Wyperfeld National Park is in Victoria's Mallee Region. It was declared a National Park in 1921. Wyprefeld lies 450km North West of Melbourne. It is a place that early settlers came to from different areas of the World. One of them being Germany, for which the name Wyperfeld originates.
The Whim set up..
The Chock and Log Fence..
This Mallee Area is extremely hot in the Summer months. So just how did the early settlers respond to the heat of the Summer months in the Mallee region? Pioneers needed to use what they had at hand. Resourceful settlers only needed an axe and local native pines to build a solid fence without nails or wire. (The style of fence was called "Chock and Log") But, how did they survive the Summer's heat without running water ? The answer lies in the diagram depicted below..
Charles Wilson occupied Wonga Lake region during 1863- 1865. This was a period of severe drought. He built a structure called A "Whim". This structure draws water from a well and although salty, was suitable for stock to consume.
In use, a horse was harnessed to the end of long horizontal pole joined at its centre to a vertical pivot. This allowed the horse to move in a circular path. One end of a rope was fixed to the pole at the opposite end to the horse and guided over a pulley suspended from a frame built above the well. The other end of the rope was tied to a bucket that was lowered and raised as the horse moved around the path.
The Whim set up.. The Chock and Log Fence..
Spring time is apparently the best time to visit the National Park, the abundant wildflowers Spring into life, with approximately 450 species of native plants. River red gum and Blackbox woodlands cover the floodplains of Outlet Creek and its lakes, while Pine-Buloke grow on nearby sand dunes. Seeds that lay dormant for long periods of time come to life and colour the area brilliantly.
Nankeen Kestral Eagle...Mallee Eucalypts cover the Eastern section of this 365,800 Ha Park. A bird watcher's delight, Wyperfeld is home to over 200 species of birdlife.
Indigenous people "The Wotjobaluk" travelled along Outlet Creek visiting lakes and swamps..eventualy taking the route to the South end of the National Park where Lake Hindmarsh can be found. Such a lovely sight it would be if we were not in drought today!
7 comments:
Great post - thanks! I've never been to that part of Victoria yet, unfortunately. So - thanks for sharing :)
Mal, thanks for that. I feel I left a bit out about this park..I do have more to share, some pics of huts and an observation tower to look at the stars above us. I will do that next Friday :)
Man your kids get a better edumacation than most on a bad day! Im surprised you even need to send them to school! Thats it, Im sending mine down to your place!
Great post, Cazzie, enjoyed it immensely, thank you :)
Karisma, oh I know, I have given it thought at times. We endeavour to take the kids on a journey that spans quite a few weeks, perhaps months..and that is the time I look forward to. As I tell their teachers each school break time, "Do not expect us back on time, the kids will be getting true life education out there about their country".
I love being out on the road, I have a permennt smile on my face as we drive. Our songs we listen to help too, John Williamson's newest CD is our current favourite :)
Jayne, I am pleased you liked it, I will post more next Friday :)
awesome place, pics n post!!
Keshi.
What a lot of effort you put into these posts...they are excellent
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