Our next activation for Sunday 12th November 2023 was the Daalko Bushland Reserve VKFF-4177. The reserve is located about 10km south of Underbool in northwestern Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Daalko Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
Daalko is a parish in northwestern Victoria. Daalko is an aboriginal word meaning ‘good’.
Above:- The Parish of Daalko. Image c/o Mapshare Victoria.
Land in the Daalko area was opened up for farming in the early 1900s.
Above:- Article from The Argus, Melbourne, Tues 7 Nov 1911. Image c/o Trove.
The reserve is divided into three sections, as the Underbool-Patchewollock Road and the Welshmans Plain Road pass through the reserve.
Above:- An aerial view of the reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
There is a Parks Victoria page for the Daalko Bushland Reserve but it contains no information about the reserve.
The reserve is about 84 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979.
I used the special event call sign of VI10VKFF for this activation. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK1DI/2 (Murramarang Aboriginal Area VKFF-3237)
VK5FANA
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK2IO/p (Watseys Bushland Reserve VKFF-4250)
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
VK3MCA/p (Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291 VKFF-0291)
VK1DI/p (Murramarang Aboriginal Area VKFF-3237)
VK2IO/p (Watseys Bushland Reserve VKFF-4250)
Marija worked the following stations on 40m AM:-
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3PF
VK3KAI
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK1DI/2 (Murramarang Aboriginal Area VKFF -3237)
VK5FANA
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3CLD
VK3OAK
VK3CEO
VK1RF
VK2MK
VK4CEE
VK5KLV
VK2VAR
VK2GOM
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK7EE
VK2YK
VK5GA
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK3MCK
VK2EXA
VK2IO/p (Watseys Bushland Reserve VKFF-4250)
VK3YV
VK3IDM
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
Our second activation for Sunday 12th November 2024, was the Harrisons Basin Bushland Reserve VKFF-4184. The park is located about 46 km west of Ouyen in northwestern Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of Harrisons Basin Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
It was only a short drive to the reserve from our previous activation. As we drove north along McVicar Road we could see the reserve to our east across the paddocks.
The reserve is located on the eastern side of Harrisons Road. There are a number of dirt tracks leading into the reserve.
The Parks Victoria website has a page regarding the reserve, but it contains no information other than a boundary image of the reserve.
The reserve is about 57 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979.
I observed several Rainbow Bee Eaters in the park, but they were too far away and quick for my photographic skills. But I did capture some photos of several Pardolates, a small, brightly coloured little Australian native bird. Pardolate is a Greek word meaning ‘spotted’.
Our first activation for Sunday 12th November 2023 was the Nyang I238 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4182. The park is located about 44 km west of Ouyen in northwestern Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Nyang I238 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
Nyang is an area/Parish in northwestern Victoria. Nyang is an aboriginal word meaning request to sit down.
Above:- the parish of Nyang. Image c/o Mapshare Victoria.
Nyang was once a small town. It is not to be confused with Nyang Homestead and Station which is located near the town of Moulamein.
Above:- A plan of the township of Nyang. Image c/o State Library Victoria.
Nyang was once a thriving district and had its own railway station, a Farmers Association, and a Progress Association.
Above:- Article from The Ouyen Mail and Central Mallee Advertiser, Fri 15 Aug 1913. Image co Trove.
The Nyang State School (No. 3871) opened on the 31st day of September 1914 in the Torrita public hall. It was renamed the Torritata State School on the 20th day of October 1921. In 1969 the school closed and the building was moved to Walpeup to be used as an art room.
The Nyang I238 Bushland Reserve is about 2 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. It is located on the northern side of the Mallee Highway at the junction with McVicar Road.
Above:- Aerial shot of the Nyang I238 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
Parks Victoria has a webpage for this park but it contains no information.
The park has two sections, on either side of McVicar Road. It is a very small piece of remnant mallee scrub and is surrounded by cleared farming land.
We set up the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation and ran the Yaesu FT857 and 40 watts output.
After packing up at the Karte Conservation Park, Marija and I headed to Pinnaroo for a quick activation of the Pinnaroo silo VK-PNO5, and then a bite to eat at one of the local hotels, before heading back over the border to Murrayville, Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of Pinnaroo. Map c/o Google Maps.
