After leaving Moulamein on Friday, the 1st day of May 2026, Chris VK5FR and I continued west towards Albury. Although I had been there in November last year with my wife Marija, I decided to call into the hotel at Pretty Pine with Chris.

Prett Pine is located about 19 km northwest of Deniliquin, and about 716 km southwest of Sydney.

Early official government documentation often referred to the district as Dahwilly, while other documents referred to both Dahwilly and Pretty Pine. Pretty Pine remained as the preferred name for the district. (Wikipedia 2025)

On Pretty Pine Road, as you enter the town, you can view some sculptures of a Wedge-tailed Eagle and Emus.

In late September 1875, it was reported that a new hotel was being built at Pretty Pine for Mr. R. Holloway, at the junction of the Moulamein and Wangonetta Roads. (Trove 2026) (Wikipedia 2025) 

Above: part of an article from Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 4 Sept 1875. Image c/o Trove

Robert Holloway was well known in the Riverina district of New South Wales. He was the publican of the Carriers’ Arms Hotel at Deniliquin. He had also previously been a Cobb and Co. coach-driver. In December 1875, his license had been transferred to his new public house, the Pretty Pine Hotel. (Wikipedia 2025)

In May 1876, Holloway hosted a horse-racing meeting at Pretty Pine celebrating the Queen’s Birthday. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: part of an article from The Pastioral Times, Sat 27 May 1876. Image c/o Trove

In late July 1878, Holloway died during a visit to ‘Baalpool’ station near Moulamein. The cause of his death was recorded as “aneurism of the aorta”. It was reported that he had been in failing health “for a long time previously”. (Nla.gov.au 2026)

Above: article from The Pastoral Times, Sat 3 Aug 1878. Image c/o Trove

Following Holloway’s death, his wife, Anastasia, took over the hotel’s license. In November 1879, a total of 213 acres of Crown land surrounding the Pretty Pine Hotel was dedicated as a site for the village of Dahwilly. The name originated from the Parish of Dahwilly, where the hotel was located. (Wikipedia 2025)

In 1880, Anastasia Holloway married Matthew Hole. He was a former Cobb and Co. coach-driver. The following year, in 1881, the publican’s license for the hotel was transferred to Hole. (Wikipedia 2025)

Opposite the hotel is the ‘Smoko’ sculpture, the work of Geoff Hocking.

After a quick drink at the Pretty Pine Hotel, Chris and I continued east towards Albury. We came across the scene below, dozens of foxes and feral cats hanging from a farmer’s front fence.

We detoured into the town of Barnawartha as I wanted to quickly visit the Barnawartha Cemetery. Family history is one of my other hobbies and some of my family members are buried at Barnawartha.

Barnawartha was previously known as Indigo Crossing. The name Barnawartha was introduced during the 1840s. It is believed to derive from an Aboriginal word with various meanings, including ‘tall rushes’, ‘parting of the storms’, and ‘deaf and dumb’. The township was surveyed in 1857. The Post Office opened on the 1st day of August 1860. (Wikipedia 2026)

We made a quick visit to the cemetery, where I found several headstones of family members.

Chris and I then headed to the Barnawartha I16 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4551.

Above: Map showing the location of the Barnawartha I16 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The reserve is located on the northern side of Cookinburra Road.

Above: the boundaries of the Barnawartha I16 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth

The reserve is about 11 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (Dcceew.gov.au, 2023)

This was an easy park to access. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts output, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1CHW
2. VK2CHW
3. VK2PKT
4. VK2KFT
5. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1925)
6. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1925)
7. VK1MAZ
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK2NP
11. VK3IH
12. VK8VK
13. VK3PF (VKFF-4611)
14. VK3UP
15. VK7AN
16. VK2VW
17. VK2HFI
18. VK2AKA
19. VK2BUG
20. VK2VIC
21. VK1VIC
22. VK2GOY
23. VK5WU
24. VK1ACE
25. VK2EXA
26. VK2XGB/M
27. F5PYI
28. VK4NH
29. VK4DXA
30. VK7MAT
31. VK3CEO
32. VK7AAE
33. VK3AMO
34. VK1KEP
35. VK2RO
36. VK5ACK
37. VK3MCA
38. VK3JBA/M
39. VK3TDK
40. VK3NYC
41. VK2MAB
42. VK2LUE
43. VK3BCM
44. VK5BM

