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MILDURA
An
oasis
in
the
desert,
Mildura
is
a
thriving
monument
to
irrigation.
It
was
given
life
by
the
waters
of
The
Murray
in
1885
when
the
Chaffey
Brothers
established
an
American-style
irrigation
colony.
Their
ingenuity
reaped
rewards.
Since
1893,
Mildura
has
produced
some
of
Australia's
most
delicious
fruits.
Trellised
fields,
heavy
with
table
and
wine
grapes
and
hectares
of
citrus
fruits
are
today
the
modern
harvest
of
the
planning
of
a
century
ago.
In
fact,
one
seventh
of
Australia's
citrus
growers
are
concentrated
here.
Rio
Vista,
the
stately
home
of
WB
Chaffey,
remains
intact
from
this
era.
Rich
combinations
of
stained
glass,
tiled
floors,
Murray
pine
and
jarrah
panelling
created
a
stylish
home.
Today
it
is
connected
to
the
Mildura
Regional
Art
Gallery
which
includes
works
by
prominent
Australian
and
British
artists.
It
is
a
city
of
white-washed
buildings,
nurtured
green
lawns,
brimming
fountains
and
shady
avenues,
yet
surrounded
by
the
parched
lands
of
this
semi-desert
region.
Also
from
this
era,
the
Grand
Hotel
still
stands
proudly
in
Mildura.
Its
clean,
simple
lines
are
starkly
accented
by
palm
trees.
It
was
once
the
Mildura
Coffee
Palace
and
later
housed
the
Chaffey
offices.
Mildura
enjoys
average
daily
temperatures
of
20
degrees
centigrade
in
winter
and
30
degrees
in
summer.
Its
life
blood,
The
Murray
is
spectacular.
Wide
and
mature,
its
ancient
banks
are
lined
with
mighty
red
river
gums.
Sulphur
crested
cockatoos
and
crimson
rosellas
nest
here.
Paddlesteamers
parade
along
the
water
as
colourful
reminders
of
a
time
when
The
Murray
was
a
major
inland
transport
route.
Today,
these
converted
trading
boats
await
to
take
you
on
short
or
extended
cruises,
safari
tours
and
romantic
dinner
cruises
along
the
river.
Mildura
has
some
excellent
accommodation
facilities
with
ample
caravan
parks,
restaurants
and
motels,
providing
you
with
an
ideal
base
for
the
nearby
attractions
and
the
rest
of
your
holiday.
Several
fine
wineries
close
to
Mildura
welcome
you
for
wine
tasting.
Mildura
Wines
at
Merbein
was
originally
built
by
the
industrious
Chaffey
brothers.
Today
a
self
guiding
tour
and
video
provides
an
informative
overview
of
the
property's
development.
Capogreco's
Winery
follows
the
Australian
tradition
for
small
family
vineyards.
NUMURKAH/STRATHMERTON
Set
on
the
Broken
Creek
tributary
of
the
Murray
River,
Numurkah
was
once
the
site
of
one
of
the
country's
most
extensive
soldier
settlement
schemes.
The
town
has
an
amazing
array
of
vintage
machinery,
and
two
historic
homes,
Coonanga
Homestead
and
Brookfield
Historic
Holiday
Farm
and
Museum,
are
open
to
the
public.
Brookfield
houses
a
collection
of
aboriginal
stone
tools
and
household
equipment.
Strathmerton
is
home
to
the
Kraft
cheese
factory
which
supplies
about
half
Australia's
annual
consumption
of
cheese.
It
is
also
home
to
Australia's
largest
cacti
gardens
which
host
an
annual
Mexican
Festival
.
ROBINVALE/EUSTON
Robinvale
was
created
as
the
community
centre
for
a
large
post-war
soldier
settlement
scheme.
The
town
was
named
after
Robin
Cuttle
who
died
in
air
combat
near
Villers
Bretoneaux,
France.
Today
Robinvale
is
the
twin
town
to
this
northern
French
village.
