Our next silo for 8th March 2023 was the Walmer silo VK-WLR3, located a few km west of Horsham in western Victoria in the Wimmera region.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Walmer silo. Map c/o Google Maps.

Walmer is an aboriginal word meaning ‘the water of the visitor’.

The Walmer pastoral run was taken up in 1845 by Charles Wilson (b. 1817. d. 1896). The homestead is located on the Natimuk Road, about 5km west of Horsham. Wilson was a native of BallyCloughan, Antrim Ireland. He was a “Local Protector’ under the Central Board for the Protection of the Aborigines established in 1861.

The Colonial Government of Victoria was prompted to establish the Board due to the unjust and unchecked treatment of Aboriginal people. The system relied upon locally appointed ‘protectors’. They provided rations of food and clothing to Aboriginal people in their district and maintained a register of the local Aboriginal population. Wilson was named as an honourary correspondent to the Board in 1861, In 1868 he again served as an honourary correspondent.

Above:- Charles Wilson. Image c/o ancestry.com.au.

In 1860 Robert O’Hara Bourke and William John Wills departed Royal Park in Victoria on their ill-fated expedition of Australia’s interior. In 1861, when they failed to return, a relief expedition discovered what was left of the original expedition. In 1862 another expedition was sent out to bring back the remains of Burke and Wills. They also returned with a number of camels that had accompanied the original expedition. These camels were brought to a pastoral lease at Vectis owned by Alexander Wilson, the brother of Charles.

Not all of the camels which had been imported from Afghanistan and northern India were taken on the ill-fated Burke and Wills Journey. Some remained at Royal Park. In May 1861, another Wilson brother, Sir Samuel Wilson offered the use of one of his paddocks for the camels. His offer was initially declined but subsequently taken up.

Above:- Sir Samuel Wilson. Image co Wikipedia

In September 1862 the first of the camels arrived at the Walmer property of Charles Wilson. They were kept there until his brother Samuel Wilson was ready to take them at his Longerenong property. Essau Khan had accompanied the camels from India, and he was one of the parties who conveyed the camels from Royal Park to the Wilson property at Walmer.

Above:- a sketch of Esau Khan, who accompanied the camels. Image c/o Public Record Office Victoria.

The camels which had been returned from the Burke and Wills expedition now needed a home. In December 1861 seventeen camels arrived at the Wilson property. They were quarantined in a separate paddock by Charles Wilson.

Above:- Walmer Station, the early 1900s. Image c/o Lost Horsham Facebook site.

The silo is located on the corner of Remlaw Road and Vectis Station Road.

We parked directly opposite the silos and operated from the 4WD. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 (1.5 metre stainless steel whip).

Above:- the activation zone at the Walmer Silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2HRX/p (SOTA VK2/ CT-043)
3. VK3UH
4. VK1AO
5. VK2MET
6. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2HRX/p (SOTA VK2/ CT-043)
3. VK3UH
4. VK1AO
5. VK2MET
6. VK3APJ
7. VK2LEE
8. VK3UAO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2HRX/p (SOTA VK2/ CT-043)
2. VK2IO
3. VK2LEE
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DXA
6. VK1AO
7. VK2MET

References.

1. Horsham Heritage Study, August 2014.
2. Mildura and District Genealogical Society, the grapeline, Sept 200, Vol 8. No. 3
3. Public Record Office Victoria, 2023, <https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/provenance-journal/provenance-2010/what-happened-camels-burke-and-wills#_edn23>, viewed 5th May 2023.
4. Trove, 2023, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/247796002?keyword=walmer%20station>, viewed 5th May 2023.
5. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aboriginal_Protection_Board>, viewed 5th May 2023.

Marija and I left Ararat and drove to Horsham where we called in for morning tea to my Aunty Dawn and Uncle Jack’s home. It was great to catch up. We also drove passed my Nana’s old house in Horsham which brought back lots of fond memories from my childhood.

We then headed to the Remlaw silo VK-RMW3. Remlaw is a small district a few km west of Horsham in western Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of Remlaw. Map c/o Google Maps.

The silos are located at the intersection of Remlaw Road and Remlaw Station Road.