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4SMA
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA
5. EA3MP
6. OH1MM
7. VK6NU
8. F5NZO
9. VK7AAE
10. KG5CIK
11. SP2XF
12. DA2MM
13. VK5AYL
14. VK6XL
15. VK4AS
16. UT5ZC
17. UT5PI
18. F4GYM
19. F6KBK
20. F4WBN
21. IU5LBQ
22. IK8RIH
23. DA1AM
24. HB9TUS
25. VK7NRT
26. SQ9CQO
27. HA0IS

After a successful activation, we packed up and headed to Albury. As we travelled along Cookinburra Road, we enjoyed some very scenic views.

We booked into our accommodation at Albury, the Regent Motel.

We then headed to the Albury Brew House for a meal and a few drinks with Craig VK3CLD and his wife Leonnie, and Grant VK5GR. We were also joined by Malcolm VK3OAK and Peter VK3PWG

We then ventured up the road to the Commercial Club for a few drinks with some other amateurs who were attending the VK Summit event.

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022.
2. ‌Nla.gov.au. (2026). Making sure you’re not a bot! [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/268018492 [Accessed 10 May 2026].
3. ‌Trove. (2026). DENILIQUIN. – August 26. – Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 – 1919) – 4 Sep 1875. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70585087. [Accessed 10 May 2026]
4. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2026). Barnawartha. Wikipedia.
5. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Pretty Pine, New South Wales. Wikipedia.‌

It was now day 2 of our trip to Albury, Friday, the 1st day of May 2026. Chris VK5FR and I had a 365 km drive ahead of us from Kyalite to Albury.

Above: our route from Kyalite to Albury. Map c/o Google Maps

That morning we bid farewell to the historic Kyalite Pub. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, and our meal the night before had been excellent, along with some entertainment from one of the local ladies who had clearly consumed too much grog.

Kyalite was originally known as Wakool Crossing and was established in 1848 by Henry Talbett. He established a punt service across the Wakool River. (Wikipedia 2024)

Henry Talbett was born in Ireland in c.1819. In 1841 he arrived in Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria aboard the Alan Kerr. Talbett was a carpenter by trade, and easily found work in Melbourne as it was quickly developing at that time. He then took up a contract cutting timber in the Dandenong Ranges, followed by assisting in the building of the first Keilor Bridge in 1848. When this was completed he purchased a dray and a team of bullocks, and commenced hwaking goods throughout the country districts. This took him as far as Wakool, where he established the punt and subsequently built the hotel.

On the 20th day of August 1860, the Burke and Wills expediton party departed Royal Park in Melbourne with the plan of the crossing of Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. (Wikipedia 2020)

Above: Commencement of the Burke and Wills expedition. Image c/o Wikipedia

On the 13th day of September 1860, the expedition team arrived at Wakool Crossing. They dined at Henry Talbett’s Hotel that evening, and the following day they crossed the Wakool River on Talbett’s punt. (Wikipedia 2024)

In his journal, George James Landells, the second in command, wrote:

‘While crossing the Wakool Punt Will’s interference with my arrangements in disembarking the camels caused an accident to one of them, and nearly led to its total loss…..” (Nla 2026)

Henry Talbett sold the Wakool Inn to Thomas Spinks. He held the licence until his death in January 1890.

In 1890, the original structure was destroyed in a fire. The hotel was rebuilt and is the structure that you see today. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above: part of an article from the Riverina Recorder, Wed 30 Apr 1890. Image c/o Trove.

The Wakool Crossing Post Office opened on the 1st day if June 1911. It was renamed Kyalite in 1927. (Wikipedia 2024)

In 1928 the railway reached Kyalite. A station was built on the railway line from Kerang, Victoria, across the Murray River to Stoney Crossing, New South Wales. However, the line was not successful, and trains ceased running north of the Murray in 1943. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above: part of an article from the Riverina Recorder, Wed 1 Sept 1926. Image c/o Trove

Across the road from the hotel is a shelter that contains a significant amount of information about Kyalite and the surrounding district. It also contains information about the Burke and Wills expedition.