For a detailed history of Pinnaroo, please see my previous post at….
The Pinnaroo silos are located on Silo Road and are operated by Viterra.
We parked alongside the railway line off Chandos Road.
Above:- the activation zone at the Pinnaroo silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3ZK/p (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
VK5TN
VK3APJ
VK1AO
VK2MET
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3ZK/p (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
VK5TN
VK3APJ
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3PF
VK5FANA
Vk4SYD
Vk3SPX
VK5IS
Vk3GJG
VK5GY
VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
VK6HDY/2
VK3DAC
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK4EW
VK4EMP
VK4TI
VK4MUD
VK4SMA
VK4SYD
VK1AO
VK2MET
We still had a little bit of time up our sleeve so we visited the Pinnaroo Wildlife Park. We do these each time we visit Pinnaroo and make a small donation. They have a nice collection of Australian birds and animals.
We then had a very nice meal at the Golden Grain Hotel. The hotel was built in 1906 and is Pinnaroo’s oldest hotel. It was originally called the Land of Promise. In 1913 the hotel’s name was changed to the Commercial Hotel. In 1958 it was renamed the Golden Grain Hotel.
Following our meal we drove back to our accommodation at Murrayville.
After leaving Peebinga, Marija and I headed to our final park activation for the day, the Karte Conservation Park VKFF-0898. Karte is about 239 km east of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Karte Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
Karte is a former town and a locality close to the South Australia/Victoria State border. The town of Karte was proclaimed on the 8th day of June 1916. The town was located to the immediate northwest of the Karte Railway Station. The town was named after the railway station which was located on the Peebinga railway line. Karte is an aboriginal word meaning ‘low thick scrub’.
Above:- The gazettal of the town of Karte, SA Govt Gazette, June 8 1916.
Karte was once a flourishing community and had a school. a post office, a hall, a railway gangers barracks, and a eucalyptus distillery.
Karte had its own tennis netball, cricket and football clubs.
Above:- Article from the Pinnaroo and Border Times, Fri 17 Jun 1927. Image c/o Trove.
The park is well-signposted at the junction of Karte Road and Settlers Road.
Karte Conservation Park was formerly the Karte National Park, proclaimed on the 4th day of September 1969. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was reconstituted as the Karte Conservation Park.
Above:- The proclamation of the park, SA Govt Gazette, 4th September 1969.
The park is about 3,564 hectares in size with the entire area being considered undesirable for agricultural purposes. It is believed that no grazing has ever taken place in the park and that none of the park has ever been cleared. The park consists of mallee heath and shrubland.
Above:- The Karte Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.
Birds SA have recorded a total of 88 species of bird in the park including Common Bronzewing, Grey Butcherbird, Black-backed Fairywren, Malleefowl, Inland Thornbill, and Southern Scrub Robin.
We parked in the Karte campground and set up the 20/40/80m linked dipole, supported on the 7-metre heavy-duty squid pole. We ran the Yaesu FT857 and 40 watts.
We ended up with 84 QSOs including 20 Park to Park contacts.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK3UCD
VK3PI
VK2VH
VK4AAC
VK3SG
VK3MTT
VK5DW
VK3TUN/p (Kara Kara National Park VKFF-0629)
VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
VK2IO/p (Yarto Bushland Reserve VKFF-4256)
VK3ZK/m (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
VK2OKR/p (Sugarloaf State Conservation Area VKFF-1772)
VK2AUS/p (Sugarloaf State Conservation Area VKFF-1772)
VK3ARD/p (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
VK5HYZ/p (Coorong National Park VKFF-0115)
VK2TER/p (Wyrrabalong National Park VKFF-0550)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK3UCD
VK3PI
VK2VH
VK4AAC
VK3SG
VK3MTT
VK5DW
VK3TUN/p (Kara Kara National Park VKFF-0629)
VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
Vk2EXA
VK5FANA
VK3CEO
VK5MK
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK2IO/p (Yarto Bushland Reserve VKFF-4256)
VK5FB/m
VK5KLV
VK3VIN
VK3UP
VK3ACU/m
VK3LOC/m
VK2MOP
VK3HX
VK5DU
VK3ZK/m (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
VK2VAR
VK2GOM
VK3BAP
VK2OKR/p (Sugarloaf State Conservation Area VKFF-1772)
VK2AUS/p (Sugarloaf State Conservation Area VKFF-1772)
After leaving Ngarkat, Marija and I headed to the Peebinga Conservation Park VKFF-0830. The park is about 275 km northeast of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Peebinga CP. Map c/o Google Maps.