The silo is located alongside the old Carpolac railway line which served a number of grain silos in the Wimmera district of Victoria. The line branched off of the Serviceton railway line at Horsham and was opened in stages. It was opened from Horsham to East Natimuk in August 1887, East Natimuk to Goroke in July 1894, and then from Goroke to Carpolac in May 1927.

Above:- A stack of wheat bags at Remlaw surrounded by a mouse guard. Image c/o Trove.

During the 1980s the line closed in various stages, with the section between the junction to East Natimuk and Horsham being the last to close.

We parked right alongside the silo. The noise floor was zero as we were quite some distance from any noise-causing sources. We operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 8350 1.5 metre stainless steel whip).

Above:- The activation zone at the Remlaw silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3PF
3. VK3ZSC
4. VK5HS
5. VK2LEE

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3PF
3. VK3ZSC
4. VK5HS
5. VK2LEE
6. VK3SMW
7. VK5IS
8. VK7LG
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3NP

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3APJ
2. VK2IO
3. VK7XX
4. VK5CZ

References.

1. Railpage, 2023, <https://www.railpage.com.au/photos/54046>, viewed 4th May 2023.
2. SiOTA, 2023, <https://www.silosontheair.com/silos/>, viewed 4th May 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpolac_railway_line>, viewed 4th May 2023.

It was now Tuesday 7th March 2023, and time for Marija and I to head home. We had planned to activate a number of silos for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program, and also some parks and a summit.

Our first activation for the day was One Tree Hill VK3/ VS-036 for Summits On The Air (SOTA). The summit is located in the Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958.

Above:- Map showing the location of Ararat. Map c/o Google Maps.

The city of Ararat is located about 85 km west of Ballarat and about 198 km northwest of Melbourne. The city’s name originates from Horatio Spencer Howe Wills (b. 1811. d. 1861), a pastoralist/explorer, who arrived in the district in 1841. He named a rise ‘Mount Ararat’, for ‘like the arc, we rested there’. Wills established the 125,000 acre Lexington pastoral run near Moyston. The Lexington homestead was built in 1851 and is on the Australian and Victorian historic buildings registers.

The life of Wills is an interesting one. He was born in 1811 and was raised by his mother Sarah Harding who was free settler, and his stepfather, George Howe who was a convict. Wills father Edward Spencer Wills was also aconvict who had been transported to Australia in 1799 for highway robbery. He died five months before the birth of Wills.

Above:- Horatio Wills. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Wills had nine children, including Tom Wills, who was Australia’s first great cricketer, and founder of Australian Rules Football.

In 1861, Horatio Wills moved to Cullin-la-ringo, near Rockhampton in Queensland, Less than 3 weeks after his arrival, on the 17th day of October 1861, he was murdered, along with 18 other people, by local aboriginal people, at what has been referred to as the Cullin-la-ringo massacre. This event is reported to be the largest massacre of Europeans by aboriginal people in Australian history.

Above:- A painting by T.G. Moyle. The caption reads: “The arrival of the neighbouring squatters and Mon collecting and burying the dead, after the attack by the blacks on H.R. Wills ESQ. Stationed Leichhardt district, Queensland.’ Image c/o Wikipedia.

The township of Ararat arose due to the discovery of gold in 1856. As a result, there was a surge of 15,000 people to the area, including numerous persons of Chinese origin. Allotments of land were sold in 1858, and on the 24th day of September 1858 a municipality was created.

By 1857 Anglican and Catholic schools were opened, followed by a Presbyterian church in 1859. A Presbyterian church was established. In 1859 a courthouse was opened, followed by a hospital in 1860. In that same year, the Ararat gaol was established. In 1865 a mental asylum was opened.

One Tree Hill summit is 576 metres above sea level and is worth 2 points in the SOTA program.

Above:- An aerial view of the summit and park. Image c/o Google Maps.

The park is about 2,400 acres and offers sensational views of the surrounding area including Mount Cole Plateau and Mount Langi Girhan. More than 200 species of native plants have been recorded in the park, including a number of native orchids.

We drove along the 4WD track from the lookout and found a clearing in the scrub. We strung out the 20/40/80m linked dipole which was supported by the 7-metre heavy-duty telescopic squid pole. We ran the Yaesu FT-857d and 40 watts.