There is also a commemorative plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of the crossing of the Wakool River by Burke and Wills.

Chris and I took a few moments to admire the morning view of the Wakool River.

We then left Kyalite, travelling east on Kyalite Road and then Balranald Road towards Moulamein. Along the way we admired the magnificent sunrise.

Along the way we sighted a Wedge Tailed Eagle feasting on some road kill. However, it was rather skittish and each time we got close it would fly off. But I did manage to snap the photograph below of this majestic bird of prey.

After 60 km we reached the town of Moulamein, the oldest town in the Riverina district of New South Wales. It is located between Balranald, Hay, Deniliquin and Swan Hill and is situated at the junction of the Edward River a nd Billabong Creek.

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

Moulamein is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning ‘the meeting of the waters.’ In c. 1842, Augustus Morris arrived in the Riverina region, seeking grazing land in association with the entrepreneur and speculator Benjamin Boyd. Morris established pastoral runds on the Edward River, and he explored the countryside around the existing town of Moulamein. It was Morris who was the first European to describe the confluence of the Edward River and Billabong Creek as “The Moulamein”.(Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Benjamin Boyd. Image c/o Wikipedia

Chris and I visited the Mooloomoon Shearing Shed on Hay Street. This 32-stand shearing shed was built in the 1890s.

The shearing shed is located on the banks of the Edward River, which is also known as the Kolety (pronounced kol-etch), the traditional Aboriginal name for the river. The Edward River was discovered in 1840 by European settlers John Webster and James McLaurin whilst droving cattle. They named the river in honour of their employer, Edward Howe. The river is 383 km in length. The river rises at Picnic Point east of Mathoura, which is south of Deniliquin. Its confluence is with the Wakool River. It is joined by six minor tributaries. (Visitnsw.com, 2024) (Wikipedia 2024)

The Mooloomoon site also features riverfront accomodation which I will definitely be coming back to with my wife Marija.

Sitting out the front of the shearing shed is an old steam powered tractor.

You could spend hours inside the old shearing shed. There are numerous information boards and displays which are extremely interesting.

Also on display is some information on the Headless Horseman and the Black Swamp. Marija and I visited this site in Novembeer 2025. For more information have a look at my previous post.

Chris and I then drove into town and went to one of the local cafes for coffee and a cooked breakfast.

Whilst in town we drove down to the location of The Big Tree on the Edward River, but were unable to find it. Nethermind, the view of the river was impressive.

And of course, Moulamein has a Bills horse trough. I have written quite a bit aout and it can be found on my previous post about Ouyen.

In the main street you can view the Red Gum Yabby sculpture completed in 2000.

And there is a sheave wheel from the Swan Hill Liftspan bridge.

We also visited the historic Moulamein courthouse. Sadly, the historic wooden footbridge leading to the courthouse across the river was closed.

The courthouse and police station are the oldest building in Moulamein. Court records in Moulamein commenced in 1845. The Police station was established in 1847. It is believed to be the oldest courthouse in the Riverina.

We also visited theMoulamin water tower which is part of the River Country Art Trail. The Reflections of Moulamein mural has three sections. The first contains Moulamein’s nature and includes a Wedge Tailed Eagle, a Murray Cod and local birds. The second features local life, while the third is in serpia and black and white and includes the Big Tree, the courthouse, and the shearing shed. It is the work of Mongolian born Khosnaran Khurelbaatar @ Heesco.

Chris and I then headed to the Moulamein silos for a Silos On The Air (SiOTA) activation. The silos are located on Tchelery Road on the eastern side of the town.

We parked alongside the silos and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000 at 100 watts and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.

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

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7PJM
2. VK1CHW
3. VK2CHW
4. VK3AUX
5. VK5MAZ
6. VK2MAB
7. VK2LUE
8. VK3IMD
9. VK3EV
10. VK2IO/P (VKFF-2594)
11. VK3UP
12. VK2LAX
13. VK5FB

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

1. VK5LRB
2. VK3HAX
3. VK3IMD
4. VK3TUN/P (VKFF-5382)

References.

