Lake Boga Day 2

October 11, 2025

This is our full day at Lake Boga. We began with a step to the right ....

And found a preserved Pump:

From Trip Advisor:

"This pump was donated in 1955 by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. The steam driven pump was originally installed in 1903 in Long Lake, adjoining Lake Boga, as the source of supply for a channel system then being constructed through 1553 kilometres of drought-stricken farmlands.

"In 1926 the pump was transferred to Cannie Ridge Pumping Station which had been installed in 1910. The pump worked here until it was replaced in 1952 by a diesel driven pump.

"The Cannie Ridge Pump consists of a steam engine and pump, both of the horizontal and reciprocating type, connected by common piston rods. Total weight of the unit is 55 tons. So the good news about that is that this tourist attraction can never be stolen. :)"

Mosaics at the Melbourne end of the town.

The main aim of this trip was to go birding in Goschen Bushland Reserve. This is a top site for the birds of the dry inland usually further North. We expected to be able to drive the area which would be a Good Thing as bush flies were very evident even around the the Lake. So we took ourselves off to Goschen, to the West of the town.

We expected to be able to drive the tracks forming a rectangle in the centre of the Reserve. It seems to be run by Parks Victoria but the relevant page has absolutely no information. Very well done Parks Victoria: it can't be shortage of funds as they have been able to put a very heavy duty chain on the gate and a sign saying walking only. 💩💩💩! Is their corporate Motto "Ut auferat peregrinatores"?

So we tried walking, but the flies were impossible and there were few birds around (and little blossom to attract them). Brown Treecreepers were the best birds. So we went to the shop in the town/village to see if we could buy some veils. Nope. We took the car to Round Lake and added Musk Duck and Pied Stilt to our list, deciding that a trip to Swan Hill might be helpful. We also looked for Long Lake but it was hidden by the netting of a huge - irrigated orchard.

Swan Hill was helpful with 2 veils (and a pair of work-boots) entering the car. We then went for a walk along the bank of the Muddy (sorry - Murray) River finding art in the trees.

We ended at a wetland, which looked rather like the end of a water treatment plant - not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with that!

A pie - rated about 7 - was acquired and eaten at an attractive park. The bridge was erected by the Australian Natives Association but they didn't seem to be otherwise in evidence.

The typical flower of Central Victoria; the Gazania.

Silo Art.

Later in the afternoon we went to Tresco, just West of the village. We could drive around this one (with a little trepidation as we were in the Mazda rather than the Pajero). The large lake is the water storage for the Golf Course.