It was a chilly morning but fortunately no rain. We had experienced rain during the majority of the evening.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VIN
2. VK3UAO
3. VK1AD
4. VK3QH
5. Vk4TJ
6. VK2WWV
7. VK5HAA
8. VK3OB
9. Vk1RF
10. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VIN
2. VK3UAO
3. VK1AD
4. VK3QH
5. VK4TJ
6. VK2WWV
7. VK5HAA
8. VK3OB
9. VK1RF
10. VK2IO
11. VK3AWA
12. VK4EMP
13. VK4TI
14. VK3NBL
15. VK4FW
16. VK8MM
17. VK3MDC
18. VK2EXA
19. VK5AYL
20. VK1DI
21. VK2MOP
22. VK3MAB
23. VK7ID
24. VK7JFD
25. ZL3RIK
26. VK5FD
27. VK3PF
28. VK3APJ
29. VK3SQ
30. VK3CTM
31. VK5GY
32. VK5IS
33. VK3DA
34. VK3TDK
35. VK5CZ
36. VK3ANL

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3PF

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. F4WBN
2. ZL1TZP
3. ZL3RIK
4. VK1AO
5. VK2MET
6. VK4EMP
7. VK4TI
8. ZL3QR
9. ZL1KB
10. KG5CIK
11. BX8AAD
12. VK4TJ

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4TJ

References.

1. Grampians Point, 2023, <https://www.grampianspoint.com.au/attractions/ararat-hills-regional-park/>, viewed 4th May 2023.
2. Summits On The Air, 2023, <https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/summits>, viewed 4th May 2023.
3. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/ararat>, viewed 4th May 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Wills>, viewed 4th May 2023.
5. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullin-la-ringo_massacre>, viewed 4th May 2023.

Our seventh and final park for 7th March 2023 was the Illabrook Grassland Flora Reserve VKFF-2335. The park is about 158 km west of Melbourne and about 44 km south of Ballarat.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Illabrook Grassland Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The Illabrook Grassland Flora Reserve is 126 hectares in size and was established on the 21st day of May 1996.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Maps.

The park is bordered on the west by Cape Clear-Rokewood Road and to the east by Moonlight Road. The park’s southern boundary is Illabrook Football Ground Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Illabrook Grassland Flora Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is significant due to the majority of Victoria’s grasslands having been cleared for agriculture. European settlers found that the expansive grasslands in Victoria were excellent for grazing and easy to convert to cropping. Other than grassland, the park contains numerous orchid, daisy, and pea species.

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EMP
2. VK4TI
3. VK4FW
4. VK8MM
5. VK4TJ
6. VK2IO
7. VK6GLX
8. K5RX

Marija worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4TJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EMP
2. VK4TI
3. VK4FW
4. VK8MM
5. F1BLL
6. KG5CIK
7. VK4TJ
8. VK2IO
9. VK6GLX
10. K5RX
11. IW2BNA

I worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4TJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3APJ
2. VK3PF
3. VK5BJE
4. Vk2EXA
5. VK5PE/m
6. VK1TTY
7. VK5TN
8. VK3VIN
9. VK5HS
10. VK1RF
11. VK3UAO
12. VK3CWF
13. VK5KRX
14. VK3CAT
15. VK4FW
16. VK8MM
17. VK2MOE
18. VK3PWG
19. VK2IO
20. VK4NH
21. VK4DXA
22. VK3HJW
23. VK3KR

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK3VIN
3. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3CWF
2. VK3GJG
3. VK3PF
4. VK3UAO
5. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 80m AM:-

1. VK3CWF
2. VK3PF

After leaving the park we drove north to the little town of Smythesdale which is located about 18 km southwest of Ballarat.

The town was named after John Smythe who took up a pastoral lease Nentinball in the district in 1849. In 1853 gold was discovered at Smythesdale, and soon after southwards along Smythese Creek toward Cape Clear. By 1856 an Anglican school was opened and in 1861 a courthouse was opened. Smythesdale’s largest population was during the 1860s when the town had a mechanics institute, a free library, a foundry, a sawmill, a brewery and numerous hotels. Smythesdale residents laid out a public park and a racecourse. They formed several sporting clubs and an amateur theatrical club.

