vk5pas

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Brownhill Creek Recreation Park VKFF-1688

Posted: 19 Feb 2017 06:33 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2017/02/20/brownh...ark-vkff-1688/


Yesterday (Sunday 19th February 2017) I met up with a good mate and work
colleague for some lunch over at Meadows in the Adelaide Hills. Â*As we sat
indoors enjoying our meal I couldnt help but notice the quite heavy rain
outside. Â*I had planned on heading down to the foothills of Adelaide after
lunch to activate the Brownhill Creek Recreation Park VKFF-1688,Â*and it
wasnt looking promising. Â*But at the conclusion of lunch, I decided to take
my chances. Â*Fortunately the rain cleared to intermittent showers as I got
closer to town.

The Brownhill Recreation Park is situated about 8km south east of the city
centre of Adelaide. Â*This was to be the first time the park had been
activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, so it was to be a
unique park for me as an activator and a unique park for all the WWFF
hunters.


Above:- Map showing the location of the Brownhill Recreation Park, south
east of Adelaide. Â*Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Brownhill Creek Recreation Park is 51 hectares in size and is located in
the foothills of the Mt Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills. Â*The park is a
popular multi-use recreation area which is also valued for its historic and
scenic attractions. Â*The park is linear in shape, with an average width of
just 200 metres. Â*It follows Brownhill Creek for about 4 km.

The creek flows through a steep sided valley with majestic River Red gums,
some of which are more than 300 years old. Â*Blue Gum woodland climbs the
valley slopes which are dotted with golden wattle. Â*The park also supports
a small threatened, ecosystem of greybox grassy woodland. Â*The park
contains 27 plant species of conservation significance, including 5 at
State level.

With the clearing of much of the native vegetation during the 1800s for
crops and sheep grazing, also came the introduction of numerous exotic
species. Â*Willows, Oaks, Poplars, and Walnut trees can still be found in
the park today. Â*The revegetation of the park with native species is
gradually progressing thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Brownhill
Creek Group.










Brown Hill summit can be located in the park. Â*Unfortunately it does not
have sufficient prominence to qualify for the Summits on the Air (SOTA)
program. Â*However, if you are keen to climb to the top, you will be
rewarded with some great views. Â*Brown Hill itself appears as one of the
trig points for the first survey of land in South Australia during 1837 and
1838. Â*These maps were published by the British Parliamentary House of
Commons in 1841.

The creek valley is a natural wildlife corridor for over 40 species of
birds and mammals. Â*Native animals that are found in the park include the
Brush Tailed Possum, Koala, Ruing-tailed possum, Swamp Rat, Bush Rat,
Echidna, and the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot. Â* The Southern Brown
Bandicoot was once widespread across the Mount Lofty Ranges, but due to
heavy predation by foxes, numbers have declined dramatically. Â*Bird species
in the park include the Kookaburra, Little Wattlebird, Superb Fairy wren,
Rainbow Lorikeet, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, and White-faced Heron.

A number of bat species are also found in the park including Goulds Wattled
Bat, Chocolate Wattled Bat, Southern Freetail Bat, Lesser Long Eared Bat,
and Large Forest Bat. Â*Various reptile species can be found in the park
including Eastern Brown snake, Sleepy Lizard, Eastern Bearded Dragon,
Eastern Blue-rongue lizard, Barking Gecko, and the Creamed-striped Shining
Skink. Â*Amphibians found in the park include the Common Froglet, the Bull
Frog, and the Brown Tree Frog.

South Australia was proclaimed on the 28th December 1836 and by 1837 the SA
Company established the No. 1 Sheep Station along the Brownhill Creek
valley to hold sheep overhanded to feed the colony of South Australia. Â*One
of the earliest outlying communities to spring up in the new colony of
South Australia was that of Mitcham, in 1840. Â*Mitcham is located just
below the current day Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. Â*There are numerous
historic buildings remaining in Mitcham dating back to the 1880s, with
interpretive signs explains their historical importance. Â*I took a short
detour into Mitcham to have a look.







