Our next activation for Tuesday 22nd October 2024 was the Batchica silo VK-BTA3 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.
Batchica is located about 290 km northwest of Melbourne and about 9 km north of Warracknabeal.
Above:- Map showing the location of Batchica, Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.
Batchica is derived from an aboriginal word batchik meaning fly. The Batchica Post Office opened at Yallangip South in 1908. It was renamed Batchica in 1909 and closed in 1931. Batchica once had a State School. In 1 1916 newspaper article it was reported that “Batchica State School holds the proud distinction of being able to state that every boy who has attended it and who is of age has enlisted to assist the Empire in its present struggle.” I wonder how many of those paid the ultimate sacrifice? (Blake 1978) (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- Article from the Warracknabeal Herald, Tue 17 Oct 1916. Image c/o Trove.
The Batchica silos are located on the eastern side of Henty Highway between Darts Road and Batchica Lane.
Marija and I parked right alongside the silo 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 Batchica silo. Map c/o SiOTA website.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PF
VK3TKK/P (Ah Knows Gully Reference Area VKFF-6228)
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3APJ
VK4DNO
VK3DNO
VK3ZSC
VK3TKK/P (Lerderderg River Heritage Area VKFF-4434)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PF
VK3TKK/P (Ah Knows Gully Reference Area VKFF-6228)
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3APJ
VK4DNO
VK3DNO
VK3ZSC
VK3TKK/P (Lerderderg River Heritage Area VKFF-4434)
VK5DW
VK3DAC
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK4EMP
VK4TI
VK4GKO
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK2MG
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL1TM
VK2VW
VK2HFI
VK2AKA
VK2BUG
References.
Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Warracknabeal. Wikipedia.
Our first park activation for Tuesday 22nd October 2024 was the Warracknabeal Rifle Range Flora Reserve VKFF-2478.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Warracknabeal Rifle Range Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located on the northern side of Golf Links Road, opposite the Warracknabeal Golf Club.
Above:- Aerial view of the reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 71 hectares in size and was established on the 26th day of February 1957. A total of 39 native flora species have been recorded in the park. (CAPAD 2022) (VicFlora n.d.)
Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK5AAF
VK3CEO
VK2VAR
VK2GOM
VK5IS
VK5PE
VK3DWL
VK4DNO
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK5DW
VK5AYL
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK3TKK/P (Ah Knows Gully Reference Area VKFF-6228)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK5AAF
VK3CEO
VK2VAR
VK2GOM
VK5IS
VK5PE
VK3DWL
VK4DNO
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK5DW
VK5AYL
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK3NDG
VK3FACD
VK3BTP
VK3NVY
VK2IO
VK2GEZ
VK3ZSC
VK5HAA
VK7FEAT
VK3TKK/P (Ah Knows Gully Reference Area VKFF-6228)
Our final activation for Monday 21st October 2024 was the Warracknabeal Streamside Reserve VKFF-3906.
On the way back to Warracknabeal, Marija and I stopped briefly at the side of the old Whitton Swamp School which operated from 1884-1943.
The Warracknabeal Streamside Reserve follows the Yarriambiack Creek from the Borung Highway in the north to Dumbuoy Road in the south.
The Yarriambiack Creek is a distributary of the Wimmera River. The creek leaves the Wimmera River near Drung Drung, about 20 km east of Horsham. The Yarriambiack Creek rises on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and flows generally north for 100 km and drains into Lake Coorong northeast of Hopetoun. (Victorian Places 2015) (Wikipedia Contributors 2023)
Above:- The Yarriambiack Creek. Imeg c/o wimmeramalleetourism.com.au
The name of the creek is thought to derive from the Jarambuik aboriginal language. The creek was once spelt as Yarriambiac, Yarramberger and Yarrambeak. (Wikipedia Contributors 2023)
Our third park for Monday 21st October 2024 was the Nullan I106 Bushland Reserve VKFF-5671, also known as the Tarkedia Bushland Reserve.
The park is located about 21 km southeast of Warracknabeal.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Nullan I106 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
Prior to activating the park, Marija and I paid a quick visit to the Sheep Hills cemetery. This historic cemetery features the headstones of numerous Prussian settlers. People often refer to these settlers as German, however this is not quite true. There was no such place as Germany at that time. The Kingdom of Prussia includes parts of modern-day Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
We continued on to the park, stopping briefly at the site of the old Tarkedia School which operated from 1877 to 1889.