The 1903 Australian Handbook 1903 describes Smythesdale as follows:

The town has a number of magnificent historical buildings and interpretive signs. We spent quite a bit of time wandering around this fascinating little town.

It was dinner time, so we ventured to the Court House Hotel, where we enjoyed a very nice meal and some refreshing ales. The hotel commenced as a wooden building in 1850, and the current brick building was built in 1856.

We then drove about 86 km to the town of Ararat where we had booked into the caravan park. It was the end of a long, but very enjoyable day.

References.

1. CAPAD 2020.
2. Parks Victoria, park-update august 217
3. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/smythesdale>, viewed 4th May 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Court_House_Hotel_(Smythesdale)>, viewed 4th May 2023.

Our next park activation for 7th March 2023 was the Illabrook Rail Line Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2110. The park is about 144 km west of Melbourne and about 44 km south of Ballarat.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Illabrook Rail Line NCR. Map c/o Google Maps.

Illabarook was formerly a gold mining town, located in the arc of gold-bearing country from Scarsdale to Rokewood In 1855 gold was discovered at Illabrook on the Bulldog diggings.

Above:- part of an article from The Age, Melbourne, Sat 2 Oct 1858. Image c/o Trove.

The area was known as Bulldog until 1874. The town is located on the Illabrook Creek. It is believed that Illabrook is derived from an aboriginal word meaning a fly. In 1861 a school was opened and this was followed by the Post Office in 1862.

The Pitfield gold diggings then became associated with Bulldog as mining activity joined them as one area. During the 1860s mining activity declined. By the mid 1890s mining had recommenced. A new village of Illabrook evolved. The town was described in the Australian Handbook of 1903 as follows:

Between 1911-53 a railway from Newtown to Cressy passed through Illabarook. This is now the Illabrook Rail Line Nature Conservation Reserve, which can be found on the western side of Moonlight Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The railway line at Illabrook was part of the Colac-Ballarat railway line that branches from the Warnambool line, just east of Colac. It ran in a northerly direction to join the Ballarat0Skipton line at Newtown, and from there ran to Ballarat station. The line was 112 km in length. Construction of the line commenced in the 1880s. The purpose of the line was to convey goods from Victoria’s Western District to the industrial centre of Ballarat. The line was constructed in sections.

Above:- Part of an article from The Colac Herald, Fri 22 Sep 1882. Image c/o Trove.

Today the track has been completely removed, with the majority of the land returned to adjoining farmers. However, the last section of the Skipton to Ballarat line has been converted to the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Line, while the site of Illabrook station is now the Illabrook Rail Line NCR. 

The park is 22 hectares in size and was established on the 22nd day of March 2005.  The park features remnants of the endangered Lower Slops Grassy Woodland ecological vegetation community. It contains one of the best populations of Silver Banksias and Drooping Sheokes in the area.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3GRK/p (Alpine National Park VKFF-0619)
2. VK5HAA
3. VK3PF
4. VK3APJ
5. VK5HS
6. VK3GJG
7. VK3SQ
8. VK7MOO
9. VK4FW
10. VK8MM
11. Vk2EXA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3GRK/p (Alpine National Park VKFF-0619)
2. VK5HAA
3. VK3PF
4. VK3APJ
5. VK5HS
6. VK3GJG
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2EXA
9. VK4FW
10. VK8MM
11. VK1AD
12. VK1RF
13. VK5TN
14. Vk7MOO
15. VK5BJE
16. VK3ZSC
17. VK5SFA
18. VK3UCS
19. Vk5BAD
20. VK3EMB/p
21. VK5NBL
22. VK5CZ
23. VK7JFD
24. VK2IO
25. VK3SGA
26. VK7AN
27. VK3NBL
28. VK3KST
29. VK7EE
30. VK3UH
31. VK3PWG

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK7AN
4. KG5CIK
5. VK4EMP
6. VK4TI
7. VK2DA
8. VK1DA
9. VK7EE
10. VK4TJ
11. VK7AAE
12. ZL1KB

I worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM

References.