Peebinga was once the terminus of the Peebinga railway line which was constructed in 1914 as part of a major government project to open up the Murray Mallee region of South Australia for grazing and cropping. The line opened on the 28th day of December 1914 from a junction with the Barmera line at Karoonda.
Above:- A 1913 map of Murrayland railway lines in South Australia. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The line ran eastwards to Peebinga where it terminated about 2 km from the Victorian State border. The line closed on the 7th day of December 1990. The Peebinga line was 106.2 kilometres and the estimated construction cost was £207,000 plus £56,690 for rolling stock.
Above:- Article from The Register, Adelaide, Fri 1 Jan 1915. Image c/o Trove.
Peebinga was named by Tom Bridges the Governor of South Australia after the district of Peebinga. It had previously been named by Governor Day Bosanquet in 1912 from the aboriginal word ‘pichinga‘ for a rock hole located in the area called Butchers Soak (also known as Butcher Rockhole, Butcher Springs). The soak was named after an early pastoralist in the district.
Above:- Governor Day Bosanquet. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The area was originally known as Butcher’s Soak and as can be seen in the article below from The Register in 1912, the locals objected to the name.
Above:- Article from The Register, Wed 31 Jul 1912. Image co Trove.
The town of Peebinga was surveyed in 1924 adjacent to the railway. Charles Compton Reade (b. 1880. d. 1933), a town planner, was given the task of designing the town of Peebinga. He had designed Colonel Light Gardens and Barmera.
Above:- Charles Reade. Image c/o Wikipedia.
Above:- Plan of the town of Peebinga. Image c/o Trove.
A town school was opened in 1922 and was originally known as Butcher’s Soak. The Peebinga Post Office opened in 1926 and closed in 1986. During the 1920s a Methodist Minister visited Peebinga once a fortnight and conducted church services. The Peebinga school was opened in 1938 but is now closed.
Above:- The Peebinga Post Office, c. 1925. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
Peebinga once had its own football club.
Above:- Article from the Pinnaroo and Border Times, Fri 31 Aug 1923. Image c/o Trove
The Peebinga Conservation Park was proclaimed on the 27th day of April 1972. It was originally known as the Peebinga Flora and Fauna Reserve and was proclaimed on the 14th day of March 1940. It subsequently became a Wildlife Reserve in 1965. On the 9th day of November 1967, it was proclaimed as the Peebinga National Park.
Above:- Proclamation of the park in the SA Govt Gazette, March 14 1940
The Peebinga Conservation Park is about 3,369 hectares in size and is located on the western side of Browns Well Road.
Above:- The Peebinga Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.
Birds SA have recorded a total of 89 species of bird in the park including Common Bronzewing, Galah, White-eared Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Crested Pigeon, White-winged Chough, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Black-capped Sittella, and Masked Woodswallow.
We accessed the park via Kringin Road. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. I used the special event call sign of VI10VKFF for this activation.
We ended up with a total of 60 QSOs including 16 Park to Park contacts.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3ZPF/p (Point Nepean National Park VKFF-0628)
VK3AWA/p (The Lakes National Park VKFF-0484)
VK3GP/p (Little Desert National Park VKF-0291)
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3MTT
VK7XX
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3BEL
VK3APJ
VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
VK3ARM/p (Grampians National Park VKFF-0213)
VK2IO/p (Yarto Bushland Reserve VKFF-4256)
VK3OAK/p (SOTA VK3/ VW-007 and Grampians National Park VKFF-0213)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3ZPF/p (Point Nepean National Park VKFF-0628)
VK3AWA/p (The Lakes National Park VKFF-0484)
VK3GP/p (Little Desert National Park VKF-0291)
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3MTT
VK7XX
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3BEL
VK3APJ
VK3DAC
VK5FANA
VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
VK5IS
VK5CZ
VK3SG
VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
VK3MIJ
VK5GY
VK3ARR
VK2VH
VK4AAC
VK3ARM/p (Grampians National Park VKFF-0213)
VK3CEO
VK2IO/p (Yarto Bushland Reserve VKFF-4256)
VK5DW
VK3UH
VK3OAK/p (SOTA VK3/ VW-007 and Grampians National Park VKFF-0213)
It was now Saturday 11th November 2023 and the very special day, Remembrance Day, and also the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) activation weekend.
Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day, is commemorated in Commonwealth countries and some non-Commonwealth Countries to recall the end of the First World War hostilities. Hostilities ceased ‘at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” of 1918.
Every November, the KRMNPA holds a special activation weekend. Marija and I try to take part each year as activators. This year we had planned on activating the Murray Sunset National Park on Saturday and the Wyperfeld National Park on Sunday. However, there was a total fire ban in place on Saturday for the Mallee region of Victoria. This meant no park activations for our region of Victoria. So we had to change our plans. We decided to head over the border into South Australia to activate some parks where there was no fire ban in place.
We drove over the South Australia/Victoria border and into the little town of Pinnaroo where we got some breakfast from the local bakery.
Pinnaroo is about 243 km east of Adelaide. The town’s name is derived from an aboriginal word for “big man”.
At it was Remembrance Day, Pinnaroo’s War Memorial was set up with poppies for the 1.00 a.m. commemorate ceremony.
Following breakfast we headed out to the Ngarkat Conservation Park VKFF-0829.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Ngarkat Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
The turn off the Mallee Highway onto Rosy Pine Road to the park is well signposted, although inaccurate as it records Scorpion Springs Conservation Park (see below).
After travelling about 12 km along the dirt on Rosy Pine Road we reached the northern section of Ngarkat Conservation Park. We paid the $13.00 vehicle entry fee to the park at this location.
The Ngarkat Conservation Park is about 2,666.23 km2 in size and was established on the 13th day of September 1979 to conserve the mallee habitat of the 90 Mile Desert.
Above:- The gazettal of the park in the SA Gazette, Sep 13 1979. Image c/o Wikipedia.
A significant portion of the Ninety Mile Desert was transformed into productive farmland now known as Coonalpyn Downs, by the field experiments of Dr. David Riceman of the CSIRO between 1944-1950.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Ninety Mile Desert.
Prior to this, the area had been very remote and dangerous. This is highlighted in the article below which relates to Mr. A.J. Ratten who became bogged in the Ninety Mile Desert in 1924. The article states:
“To travel by motor car outback after nightfall even over some of the best known bush tracks is considered by experienced motorists a risky undertaking and needs a driver of strong mentality…..Mr. E.J. Ratten, who is well known in city commercial circles, decided to take the risk of night travelling and it nearly cost him his life.”
Above:- Article from The Mail, Adelaide, Sat 15 Nov 1924. Image c/o Trove.
The eastern boundary of Ngarkat Conservation Park adjoins the Victorian State border and Big Desert Wilderness Area.
Above:- The Ngarkat Conservation Park, bordering the Victorian State border. Image c/o Google Earth.
The park takes its name from the Ngarkat aboriginal people who inhabited the Mallee region of South Australia and Victoria. They occupied an area of about 22,600 km2 from south as far as Tintinarra and east of the Murray River to Tatura. Sadly even before direct contact between the European settlers and the aboriginals, European diseases including Smallpox and influenza spread down the Murray River causing significant loss of aboriginal life. By the time that Europeans arrived the Ngarkat people were in decline and soon disappeared rapidly. Today there are no known descendants of the original Ngarkat people.
Above: An aerial view of Ngarkat CP, looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.
On the 27th day of May 2004, three Conservation Parks that adjoined the Ngarkat Conservation Park were abolished and incorporated into the Ngarkat Conservation Park:
Scorpion Springs Conservation Park (30,422 hectares)
Mount Rescue Conservation Park (28,339 hectares)
Mount Shaugh Conservation Park (3,474 hectares)
Scorpion Springs Conservation Park was formerly known as the Scorpion Well National Park. The park was established on the 9th day of July 1970. It was reproclaimed as the Conservation Park on the 27th day of April 1972. Its name is derived from ‘Scorpion Soakage’, also known as ‘Scorpion Spring’, a water source used by the Ngarkat aboriginal people.