Tarkedia is the former name of Sheep Hills. It is believed that Tarkedia is derived from the aboriginal word tarkeeth meaning swamp. (Blake 1978)
The reserve is located on the southeast corner of Childs Road and Sheep Hills-Minyip Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Nullan I106 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 29 hectares in size and was established on the 22nd day of September 1987. (CAPAD 2022)
We started off on 20m and were rewarded with some European DX on the long path. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK2VW
VK2HFI
VK2AKA
VK2BUG
VK1AO
VK2MET
ZL1TM
VK4NH
VK4DXA
VK4EMP
VK4TI
VK4GKO
VK3MCA/p (Langley I96 Bushland Reserve VKFF-5340)
Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
Our next activation on Monday 21st October 2024 was the Nullan I105 Bushland Reserve VKFF-5670.
The park is located about 21 km southeast of Warracknabeal.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Nullan I105 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located on the corner of Boolite-Sheep Hills Road and Hausler Road.
Above:- Aerial view of the Nullan I105 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
Nullan is a derivative of the aboriginal words nullan nullan meaning blows (with a club). (Blake 1978)
The reserve is about 3.3 hectares in size and was established on the 22nd day of September 1987. (CAPAD 2022)
This was an easy park to access. There was no fencing, so we drove in and set up. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported by the 7-metre telescopic squid pole.
The band conditions were quite good and we both qualified the park easily with 10 QSOs. I went on to get 44 to qualify the park for the global WWF program.
On Monday 21st October 2024, Marija and I headed down the main street of Warracknabeal to one of the local cafes for a cooked breakfast and some coffee.
After breakfast, we decided to have a good look around Warracknabeal before doing any park or silo activations.
Our first stop was the old Warracknabeal Court House which was constructed in 1889/1890. The building of the Court House followed a population boom in northwest Victoria during the 1870s to 1880s. The building has stepped brickwork in the principal gable, a transverse verandah, an elaborate frieze, and gabled end pavilions. The Court House commenced its life as a Court of Petty Sessions. It continued to function as a courthouse until 1989. Since that time the building has been used by the Lands and Survey Department, an Infant Welfare service, and the Warracknabeal Historical Society. It is currently occupied by Working Heritage. (Vic.gov.au 2017) (Working Heritage 2022)
Our next stop was the old Warracknabeal log lockup in Devereux Street. On the 22nd day of December 1871, the Government Gazette gave approval of a contract for erecting a log lockup at Warracknabeal. The price was 140 pounds with the contractor being Thomas Crerar. On the 16th day of June 1871, a log hut for the police costing 142 pounds 10 shillings was approved. The builder was Frederick Dann. The block on which it is located was 12 chains by 5 chains and was reserved as a site for police purposes on the 14th day of October 1872. The lock-up was used until 1960.
We then visited the old Warracknabeal railway station. The railway arrived at Warracknabeal in 1885. It was part of the Patchewollock railway line, also known as the Hopetoun railway line. The line was opened in stages from Murtoa to Warracknabeal in May 1886, and reached Patchewollock in May 1925. It was one of two-grain lines that were changed from broad gauge to standard gauge simultaneously as the main line into South Australia. During the 1980s the line was truncated to Hopetoun, with the tracks beyond Hoeptoun removed. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Vicsig.net 2023) (Vicrailstations.com 2024)
We then visited the Dog on the Wheat Bag sculpture. It was constructed in 2001 to commemorate Federation and features a Kelpie sitting on some wheatbags.
We then took a stroll around the Warracknabeal Fauna Park. The park was created and is maintained by the local Lions Club. During our visit there were some volunteers present feeding the birds. The park is located on the banks of the Yarriambiack Creek and has a picnic area, BBQ facilities and a children’s playground. The Fauna Park features kangaroos, emus, and various other native birds.
Marija and I then strolled up and down the main street of Warracknabeal. Many of the surviving historic buildings have information signs detailing their history.
The old State Savings Bank was constructed in two stages. The ground floor was built in 1909 while the second storey was added in 1921. The State Bank of Victoria vacated the building in 1969.
Coopers Palace Hotel commenced as a coffee palace in 1885. By 1895, George Cooper had acquired a liquor licence and the Palace Hotel was opened. The hotel was run by members of the Cooper family until 1953.