The Brownhill Creek area was once an important camping, hunting and
gathering ground for the Kaurna Aboriginal people. The Kauna people called
the area Wirraparinga, meaning creek and scrub place. Â*One of the first
Europeans to settle in the area was Pastor William Finlayson who arrived in
1837. He observed that Brownhill Creek was a gathering place for Aboriginal
people with as many as a hundred and fifty camping there at any one time.


Above:- Pastor William Finlayson. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

By 1840, agriculture, market gardening and quarrying were important local
industries in the Brownhill Creek area. Â*Much of the native vegetation was
cleared for crops and sheep grazing, along with the introduction of exotic
species.

In 1841 Brownhill Creek was set aside for public purposes, making it one of
the oldest parks in South Australia. Â*This followed the finding ofÂ*a
specimen of freestone which was obtained from a quarry recently opened near
Brownhill Creek. Â*The land surrounding the reserve was progressively
surveyed up until 1854, consequently the Brownhill Creek Reserve did not
appear on maps for the area until 1858.
Above:- Two young men resting at Brownhill Creek c. 1885. Â*Image courtesy
of Trove.

By 1868 quarrying in the Brownhill Creek areaÂ*had become a major industry
for the district by providing building material, road metal and ballast for
the railways and the Outer Harbour breakwater for the following 100
years. Â*Reminders of the quarrying days in the park can still be
found. Â*Vineys bluestone quarry once provided a source of large blocks of
bluestone for buildings down in Mitcham, Parkside, and Eastwood, and for
lining gutters and kerbing in Hindley and Rundle Streets in
Adelaide. Â*Mundys rock crushing plant from which road metal was obtained,
can also be seen.
Above:- The stone wall ruinsÂ*of Mundys rock crushing plant.

In 1874 the Brownhill Creek Chapel was built, just outside the current day
park boundary, at the junction of Tilleys Hill and Brownhill Creek Roads.
The Chapel was a branch of the Mitcham Baptist Church. Â*Mrs Joseph Grigg,
as one of the oldest residents in Brownhill Creek at the time, had the
honour of installing the foundation stone which can now be found at the
site of the Monarch of the Glen in the caravan park. Â*From 1893, the chapel
was used as a school for children who lived on the market gardens. The
building was then used as a private home until 1942 when it was burned down
in a bushfire and vandalised, leaving only the foundation stone.




Above:- A view of the Brownhill Creek Chapel in the valley (left), and the
interior of the Chapel (right). Â*Images courtesy of Trove.

During the late 1880sÂ*the reserve was placed under the control of the
District Council of Mitcham by proclamation made under the Crown Lands Act
1888 and the District Councils Act 1887. Â*It was during this time that two
sets of stone and pug manure pits were built, one in 1891, and another in
1893. Â*The purpose of the pits was to prevent pollution of the creek due to
market gardening in the valley. Â*An 1869 letter by a Mr. John Calf brought
attention to the quality of manure that market gardeners were depositing on
the reserve. Â*A decision was made to investigate the issue, but it would
not be until 22 years later that Mr. Alf Terry, on behalf of the Mitchum
Council, built the two sets of pits to store horse manure used as
fertiliser for local market gardens.





During 1893 swimming baths were constructed for public recreation. Â*It is
recorded that in 1902 a local market gardener, T, Newey, complained to the
Mitcham Council that the baths were interfering with the natural flow of
the creek and market gardening options. Â*As a result the council resolved
that all dams on the creek be destroyed and no further bathing allowed.

The Mitcham Council continued management of the park until 15th July 1915,
when it became known as the Brownhill Creek National Pleasure Resort. Â*It
was declared as a Recreation Park in 1972 in order to provide recreation
opportunities for the Adelaide and eastern metropolitan region and to
conserve remnant aged river red gums and the riparian zone habitat.

I accessed the park viaÂ*Brown Hill Creek Road which runs through the centre
of the park. Â*At the entrance to the park is a memorial stone declaring
Brownhill Creek Reserve as a National Pleasure Resort. Â*A hanging sign
displaying the name of the park originally swung here. Â*TheÂ*Brownhill Creek
Tourist Park (caravan park) is also located at the western end of the park.