Above:- Declaration of Scorpion Well National Park, SA Govt Gazette, 9 July 1970.
The Mount Rescue Conservation Park was formerly known as the Mount Rescue National Park. It was gazetted on the 9th day of November 1967. Its name was derived from Mount Rescue, a 129 metre hill, located immediately to the east of the park.
The Mount Shaugh Conservation Park was established on the 25th day of November 1971 and was originally known as the Mount Shaugh National Park. It was reconstituted as a Conservation park on the 27th day of Aprul 1972. The park’s name was derived from Mount Shaugh, a hill with a height of 182 metres.
The park contains a wide variety of native animals, birds and reptiles. This includes the nationally vulnerable Malleefowl and the Mallee Emu Wren. Western Grey kangaroos, Common Dunnarts, Short-beaked echidnas, and Mitchell’s Hopping Mouse can be found in the park.
It is believed that explorer Edward John Eyre (b. 1815. d. 1901) was the first European to visit the area now known as Ngarkat, in April 1838.
Eyre recorded that to the European settlers, the area was “barren and worthless” but “to the native the most valuable and productive for here the wallabie, the opossum, the kangaroo rat, the bandicoot, the liepoa [mallee fowl], snakes lizards iguana and many other animals, reptiles, birds etc abound”.
Above:- Edward John Eyre. Image c/o Wikipedia.
In the summer of 1888, a 16 year old John Shaw Nielson ( b. 1872. d. 1942) and his father were building the border fence at the South Australia/Victoria border when their water supplies ran out. Nielso is known as one of Australia’s finest lyric poets. For two days they travelled the area with their horses and cart looking for water and came across Scorpion Springs. Nielson recaled drinking fourteen pannikins of water and that the horses ‘licked out the dishes like dogs.’
Above:- John Shaw Nielson. Image c/o Wikipedia.
We drove along Pine Hut Soak Track and then along Nanams Well Track, until we reached Scorpion Springs. The track was very sandy and boggy in parts, but for the most part there were no difficulties with the Toyota Hi Lux. Except for a last sandy hill before entering the Scorpion Springs campground area.
We set up in the Scorpion Springs car park area. We 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
VK3VIN
VK2EXA
VK5IS
VK5ST
VK3DAC
VK3CLD
VK2YAK
VK4YAK
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK7AMP
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK5DW
VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
VK3WI
VK3VTH
VK3XV
VK2IO/p (Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549)
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
VK2IO/p (Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549)VK7XX
VK3TUN/p (Wannon Flora Reserve VKFF-2476)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-
VK3PF
VK3VIN
VK2EXA
VK5IS
VK5ST
VK3DAC
VK3CLD
VK2YAK
VK4YAK
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK7AMP
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK5DW
VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
VK3CEO
VK3APJ
VK1CHW
VK3YV
VK3WI
VK3VTH
VK3XV
VK3KTT
VK3MEG
VK5FANA
VK5KLV
VK2IO/p (Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549)
VK7XX
VK2HHA
VK5TN
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK2CDB
VK3MTT
VK3TUN/p (Wannon Flora Reserve VKFF-2476)
VK5GY
VK3BBB
VK2CCP
VK3GJG
VK5DU
VK2KYO
VK3ZSC
VK1AAF
VK2HAK
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK3CLD
VK3ZSC
VK1CHW
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK3PF
VK5FANA
VK5DW
VK2KYO
VK2IO/p (Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549)
VK3TUN/p (Wannon Flora Reserve VKFF-2476)
I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-
VK3SQ
VK2BD
I worked the following stations on 40m FM:-
VK3SQ
VK2BD
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK7XX
VK4EW
Whilst we were activating, a group of three 4WD’s came though. One almost became bogged in the spot that we experienced some issues. They returned a short time later and we decied to pack up and follow them back in the event that we experienced any difficulties.
After the activation, we stopped to have a look at the memorial plaque for the Rosy Pine School. The school, along with a number of other outlying schools from the town of Pinnaroo, closed in 1943. Students from these outlying areas were then required to travel to Pinnaroo by bus. Today there is nothing left of the school other than the memorial plaque.