1. The Field Naturalists Ballarat, 2023, <https://fieldnatballarat.wordpress.com/2018/11/07/a-day-out-at-illabarook/>, viewed 4th May 2023.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/illabarook>, viewed 4th May 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colac%E2%80%93Ballarat_railway_line#cite_note-2>, viewed 4th May 2023.

Our fifth park for 7th March 2023 was the Commeralghip Flora Reserve VKFF-2296. The park is about 143 km northwest of Melbourne and about 43 km southwest of Ballarat.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Commeralghip Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The Commeralghip Flora Reserve is a tiny reserve. It is only 3 hectares in size and was established on the 22nd day of April 1993.

The park is located on Chathams Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

It was absolutely blowing a gale, so we decided to operate from the 4WD. Our antenna was the 20/40/80m linked dipole, inverted vee, supported on a 7-metre heavy duty squid pole.

Marija made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3ANL
3. VK2EXA
4. VK5HS
5. VK3APJ
6. VK3SQ
7. VK3QH
8. VK3VIN
9. VK1AD
10. VK7JFD
11. VK5BJE
12. VK5AYL

I made the following QSO on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4EHI
4. VK2IO
5. VK5HS
6. VK4TJ
7. VK4EMP
8. VK4TI
9. VK4EW

I made the following QSO on 20m AM:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4TJ
4. VK4EMP
5. VK4TI
6. VJK4EW
7. VK4EHI

I made the following QSOs on 40m AM:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK7JFD
3. VK5HS
4. VK3SQ
5. VK3APJ

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3ANL
3. VK2EXA
4. VK5HS
5. VK3APJ
6. VK3SQ
7. VK3QH
8. VK3VIN
9. VK1AD
10. VK7JFD
11. VK5BJE
12. VK5AYL
13. VK7PAL
14. VK5HAA
15. VK3UAO
16. VK3GJG
17. Vk3SMW
18. VK3KTT
19. VK3MDC/m
20. VK5WY
21. VK1RF
22. VK2MK
23. VK4CEE
24. VK3BBB
25. Vk2CCP
26. VK5SFA
27. VK5CZ
28. VK3NP
29. VK3GRK/p (Alpine National Park VKFF-0619)
30. VK1NAM

References.

1. CAPAD 2020.

After packing up at Warrambine (7th March 2023), Marija and I made the short 18 km journey to our next park of the day, the Cordinhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070. Corindhap is a small town about 35 km south of Ballarat

Above:- Map showing the location of the Cordinhap NCR. Map c/o Google Maps.

The town was established in 1852 after gold was discovered at Boundary Hill. It was initially known as Break O’Day. By 1857 the town had grown in population to about 5,000 people. The town had four hotels, three bakers, three tailors, two blacksmiths, two drapers, four butchers, two bootmakers, two grocers, two general storekeepers, a tobacconist, and numerous grog shanties. The town also had an Oddfellows Hall, two churches, and a school. The Post office opened on the 25th day of January 1868. It was known as Break O’Day until 1876 and was closed in 1993.

Cordinhap’s Avenue of Honour commemorates those who served in World War One. The Avenue contains a number of wood carvings that depict a wounded officer and horse, a digger, a pilot of a Lancaster bomber, and a woman and child. The carvings were made from Cypress and Radiata pine trees on the avenue which had started to die. Rather than cut the trees down, the lower trunks were kept and local artist Viktor Cebergs transformed the tree stumps into works of art.

The old Break O Day Hotel dates back to 1869. Over the years it has also been known as the Commercial Hotel.

The State School No.1906, at Corindhap officially opened in June 1877. A total of 203 students were enrolled at the school that year.

The park is divided into four distinct areas. The first is located north of School Road and west of Savage Hill Road. The second is south of School Road. The third is located north of Frenchmans Road and west of Giblin Road. And the fourth is south of Frenchmans Road.

The park is 39 hectares in size and was established on the 16th day of November 1999.

We set up off School Road and ran the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna (1.5 m stainless steel whip).

Above:- An aerial shot of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Google Earth.