1. Nla.gov.au. (2026). Making sure you’re not a bot! [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179818397?searchTerm=burke%20%2B%20wills%20%2B%20wakool%20crossing [Accessed 9 May 2026].
2. ‌Visitnsw.com. (2024). Edward River (Kolety). [online] Available at: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/the-murray/deniliquin/attractions/edward-river-kolety. [Accessed 9 May 2026]
3. ‌Wikipedia. (2020). Burke and Wills expedition. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_and_Wills_expedition. [Accessed 9 May 2026]
4. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Edward River. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_River.‌ [Accessed 9 May 2026]
5. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Kyalite. Wikipedia.
6. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Moulamein. Wikipedia.‌

Our third and final VKFF park activation for Thursday, the 30th day of April 2026, was Bailey Plain Bushland Reserve VKFF-4521. The reserve is located about 11 km west of the town of Piangil.

Above: Map showing the location of Bailey Plain Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The reserve is located on the northern side of Mallee Highway, between Fire Access Road and Salt Pan Road.

Above: the boundaries of the Bailey Plain Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth

The reserve is about 177 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. The park is located on the Bailey Plain Salt Pan. (Dcceew.gov.au 2023)

Chris and I drove into the park along a 4WD track. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. We swapped the mic for this activation.

It was nice to see the long path open on 20m to Europe and the UK. We even made a Park to Park contact with a French station.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3JT
3. VK2BD
4. VK3WSG
5. VK3WRD
6. VK3EV
7. VK5KKT
8. VK3CEO
9. F5PYI
10. VK2EXA
11. VK3AKD
12. VK7PJM
13. VK3UP
14. VK5WU
15. VK4NH
16. VK4DXA
17. VK3BEL
18. VK3BEB
19. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1272)
20. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1272)
21. VK4HMI
22. VK4CPS
23. VK5OZ
24. VK2MAB
25. VK2LUE
26. VK2PKT
27. VK2KFT
28. VK3TDX
29. VK3HBG
30. VK3TBS
31. VK5IS
32. VK5ZLT/P
33. VK3APJ
34. VK2NP
35. VK1DI
36. VK2VIC
37. VK1VIC
38. VK2GOY
39. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1271)
40. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1271)
41. VK5TOM

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FNQ
2. VK4NH
3. VK4DXA
4. KG5CIK
5. VK2VW
6. VK2HFI
7. VK2AKA
8. VK2BUG
9. VK6XL
10. EA3MP
11. IW2NEF
12. IU2SMA
13. PD1JN
14. KL1OQ
15. KH6DE
16. OH1MM
17. EB3AM
18. GB9IOW
19. IU4VLX
20. CT7BIZ
21. SP7MW
22. EA7HNE
23. VK6LK
24. ZL1HIM
25. IK1GPG
26. DL1EBR
27. OM3CND
28. F5NZO
29. MW0YVK
30. G1IZQ
31. HB9EFJ
32. UT5PI
33. G0IDX
34. TK5AE
35. SQ9FMC
36. SP5GOH
37. IK3HMB
38. OH6GAZ
39. F4GYM
40. F6KBK
41. F6EOC (FFF-0300)
42. LB1LJ
43. EA1FMZ
44. ON7MZ
45. G8AKL

Chris and I still had a significant number of European stations calling us, but we needed to go QRT to get to our accommodation at Kyalite. Apologies to all those who were calling.

We drove west along the Mallee Highway to the town of Piangil and enjoyed a magnificent sunset as we drove along. We then crossed over the Murray River from Victoria into New South Wales.

Chris and I checked into the Kyalite Pub, unloaded the 4WD and then went to the pub for dinner.

I had crumbed cutlets for dinner, and they were sensational.

After a very nice meal and a few ales, we headed back to our rooms for a good night’s sleep after a very enjoyable day.

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022. [Accessed 8 May. 2026]‌

Our next activation for Thursday, the 30th day of April 2026, was the Piangil West Bushland Reserve VKFF-5714.

Above: Map showing the location of the Piangil West Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The reserve is located on the northern and southern sides of the Mallee Highway, at the junction with Kookoomboo Road.

Chris and I were very surprised to see a sign at the corner of Malleee Highway and Kookoomboo Road that said ‘Kookoomboo Bushland Reserve.’ It was an old wooden sign, and I suspect it is the old name for the reserve.

