entered into a partnership with Alfred Felton to purchase Murray Downs. They established the largest irrigated area at that time on the Murray River. In 1889, Murray Downs sent 397 bales of wool downriver to Echuca. (Flickr 2026) (Poynter 2005)
Charles Myles Officer was born on the 14th day of July 1827 in New Norfolk, Tasmania. His brother, Suetonious Henry Officer was born on the 3rd day of October 1800, in New Norfolk, Tasmania. Their parents are Robert Officer and Jamima Officer, nee Patterson. (ancestry 2016)
Above: Charles Myles Officer. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
Charles McLean Campbell was born on the 14th day of January 1840 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. After emigrating to Australia in 1858, he married Mary Helen Smith in 1861. He died on the 13th day of September 1905 at East Melbourne, Victoria.
Above: article from The Australasian, Sat 24 Jul 1937. Image c/o Trove
The Murray Downs silo is located on Cygnet Lane, on the northern side of Swan Hill Road.
Marija and I parked in Cygnet Lane and operated from the 4WD. 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 Murray Downs silo. Image c/o SiOTA website
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK2YAK
- VK4YAK
- VK2ZR
- VK2AZR
- VK3PF
- VK4CBT
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK2YAK
- VK4YAK
- VK2ZR
- VK2AZR
- VK3PF
- VK4CBT
- VK5WU
- VK1AO
- VK2MET
- VK5NJ
- VK2IO
- VK3UZI
- VK3WSG
- VK2HLM
- VK3MCA
- VK3KRL
- VK5DMO
- VK1CHW
- VK3TDK
- VK3NYC
- VK3BVQ
- VK2VIC
- VK1VIC
- VK2GOY
- VK3SMW
Marija and I then sat back and admired the Beaver Supermoon. It was the closest, largest, and brightest full moon of 2025.
We then drove back into Swan Hill, stopping briefly to admire the Swan Hill water tower, which was lit up. The water tower was constructed in 1883.
We also admire the Swan Hill Town Hall.
The Swan Hill Town Hall was officially opened on Tuesday, the 17th day of September 1935. A Gala Ball was held that was attended by over 1,000 people. (Trove 2026)
Above: part of an article from The Age, Wed 18 Sept 1935. Image c/o Trove
It was time to head back to the motel room for a good night’s sleep. It had been a long day.
References.
- ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026]
- Flickr. (2026). Swan Hill. Across the River Murray is Murray Downs pastoral estate. These are the entrance gates. Murray Downs has an early homestead. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/25320793337 [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026].
- Poynter, J.R. (2005). Campbell, Charles (1840–1905). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/campbell-charles-12836 [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026].
- Trove. (2026). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954) – 18 Sep 1935 – p16. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/19254742?searchTerm=swan%20hill%20town%20hall [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026].
VK5PAS 