Marija worked the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JFD
2. VK3PF
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3MCA
6. VK2EXA

Marija worked the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4EMP
4. VK4TI
5. VK4TJ

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JFD
2. VK3PF
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3MCA
6. VK2EXA

I worked the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4EMP
4. VK4TI
5. VK4TJ
6. VK2IO

References.

1. CAPAD 2020.
2. Monument Australia, 2023, <https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1/display/30895-corindhap-avenue-of-our-boys-honour>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
3. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/corindhap>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://ballaratpubs.miraheze.org/wiki/Break_o%27Day_Hotel>, viewed 3rd May 2023.

Our next park for 7th March 2023 was the Warrambine Flora Reserve VKFF-2479. It was only a short 12 km drive from Mount Mercer before reaching the park.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Warrambine Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Right alongside the park is the old Warrambine Shire Hall, a beautiful bluestone building that was constructed in 1871. Despite its relatively small size, Warrambine in the late 1800s was the administrative centre for the Shire of Leigh and the site of its shire hall.

The Wadawurrung Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of the land around Warrambine.

Warrambine takes its name from the Warrambeen pastoral run which was one of the early land leases in the Portland Bay District, Geelong. It had an estimated area of 26,301 acres. Major William Drummond Mercer (b. 1796. d. 1871) held the lease on the property from 1842-1846. It was then leased and owned by “Big John” Bell (b. 1821 d. 1867).

Above:- John Bell. Image c/o bellarmstrong.kohlstrom.com.au

The land was then taken up by Alexander Armstrong (b. 1823. d. 1890). His children attended the state school in the village. Following the closure of the school in 1883, Armstrong provided a hut on his property for a private school, paying the teacher £28 p.a. with lodging. In 1890 this was closed at the time of Armstrong’s death.

His wife Betsy remained on the property until December 1892 when the lease expired.

Above:- part of an article from the Geelong Advertiser, Sat 17 Dec 1892. Image c/o Trove.

In 1863 alongside the Warrambine Creek, Halfway House Inn was built. It was so named due to being located near the halfway point between Geelong and Ballarat on a Cobb & Co. coach route. It was located on the opposite side of the road to the Shire Hall.

The Warrambine Flora Reserve is located on the northern side of the Rokewood-Shelford Road.

Above:- Aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is 6 hectares in size and was established on the 17th day of November 1988.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VIN
2. VK3BBB
3. VK2CCP
4. VK5AYL
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK3PF
8. VK3NP
9. VK5IS/p
10. VK7JFD
11. VK7NRT

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VIN
2. VK3BBB
3. VK2CCP
4. VK5AYL
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK3PF
8. VK3NP
9. VK5IS/p
10. VK7JFD
11. VK7NRT
12. VK7EE
13. VK5BJE
14. VK3SMW
15. VK3MCA
16. VK3APJ
17. VK3MIJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK2IO
4. VK5IS
5. ZL3DMH

References.

1. Australian Dictionary of Biography, 2023, <https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mercer-william-drummond-2843>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
2. Bell-Armstrong Connections, 2023, <http://bellarmstrong.kihlstrom.com.au/pages/now_2.htm>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
3. Homes To Love, 2023, <https://www.homestolove.com.au/warrambeen-garden-10014>, viewed 3rd May 2023.
4. Westrn District Families, 2023, <https://westerndistrictfamilies.com/tag/armstrong/>, viewed 3rd May 2023.

After leaving the Teesdale Flora Reserve, Marija and I travelled northwest on the Rokewood-Shelford Road and soon reached the little town of Shelford.

We last travelled through Shelford in November 2022, on our way home after a visit to Tasmania.

Shelford is about 52 km south of Ballarat. It is located at the intersection of the Leigh River and the road from Geelong to Rokewood. In 1836, Golf Hill Station was established on the bank of the Leigh River. The majority of the local squatters in the area originated from Scotland. In 1843 the Settlers Arms Inn was built at this location by Captain Francis Ormond (b. 1827. d. 1889). It was affectionately known as Ormond’s Inn and was the first Inn on the trade route between Geelong and Hamilton. By the late 1840s, a Presbyterian school had opened.