You can also access the park on foot from Northbrook Avenue in the north
western corner of the park. Â*There are a number of car parking spots dotted
throughout the park, as there are numerous picnic areas with picnic
tables. Â*Unfortunately I was not going to be able to take advantage of
those during this activation due to the intermittent rain.






I stopped off to have a look at a large River Red gum (Eucalyptus
camaldulensis), known as the Monarch of the Glen. Â*The tree which is
located in the grounds of the Brownhill Creek Tourist Park, is estimated
that the tree is around 400 years old. Â*By the 1830s when European settlers
came to the area, the trunk of the tree had already been burnt out,
suggesting that the hollow trunk once sheltered the Kauna
aborigines. Â*Settlers who camped near the creek used the hollow trunk as a
temporary home and it is reported that several settlers even gave birth
inside the tree.





I also stopped to have a look at Whites Bridge which is one of the earliest
structures in South Australia. Â*It was originally a wooden structure until
1919, when Mitcham Council received a government grant to construct a new
reinforced concrete bridge, with the contribution of local rate
payers. Â*Brown hill Creek Road which dissects the park can be traced back
to a letter received by the Mitcham Council in 1869 from quarry owner and
resident H Mundy asking permission to cut a road through the reserve to his
house. Â*The request was approved and a formal road was constructed.





I drove all the way to the eastern end of the park and then turned back
around. Â*Brownhill Creek Road continues on for a few km but is marked for
local traffic only.

I found a small clearing off the road near the Creek, and in between the
showers I set up the 80/40/20m linked dipole, supported on the 7m squid
pole. Â*The shower activity was just too regular for me to set up outside,
so I operated from the vehicle for this activation, which ordinarily I do
not like doing. Â*I much prefer being out in the open air, sitting back in a
deck chair. Â*That was not an option on this occasion.


Above:- Aerial shot of the park showing my operating spot. Â*Image courtesy
of Location SA Map Viewer.

I had alerted on parksnpeaks that I was to be on air by 0400 UTC and I was
all set up and ready to go by 0354 UTC (1.24 p.m. South Australian local
time). Â*There were some power lines following Brownhill Creek Road but I
was pleased to note when I switched on the Yaesu FT-857d that there was no
man made noise on the 40m band. Â*There was the occasional static crash
which was reaching strength 5. Â*So conditions were very good.

I called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Paul VK3HN who had a good 5/9
signal from Melbourne. Â*This was followed by Steve VK5KSW at Wool Bay near
the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula. Â*Steve had a strong 5/8 signal coming
across the Gulf St Vincent about 100 km away. Â*I had not checked the HAP
chartÂ*for Adelaide so I was unsure what propagation was expected to be like
around South Australia. Â*Of recent times the close in propagation has often
been non existent on the 40m band. Â*But my contact with Steve was a
pleasing sign of things to come for contacts around VK5 during this
activation.

Contact number 10 was Peter at Strathalbyn, about 50 km south of the
park. Â*Peter was a little bit of a struggle to me (3/1) despite the band
being very quiet, with Peter receiving me a little better (5/3). Â*A few
calls later Andrew VK5CV called me from nearby Netherby with a massive 5/9
plus signal, on ground wave. Â*Contact number 23 was Les VK5KLV at Port
Augusta, about 300 km north of the park. Â*Les was 5/9 and reciprocated with
a 5/9 for me.

At this stage of the activation it appeared that contacts within 100 km
were highly improbable on 40m. Â*If they were there, signals were going to
be well down as indicated by my contact with Peter VK5PET. Â*But a few calls
later after my QSO with Les I was proven to be wrong. Â*Trevor VK5TW gave me
a shout (5/7 sent and 5/3 received) from nearby Bellevue Heights in the
Adelaide foothills. Â*I then spoke with Rob VK5TRM in the Riverland region
about 350 km to the north east (5/9 both ways), and then John VK5BJE in the
Adelaide Hills (5/9 sent and 5/5 received). Â*This was followed by Jeff
VK5JK at Encounter Bay near Victor Harbour, about 80km to my south. Â*Jeff
advised that a few minutes earlier he could not hear me, but that my signal
was now 5/9. Â*I also logged Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula, David
VK5PL in the southern Barossa Valley, Greg VK5GJ at Meadows in the Adelaide
Hills, Shaun VK5FAKV in the Riverland, and Andrew VK5MAS at Mount Gambier
about 400 km to the south east.