The reserve is about 17 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (Dcceew.gov.au 2023)

We had no internet coverage in this park, so thank you to everyone who took the time to spot us on parksnpeaks. Chris and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. We swapped the mic during this activation. We set up in the northeast section of the park.

Above: an aerial view of the reserve looking east. Image c/o Google Maps

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2VIC
2. VK1VIC
3. VK2GOY
4. VK3WSG
5. VK3ZSC
6. VK3BSC
7. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1386)
8. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1386)
9. VK3AJE
10. VK3PF (VKFF-6420)
11. VK3CJN
12. VK3QHU
13. VK3KRL
14. VK3DBW
15. VK3CE
16. VK2VW
17. VK2HFI
18. VK2AKA
19. VK2BUG
20. VK2MAB
21. VK2LUE
22. VK3EV
23. VK5WU
24. VK7IAN
25. VK2ICW
26. VK2VAR
27. VK2GOM
28. VK1AD
29. VK1NAM
30. VK1OE
31. VK3IDM
32. VK3BEL
33. VK3BEB
34. VK3XAT
35. VK7PJM
36. VK3CLD
37. VK2DBF
38. VK5QA
39. VK3BKO
40. VK4MGL/P (VKFF-0859)
41. VK4NH
42. VK4DXA
43. VK2XWB/P (VKFF-2229)
44. VK3NCR
45. VK3UDL
46. VK4EMP
47. VK4TI
48. VK4GKO
49. VK3PF (SOTA VK3/ VE-015 & VKFF-0619)
50. VK7MAT
51. VK2NP
52. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. KG5CIK
2. VK2VW
3. VK2HFI
4. VK2AKA
5. VK2BUG
6. VK2USH
7. VK1AO/P (VKFF-2594)
8. VK2MET/P (VKFF-2594)
9. VK4NH
10. VK4DXA
11. VK2UGB
12. VK6XL
13. VK7PJM

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022. [Accessed 8 May. 2026]‌

On Wednesday evening, 29th April 2026, my mate Chris VK5FR stayed overnight in preparation for our trip to Abury, New South Wales, for the 2026 VK Summit event, and the 2026 AGM for the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA). My wife Marija cooked a beautiful meal, and we enjoyed a nice bottle of red. Chris also had some fun in my radio shack, making several contacts into the USA and Canada on the Southern Cross DX Net on the 20m band.

Bright and early on Thursday morning, the 30th day of April 2026, Chris and I left home and headed to Kyalite in New South Wales, where we had booked in to stay for one night at the Kyalite Hotel. We had 476 km to drive that day out through the Murray Mallee region of South Australia and into the Mallee region of northwest Victoria.

Our first stop was just down the road from home at the Strathalbyn bakery for some breakfast. We enjoyed a magnificent sunrise as we travelled along the way.

Chris and I stopped briefly at the Victorian and South Australian border to stretch our legs. We then continued east along the Mallee Highway in Victoria to the town of Ouyen, where we stopped for lunch. We then headed to our first park activation of the day, the Kookoombo West Bushland Reserve VKFF-5246.

The reserve is located on the northern and southern sides of the Mallee Highway at Manangatang, just to the east of Meridian Road.

The reserve is about 35 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. I have not been able to find the origin of the name of the park. The northern section of the park consists of a small piece of remnant scrub, while the southern section is grassland. (Dcceew.gov.au 2023)

Chris and I accessed the northern side of the park. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. Chris and I swapped the mic for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SMW
2. VK2MAB
3. VK2LUE
4. VK3SQ
5. VK2BD
6. VK3JT
7. VK3VIN
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK3BEL
13. VK3BEB
14. VK1AC
15. VK3ZSC
16. VK3BSC
17. VK5WU
18. VK1AO/P (VKFF-1392)
19. VK2MET/P (VKFF-1392)
20. VK3WSC
21. VK1DI
22. VK3PF
23. VK3OTR (VKFF-3904)
24. VK3FS/M
25. VK3ATT/M
26. VK3ETT/M
27. VK3CJN
28. VK3QHU
29. VK2IO/P (VKFF-1386)
30. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-1386)
31. VK3SWL
32. VK2SWL
33. VK1AD
34. VK1NAM
35. VK1OE
36. VK3AMO
37. VK5BJE
38. VK7EE
39. VK2YW
40. VK4MGL/P (VKFF-0939)
41. VK2PKT
42. VK2KFT
43. VK3PF (VKFF-6240)
44. VK3ARK
45. VK5AOK
46. VK5EDY
47. VK3BSF
48. VK3APJ
49. VK3AUX
50. VK2GQR