Above:- Francis Ormond. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The Post Office opened on the 1st day of July 1847 and was known as The Leigh. In 1850 a Presbyterian church was established. In 1853 a Denominational School was opened. The name was then changed to Shelford in 1854. It is believed that the name comes from Shelford in England.

By the 1860s Shelford had become the district’s principal town. This prompted the establishment of the Shelford Road District in 1861, the predecessor of Leigh Shire. By 1864 Shelford had a mechanics institute and in 1865 a courthouse was established.

In 1859, the Mount Mercer Station was the scene of a murder. George Kennecke was charged with the shooting murder of George Crombie.

Above:- Part of an article from The Age, Thu 17 Nov 1859. Image c/o Trove.

We continued north on the Shelford-Mercer Road and soon reached Mount Mercer. It is named after pastoralist George Duncan Mercer (b. 1815. d. 1884) who established the Mount Mercer Run. 

The Mount Mercer Wind Farm is located in one of the windiest regions of Victoria. It comprises 64 wind turbines with a rated capacity of 2.05 MW and produces over 390,000 MWh of clean electricity per year. This is equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 73,000 average Victorian households.

The Mount Mercer is about 215 hectares in size and located on the eastern side of the Shelford-Mount Mercer Road and backs on to the Leigh River.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mount Mercer NCR. Image c/o Google maps.

In 1999 a strategic assessment was conducted by the Department of Sustainability and Environment to identify Victoria’s most threatened ecosystems. This particularly included native grasslands and grassy woodlands. The Mount Mercer grasslands were identified and purchased due to their size and good condition. It was originally known as McNaughtons Paddock. The purchase of the Mount Mercer grasslands was completed on the 6th day of September 2002. On the 24th day of September 2002, the land was transferred to the Crown and on the 20th day of October 2003 it was assigned to Parks Victoria for management.

Plains Grassland is the main Ecological Vegetation Class represented in the Mount Mercer Nature Conservation Reserve. Plains Grassland is considered endangered in the Victorian Volcanic Plains bioregion and patches of the size present in Mount Mercer NCR are very rare.

The grasslands container in Mount Mercer NCR also fall within the definition for the Western (Basalt) Plains Grassland Community, which is listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This community of grassland was recently nominated for listing as a threatened ecological community under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . It is estimated that only around 0.5% of the original extent of this community remains in the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion.

The park is home to the nationally significant Striped Legless Lizard. It is threatened with extinction, with few habitats left. The lizard is up to 30cm in length and is superficially similar to a snake. It is sometimes confused with the deadly Brown snake.

The park is also home to the Fat-Tailed Dunnart, a native mouse-like marsupial. It is from the same family that includes Quolls and the Tasmanian Devil.

This was a climb over-the-fence activation as there were no gates.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK7JFD

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK5GY
2. VK1RF
3. VK3PF
4. VK5IS
5. VK7JFD
6. VK1AO
7. VK2MET
8. VK3ANL
9. VK5BJE
10. VK3APJ
11. VK5TN

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VAR/p (Bamarang Nature Reserve VKFF-2517)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK7JFD

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK5GY
2. VK1RF
3. VK3PF
4. VK5IS
5. VK7JFD
6. VK1AO
7. VK2MET
8. VK3ANL
9. VK5BJE
10. VK3APJ
11. VK5TN

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM
4. VK5IS
5. VK2VAR/p (Bamarang Nature Reserve VKFF-2517)

We struggled with band conditions and fell well short of the 44 QSOs required to qualify the park for the global World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program. But we did qualify the park for the VKKF Australian program.

References.

1. Mount Mercer Nature Conservation Reserve Management Statement, May 2005.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/shelford>, viewed 2nd May 2023.
3. West Wind Energy, 2023, <https://w-wind.com.au/mt-mercer-wind-farm/>, viewed 2nd May 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelford,_Victoria>, viewed 2nd May 2023.
5. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ormond>, viewed 2nd May 2023.
6. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ormond>, viewed 2nd May 2023.
7. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_legless_lizard>, viewed 2nd May 2023.

A few days ago I received my latest WWFF global Hunter certificate, issued for having worked 2,244 different WWFF references.

Thank you to all of the WWFF activators and thank you to Karl DL1JKK the awards manager.