Above:- The Rosy Pine school, c. 1916. Image courtesy of State Library SA.
We then headed to the Peebinga Conservation Park.
References.
Department for Environment and Heritage, 2004, Ngarkat Complex of Conservation Parks Management Plan.
Our final activation for Friday 10th November 2023 was the Walpeup Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2471 and the Walpeup silo VK-WLP3.
Above:- Map showing the location of Walpeup. Map c/o Google Maps.
‘Walpeup’ is derived from an Aboriginal word with numerous recorded meanings including a ‘stumpy-tailed lizard’ and another is an indigenous acacia.
The township of Walpeup was settled following the arrival of the railway. In 1909 a store opened at Walpeup. In 1911 the Walpeup Shire was proclaimed. Walpeup’s population was 101 people. The Walpeup Primary School opened on the 3rd day of June 1912 in the ‘Little White Hall’. The Post Office opened on the 16th day of December 1912.
Above: early settlers at Walpeup, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
In 1914 a one-room school building was constructed. A second room was added in 1927. In April 2015 the school closed and the last five students were transferred to the Underbool school.
The Walpeup South State School (No. 3929), also known as Hungry Hut, was opened in 1912 and closed in 1951. The school building was later moved and served as the dressing shed at the Walpeup Recreation Reserve.
By 1921 Walpeup had a population of about 452 people. The town had a general store, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bank branch and several other businesses. A brick memorial hall replaced the original public hall in 1923.
Above:- Walpeup township, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
We arrived at the park at about 9.00 p.m. and it was completely dark. It was a very hot and humid night and we could hear thunderstorms off in the distance. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I used the special event callsign of VI10VKFF for this activation.
The Walpeup Flora & Fauna Reserve is also referred to as the Walpeup Nature Conservation Reserve. It is about 178 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979.
We operated within the activation zone of the Walpeup silo.
We had viewed the Walpeup silos earlier in the day on our way to Ouyen.
They feature magnificent silo art. One of the best that we have seen during our travels. The silos were painted in June 2023 by Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgado. They depict the story of Trooper Harold Thomas Bell.
Harold Thomas Bell was born in 1901 at Walpeup. He was just 16 years old when the First World War broke out. He travelled to Mildura and enlisted with the Light Horse Regiment, lying about his age, name and his family circumstances. He claimed to be 21 years old and gave his name as Harold Thomas Wickham.
On the 22nd day of June 1917, he left Australia and arrived in Egypt about 6 weeks later. He was subsequently selected for the Hotchkiss machine gun section.
On the 28th day of October 1917, he was involved in a battle near the town of Beersheva. He was shot in the leg and critically wounded. He died the following day and was laid to rest in the Beersheba War Cemetery.
A telegram was despatched to Harold’s only living uncle, recorded on the enlistment forms, to inform him of Harold’s death. Upon receiving the telegram Thomas Bell replied:
“I don’t have a nephew named Harold. I do have a son by that name, but he couldn’t be in the Army, he’s only 16.”
Tragedy was to strike the family twice. Less than a year following Harold’s death, his father received another telegram to advise of the death of his other son Samuel.
Above:- The attestation document of Harold Thomas Bell @ Harold Thomas Wickham. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
During our activation at Walpeup the lightning activity to the west of us really intensified. We could hear the loud rumble of thunder. And then the fire sirens went off in Walpeup, and we decided to pack up and head back to Murrayville.
Along the way, we observed numerous fires burning in paddocks, the result of lightning strikes. We were passed by a number of fire appliances and police cars heading to the fires with lights and sirens. And the lightning display was absolutely spectacular.
After leaving Galah we headed into Ouyen and went to the local Ouyen Hotel for an evening meal which we were very impressed with. Following our meal we filled up the Toyota Hi-Lux with some diesel. We then headed the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4208 and the Ouyen silo VK-OYN3.
The town of Ouyen is located about 105 km south of Mildura and about 441 km northwest of Melbourne. Ouyen has a population of about 1,000 people.
Above:- Map showing the location of Ouyen. Map c/o Google Maps.