During the activation I had a steady flow of callers on 40m from VK1, VK2,
VK3, VK5, and VK7, all with good signals. Â*Within 90 minutes I had 44
contacts in the log, with David VK5PL in the southern Barossa Valley being
number 44, qualifying the park for me for WWFF. Â*I also made a Park to Park
contact with Ian VK1DI who was in the Mount Painter Nature Reserve
VKFF-0853.

After logging 51 stations on 40m I headed to 14.310 on the 20m band. Â*I
asked if the frequency was in use and didnt hear anyone reply so I started
calling CQ. Â*After a few CQ calls I heard someone calling VK1DI. Â*The
station was very very weak and I could not hear VK1DI at all. Â*I checked
parksnpeaks and saw that Ian VK1DI was on 14.310. Â*Sadly it was an
indication that there was not going to be any propagation into New South
Wales and the ACT on 20m.

I headed up to 14.315 and started calling CQ. Â*In the middle of my CQ calls
I heard a voice ask is the frequency in use. Â*It was Alex VK4TE who was
about call CQ. Â*I logged Alex who was a strong 5/8 to Brownhill
Creek. Â*Unfortunately despite numerous CQ calls, the only other stations
logged on 20m were Daniel VK6WE and John VK6NU, both in Western
Australia. Â*I tuned across the 20m band and heard just a few weak DX
stations. Â*The strongest (5/5) was 4X6TT in Israel, who I called, but sadly
he was unable to hear me.

I then headed to 3.610 on the 80m band and started calling CQ. Â*My call was
answered by Greg VK5GJ at Meadows in the Adelaide Hills, running QRP 4
watts (5/7 sent and 5/9 received). Â*Next up was Dean VK5LB on the Fleurieu
Peninsula, south of Adelaide with a lovely 5/9 signal. Â*Peter VK5KPR at
Port Augusta, 300 km to my north, then called me with a good 5/7
signal. Â*Peter gave me a 5/5 signal report and advised he was suffering a
bit from noise. Â*Whereas for me in the park there was no man made noise at
all on 80m. Â*If only it was like that at home. Â*Next I spoke with Hans
VK5YX who also advised he had S9 noise, but I was above that into the
southern suburbs of Adelaide. Â*I logged a further 4 stations, Mike
VK5FMWW/VK5FVSV, Shaun VK5FAKV in the Riverland, and finally Tim VK5ML.

I then lowered the squid pole and removed the linked dipole and erected the
15m dipole and put a few CQ calls out on 21.244 but had no takers. Â*So with
62 contacts in the log, and a unique park activated, it was time to head
home.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3HN
VK5KSW
VK3CWF
VK3FSPG
VK3MPR
VK3ANL
VK3FCMC
VK3FRJD
VK2HHA
VK5PET
VK3FORD
VK3SOT
VK3FFB
VK3OHM
VK5CV
VK3ZPF
VK2IO
VK3XL
VK3ARH
VK7VEK
VK3PF
VK2TTP
VK5KLV
VK3SQ
VK2NEO
VK3MRH
VK3PNF/m
VK2UH
VK3BNJ
VK5TW
VK5TRM
VK2YW
VK5BJE
VK3IRM
VK5JK
VK1DI/p (Mount Painter Nature Reserve VKFF-0853)
VK3MCK
VK5FANA
VK2GPT
VK2LDN
VK3FNQS
VK2FOUZ
VK3DN
VK5PL
VK3CEK
VK3ZMD
VK5GJ
VK5FAKV
VK3VLY
VK3VIN
VK5MAS


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK4TE
VK6WE
VK6NU


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK5GJ
VK5LB
VK5KPR
VK5YX
VK5FNWW
VK5FVSV
VK5FAKV
VK5ML


References.

City of Mitcham, 2017,
http://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/bushlandreservesgt;, viewed 19th
February 2017

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2003, Brownhill Creek Recreation
Park Management Plan

National Parks South Australia, 2017,
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/par...eation-parkgt;,
viewed 19th February 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Hill_Creekgt;, viewed
19th February 2017