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FNQ
2. KG5CIK

It had been a very enjoyable and rewarding activation, and with a combined total of 108 QSOs in the log, Chris and I packed up and hit the road and headed to our next VKFF park activation.

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022. [Accessed 8 May. 2026]‌

Here is a selection of QSL cards received in the past week or so for VK5MAZ, VK5PAS, VK5COP & VK5IPA.

After leaving Clare on Thursday, the 18th day of December 2025, I decided to head to Saddleworth for a quick silo activation. Saddleworth is located about 112 km north of Adelaide.

Above: Map showing the location of Saddleworth, S.A. Map c/o Google Maps

I headed south out of Clare on the Horrocks Highway and stopped at John Horrocks’ cottage at Penwortham, south of Clare. The Pioneer Cottage is the oldest stone building in South Australia, north of Gawler. It was built by the pastoralist and explorer John Ainsworth Horrocks shortly after he arrived in South Australia at the age of 21.

John Ainsworth Horrocks was born on the 22nd day of March 1818 at Penwortham Lodge, near Preston, Lancashire, England. In 1839, aged 21, he arrived with his 16-year-old brother Eustace in the new colony of South Australia. They established the village of Penwortham, south of Clare. John Horrocks returned to England in 1842 following his father’s death. and returned to Australia in 1844. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: John Ainsworth Horrocks. Image c/o Wikipedia

On the 29th day of July 1846, Horrocks led an exploratory expedition into the far north-west of South Australia. His 2nd in charge was John Henry Theakston. Artist and botanist, Samuel Thomas Gill was an unpaid volunteer. There were also several hired men, including Bernard Kilcoy as a cook and driver, a goatherd, Jimmy Moorhouse, who was a young Aboriginal man employed at Penwortham Station. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Horrocks’ encounter with Aboriginals during the expedition. Image c/o Wikipedia

On the 1st day of September 1846, on the shores of Lake Dutton, about 100 km north of Port Augusta, Horrocks was accidentally shot whilst reloading his firearm. One barrel of the gun was tripped by the packload of a camel known as Harry whilst it was kneeling. Harry was the first camel to arrive in Australia. Horrocks was severely wounded, losing the middle finger of his right hand and a row of teeth from his upper right jaw. The expedition was cancelled, and the party returned to Penwortham, where Horrocks died from his wounds on the 23rd day of September 1846. (Wikipedia 2025)

A little further south is a monument to Horrocks.

Saddleworth was named after Saddleworth Lodge pastoral station, which was named after a civil parish in Yorkshire, England. The town of Saddleworth was established as one of several settlements on the road to the mining town of Burra. (Wikipedia 2021)

The Saddleworth silos are located on Girth Street and are operated by Viterra.

I parked on Girth Street and 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 at Saddleworth silo. Image c/o SiOTA website

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK3FTOM
4. VK3CLD
5. VK5WU

After the activation, I continued south on the Horrocks Highway, stopping at the monument for the former site of Gilbert Town, just north of Tarlee. The town was established in 1848 and was originally known as Gilbert. It was renamed Gilberton in 1851, and then in 1856 was proclaimed Gilber Town. The town once had a Post Office, the Bow & Arrow Hotel, and a store. The coming of the railway in 1870 caused the town’s decline, until 1902, when the town was officially reverted to agricultural land.

I continued on to home on the Fleurie Peninsula. It had been a very enjoyable day out and about.

References.

1. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). John Ainsworth Horrocks. Wikipedia.‌
2. Wikipedia. (2021). Saddleworth. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleworth. [Accessed 26 Apr. 2026]‌

My second silo activation for Thursday, the 18th day of December 2025, was the Tarlee silo VK-TRE5. Tarlee is about 88 km north of Adelaide in the lower Mid North of South Australia.