In Federation Place there was another sculpture featuring a Kelpie dog and sheep.
Adjacent to the Post Office is the War monument, a tribute to all those from Warracknabeal and the surrounding district who fought during the First World War.
The current Post Office was constructed in 1906 by local contractors Dally & Co. It replaced the Post Office built on the site in 1890.
During the 1920s many Rest Rooms were established to provide community facilities for women. They became part of the social fabric of regional Victoria. The Warracknabeal Ladies Rest Rooms were built in 1928 by Andrew Taylor and Sons for 680 pounds.
Dal Monte was built in 1927 as a two-storey shopping complex and theatre for Joseph Vasquez. The building was named after Italian opera singer Toti Dal Monte. The theatre closed in 1941.
The two-storey brick building, Royal Mail Hotel, was built following a fire in September 1893. The original hotel was built as a Temperance Hotel for Robert Chisholm in 1883.
The Warracknabeal Hotel was built in 1891. Extensions were added in 1928. It had been purchased in September 1890 by John ‘Poppa’ O’Dea. Three generations of the O’Dea family ran the hotel until 1978.
Dally & Company followed Hutchinsons to Warracknabeal. Their general store specialised in clothing, hardware and building. The building was originally one storey with the second storey being added in 1911. In 1955 the business was sold. Following the death of the major partners, supermarkets have occupied the site.
Les ‘Digger’ Winsall’s barber shop is particularly interesting. In March 1946 he commenced working after school for Fred Callaway in his barber shop. In July that year, he commenced a 5 year apprenticeship. Callaway passed away in 1954 and the barber shop was run by the brother of Les, Alber Winsall. In 1956 Les purchased the business from the Callaway family. He operated as a barber until his retirement in 2002.
Joseph Discaciati was from New Zealand. He opened his studio in a site close fo the present building which was built in 1910 following a fire. In 1901 James McColl joined the firm and became a partner in 1921. In 1944 Disaciati died, followed by McColl in 1964.
Stan and Sylvia Vaughan’s old Milk Bar can be found at 74 Scott Street.
Mr. H.H. Mercer arrived in Warracknabeal in 1899. In 1902 he commenced making and selling ‘Mallee’ cycles. He sold the first motor car in Warracknabeal. For 60 years he sold Ford, Morris and other motor vehicles along with the bicycles. His son Alvis carried on the business. The Mercer family sold the business in 1982.
We then called into the Warracknabeal Visitor Information Centre. There are a number of information boards outside the centre which contain interesting facts and history about Warracknabeal.
Marija and I left Warracknabeal and headed to the Nullan I104 Bushland Reserve VKFF-5669. Unfortunately, we encountered a sign which read ‘Danger. Unsafe Excavation. Entry Prohibited’. A check of Mapshare Victoria also showed that access was not allowed.
So it was off to option two, the Sheep Hills silo.
Sheep Hills takes its name from the Sheep Hills pastoral run in 1847 owned by Archibald McMillan. By 1866 a large homestead had been built on the property. By the 1870s the area had been divided into smaller holdings of land, several of which were taken up by Prussian Lutherans who had moved to Victoria from South Australia. (Aussie Towns 2024)
The most impressive building at Sheep Hills is the old hotel that was built in 1884 and was originally owned by Mr. D.Jenkins and was known as Jenkins Hotel. By 1903 it was known as the Railway Hotel. From 1915 it became the Commercial Hotel and was owned by Mr. John Vaughan. (Trove 2014) (Victorian Collections n.d.)
The old hotel at Sheep Hills, c. 1900. Image c/o Flickr.
In 1950 the hotel was sold for 11,000 ponds to Mr and Mrs. Ronald Cain of Portland. It was the second time in 12 months that the hotel had changed hands.
Above:- Article from The Age Melbourne, Fri 27 Oct 1950. Image c/o Trove
Today this impressive old building is a private residence.
Other than the old hotel, not much remains at Sheep Hills. There is the Sheep Hills Mechanics Insitute which was established in 1888 and the Sheep Hills War Memorial.
We then activated the Sheep Hills silo VK-SHS3. This was the second time that Marija and I had activated the silo for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.
We parked in the silo carpark 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 Sheep Hills silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
VK5PAS 