After leaving Lake Mannaor on Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, Marija and I headed to our next park activation at Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve VKFF-5979. Tutchewop is about 31 km southeast of Swan Hill in Victoria.
Above: Map showing the location of Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps
The park is located on the eastern side of Murray Valley Highway and on the western shore of Lake Tutchewop.
Above: the boundaries at the Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth
We found a dirt track leading into the park.
The park is about 508 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)
In April 2021, a small monument was unveiled at Lake Tutchewop to commemorate the former Lake Tutchewop Athletic and Aquatic Club.
Lake Tutchewop was once the district’s most popular lake and contained a sandy beach. It became known as the ‘St Kilda beach of the north’ following the formation in 1928 of the Lake Tutchewop Athletic and Aquatic Club by Tresco settlers. Bathing boxes were constructed, willow trees planted along the beach, and an athletic running track was established between the lake and the road. A pier and a diving board were built, with the 20-acre area known as Tutchewop Park.
On New Year’s Day 1929, the first carnival was held, which attracted over 600 people.
Above: article from The Age, Wed 2 Jan 1929. Image c/o Trove
Subsequent carnivals were held on each New Year’s Day until 1936. The carnivals attracted people from Kerang, Swan Hill, Ultima and Deniliquin. In 1930, Alan Dunoon, a well-known Swan Hill aviator, landed his plane in a nearby paddock and took people for joyriders at $3 per flight.
Above: article from The Horsham Times, Tue 13 May 1930. Image c/o Trove
Swimming lessons for local school children were conducted at the lake. Professional fishermen caught fish in the lake, and these were sent by rail from the Tresco Railway Station to the Melbourne market.
Lake Tuchewop was decommissioned by the Water Commission, and it was bypassed with a large channel. In 1968, the lake became a salt disposal basin for the Barr Creek. Today, Lake Tutchewop generally remains dry with a skin of salt on its base.
The bathing boxes remain, but have been subject to vandalism.
We were rewarded during our visit with a variety of bird of prey soaring over the lake.
The flies at the park were relentless and we were forced to wear our hats with the fly netting.
Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80 m linked dipole for this activation.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK2HBG/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2GRB/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2GDX/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2ALY/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2VAR
- VK2GOM
- VK1AO/P (VKFF-1271)
- VK2MET/P (VKFF-1271)
- VK2EXA
- VK3UP
- VK2HRX
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK2HBG/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2GRB/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2GDX/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2ALY/P (VKFF-2736)
- VK2VAR
- VK2GOM
- VK1AO/P (VKFF-1271)
- VK2MET/P (VKFF-1271)
- VK2EXA
- VK3UP
- VK5LA
- VK5KAW
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- VK2HRX
- VK3PF
- VK3KAI
- VK7ALB
- VK2VW
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
- VK3WSG
- VK3UH
- VK3MAP
- VK2NP
- VK5HS
- VK2YL
- VK2DA
- VK1DA
- VK7AN
- VK2HBR
- VK5CZ
- VK5XE
- VK3HJW
- VK3CLD
- VK5QA
- VK2DBF
- VK2OZO
- VK2MAB
- VK2HAK
- VK3WAR
- VK5HRB
- VK5SGX
- VK5DW
- VK2COS
References.
- Bridge Contributors (2021). Historic Monument Unveiled. [online] The Bridge. Available at: https://www.thebridgenews.com.au/historic-monument-unveiled/ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2026].
- 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 17 Apr. 2026]
VK5PAS 