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

Tarlee is believed to derive from Tralee in Ireland. The town is located about 8km south of Giles Corner, where the Barrier Highway to Broken Hill diverges from the Horrocks Highway to the beautiful Clare Valley. (Wikipedia 2025)

In June 1867, it was announced that the town of Tarlee was ready for sale by auction. It was to occur at Forrester’s Hotel at Gilberton. The locality was described as ‘most desirable, being the very nucleus of the whole of the lines of Northern traffic from the populous and important districts of Clare, Auburn, Mintaro, Port Wakefield and Saddleworth.‘ (Trove 2026) (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: article from the South Australian Weekly Chronicle, Sat 15 Jun 1867. Image c/o Trove

There is an excellent visitor information bay adjacent to the silos with a detailed history of the district. The info bay is named in honour of Frank Gorey, who worked at the Tarlee silos for 15 years. (UBC 2023)

On display at the info bay is a sculpture which includes an Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah aero engine from an Avro Anson aircraft. Such an aircraft crashed in a field near Tarlee in 1943.

The Tarlee silos are located on the western side of the Horrocks Highway opposite the visitor info bay.

I parked the 4WD in the visitor bay and operated from the vehicle, running 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 Tarlee silos. Image c/o SiOTA website

I made just 3 contacts, which was a combination of poor band conditions and being short of time.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK5WU
3. VK3PF

I then headed off to Clare and enjoyed a very enjoyable BBQ lunch with the boys from the Mid North, the Clare Valley, and the Riverland.

References.

1. Nla.gov.au. (2026). Making sure you’re not a bot! [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/91266289 [Accessed 26 Apr. 2026].
2. UBC Web Design (2023). World War Two Memorial | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org. Available at: https://www.monumentaustralia.org/themes/conflict/ww2/display/119896-world-war-two-memorial/photo/2 [Accessed 26 Apr. 2026].
3. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Tarlee, South Australia. Wikipedia.‌

On Thursday, the 18th day of December 2025, I headed up to Clare to the home of Andrew VK5BL, for a Christmas lunch with a group of amateurs from the Clare Valley and the Mid North.

On the way, I activated two silos for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. The first was Roseworthy silo VK-RSY5. Roseworthy is about 58 km north of Adelaide, and about 10 km north of Gawler.

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

The first known European to visit the area was in December 1837, when the Surveyor General travelled through the district. In 1855, William and Grace Gartrell purchased land in the Hundred of Mudla Wirra. Mudla Wirra are Aboriginal words meaning ‘implement’ and ‘forest.’ Following William’s death in 1863, Grace subdivided the land and named it Roseworthy after a village in Cornwall. Roseworthy is derived from Roswartha, meaning Meadow Heath. (Light Country n.d.) (Wikipedia 2015)

In 1881, the South Australian Government purchased land to establish an experimental farm in the Roseworthy district. Two years later, in 1883, the Roseworthy Agricultural College was established. It was the first of its kind in Australia and continues to operate to this day. (Light Country n.d.)

The Roseworthy silos are located on Railway Terrace. They are operated by Viterra and are part of a large grain facility of both storage silos and bunkers for grain that is grown in the region, and then conveyed to Port Adelaide. (Wikipedia 2015)

I parked on Cliff Road and 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 at the Roseworthy silos. Image c/o SiOTA website

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VRL
2. VK2NP
3. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3045)
4. VK1AO
5. VK2MET
6. VK3PF
7. VK2MOE
8. VK1MO
9. VK5WU
10. VK5MAZ
11. VK3TRS

References.

1. Light Country. (n.d.). Roseworthy | Light Country, South Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.lightcountry.com.au/roseworthy. [Accessed 26 Apr. 2026]
2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2015). Roseworthy. Wikipedia.‌

On the 10th day of December 2025, I attended the Christmas lunch for the Strathalbyn Amateur Radio Group. Nine of us enjoyed a very fine meal at The Plough at Echunga.

Above: L to R: Paul VK5PAS, Rick VK5RI, Stef VK5IE, Peter VK5PET, Michael VK5MTR, Phil VK5ABD, Bill VK5WMK, Robbie VK5MRS, and Det VK5DET