The Ouyen district was first inhabited by the Wegaia aboriginal people. The name Ouyen, pronounced ‘Oh-Yen’, is believed to be derived from the Wegaia word ‘wuya-wuya’ There are differing views on the origin of the name. Some believe it means ‘pink-eared duck’ while others claim it means ‘ghost waterhole’.
In 1903 the railway line was extended from Woomelang, 80 km south of Ouyen, to Mildura. Settlements at Hopetoun and Lascelles, both near Woomerlang, had enhanced the prospects of farming in the Mallee region of Victoria. The opening of the railway line invited settlement along its route. In about 1906 settlers commenced arriving in the Ouyen district. The town of Ouyen was proclaimed in 1909.
The town of Ouyen was established around the Ouyen railway station which was built in 1906. The Ouyen Post Office was opened on the 22nd day of July 1907. Land to the west of Ouyen was found to be suitable for farming and various townships were established. Ouyen became a functioning service centre. In 1909 a school was opened in a coffee palace and public hall. In 1911 Ouyen’s population was 766 people.
In 1918 a shire hall was constructed. In 1928 a higher education school was opened. In 1929 a district hospital was built. By the 1930s Ouyen had a local court, four banks, an agricultural society, sporting and racing clubs, and local industries such as cordial making, plaster sheet, a freezing works and an electricity generation plant. In 1933 Ouyen’s population was 1,169 people.
Above:- The Ouyen Coffee Palace, c. 1916. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
Above:- The main street of Ouyen, c. 1915. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
Today Ouyen is a rural service centre of the Mallee. It is the gateway to several Mallee parks in Victoria including Murray Sunset National Park, Wyperfeld National Park and Hattah Kulkyne National Park.
Well worth a visit if you are in Ouyen is the community mural in the centre of the business/cafe precinct of Ouyen. It depicts the history of the district.
Following dinner, we headed to the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve. The reserve was established on the 8th day of May 1990 and is only 1.5 hectares in size.
We set up within the activation zone of the Ouyen silo.
Above:- the activation zone at the Ouyen silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
The Ouyen silos are located alongside the railway line on the western side of Rowe Street.
The silos were opened in 1939.
Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 8 Nov 1939. Image c/o Trove.
The Ouyen silo has not been without its accidents.
Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 3 May 1939. Image c/o Trove.
We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I operated with the special call sign of VI10VKFF.
We left Walpeup and continued east along the Mallee Highway and soon reached the district of Galah.
Galah is a locality in northwestern Victoria. It was formerly known as Anderson’s Plains taking its name from a stickman. It is named after the iconic Australian bird, the Galah.
The Galah State School (No. 3955) opened in June 1917. Schooling was initially conducted in the Galah Hall until a school building was erected. In 1933 the school was destroyed by fire and the school returned to the hall until the former Timberoo South School was moved to Galah in 1934. The school closed in 1947.
Above: Article from The Argus, Wed 19 Apr 1933. Image c/o Trove.
The Galah North State School (No. 4262) opened in May 1926 and closed in 1942. At its peak, Galah had a store, a post office, a community hall, and a Sunday school.
Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Fri 20 Oct 1911. Image c/o Trove.
The Galah Bushland Reserve was established on the 8th day of May 1990 and is about 3 hectares in size. It is a very small piece of remnant mallee scrub.
The park is located on the northern side of Galah North Road and the eastern side of Nunn Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Galah Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The Galah silos are located on the northern side of the Mallee Highway, alongside the Ouyen-Pinnaroo railway line.
The Galah silos were opened in 1939.
Above:- Article from the Herald Melbourne, Sat 18 Nov 1939. Image c/o Trove.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PI/p (Fosters Lake Waterhole Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2090)
VK3UH
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3PF
VK3APJ
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK1DA
VK2DA
VK2IO/p (Spindles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4247)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PI/p (Fosters Lake Waterhole Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2090)
VK3UH
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3PF
VK3APJ
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK1DA
VK2DA
VK3SO
VK2EXA
VK2AB
VK2IO/p (Spindles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4247)
VK5FANA
VK3SG
As it was getting late in the afternoon and we wanted to get to Ouyen for a meal, we did not operate on the 20m band.
VK5PAS 