Here,
you
can
visit
the
district's
vineyards
and
wineries,
with
such
well
known
names
as
McWilliam's
and
Robinvale
Wines.
You
should
also
see
one
of
the
town's
more
unusual
claims
to
fame
-
the
largest
windmill
in
the
Southern
Hemisphere.
Don't
miss
the
fish
ladder
at
Euston
Weir.
You
can
see
one
of
nature's
wonders
at
work,
as
fish
instinctively
climb
their
way
up
to
a
higher
water
level.
SWAN
HILL
Over
100
years
ago
the
pioneers
decided
to
build
their
homesteads
near
the
banks
of
The
Murray.
Nowhere
is
the
spirit
of
the
past
more
powerful
than
at
Swan
Hill.
You
will
see
the
sunken
hulk
of
an
abandoned
barge,
and
old
punt
crossing,
homesteads
and
red
gum
wharfs
awaiting
traffic
from
another
time.
Swan
Hill
was
named
by
the
explorer
Major
Thomas
Mitchell
in
1836.
It
was
the
result
of
a
sleepless
night
he
spent
here,
with
black
swans
piercing
the
air
with
their
distinctive
cry
from
sunset
to
sunrise.
However,
his
reports
can't
have
been
too
bad.
Soon
after
the
journey,
two
large
properties,
bordering
either
side
of
The
Murray,
were
taken
up
by
graziers.
These
homesteads,
Murray
Downs
and
Tyntyndyer,
still
stand
and
are
open
to
the
public.
They
highlight
home
life
in
the
early
1800s
with
furnishings
and
other
implements
spanning
about
130
years.
Tyntyndyer
is
said
to
be
the
first
brick
veneer
home
built
in
Australia.
The
town,
however,
did
not
truly
develop
until
a
large
punt
began
operating
across
the
river
in
1847.
This
entrepreneurial
idea
was
to
boost
the
growth
of
Swan
Hill
,
as
it
was
the
only
river
crossing
for
many
miles.
The
remarkable
Swan
Hill
Pioneer
Settlement
at
Horseshoe
Bend
depicts
the
daily
life
and
labours
of
Australia's
early
river
settlers
in
detail.
In
period
costume,
bakers
slide
fragrant
damper
from
wood
ovens,
printers
compose
type
-
laying
each
letter
side
by
side,
blacksmiths
forge
iron
and
confectioners
delight
all
with
authentic
boiled
sweets.
Aboard
the
riverboat
restaurant
'Gem',
moored
at
the
entrance
to
the
Pioneer
Settlement,
yabbies,
witchetty
grubs
and
kangaroo
tail
soup
are
served
up
for
the
adventurous.
From
the
settlement
you
can
also
embark
on
a
paddlesteamer
adventure.
'Pyap'
carries
passengers
to
the
impressive
Murray
Downs
homestead.
The
'Pyap'
is
not
without
a
history
herself.
She
has
been
a
supply,
hawking,
fishing
and
woodcutting
boat
throughout
her
long
and
colourful
life.
Today
Swan
Hill
is
an
easy
336
kilometres
from
Melbourne.
Camping
grounds,
many
motels,
houseboats
and
holiday
flats
will
welcome
you.
TOCUMWAL
Nestled
in
the
sandhills
of
the
Murray
River,
Tocumwal
boasts
many
examples
of
colonial
architecture
in
the
civic,
industrial
and
residential
parts
of
the
town.
During
World
War
ll,
the
biggest
aerodrome
in
the
southern
hemisphere
was
established
in
Tocumwal
and
there
are
still
two
flying
and
gliding
schools
based
in
the
town.
YARRAWONGA/MULWALA
Set
on
the
banks
of
Lake
Mulwala,
these
towns
offer
a
variety
of
sporting
pursuits
-
fishing,
waterskiing,
parasailing,
sailboarding,
canoeing,
golf,
lawn
bowls
and
horseriding
to
name
just
a
few.
Lake
Mulwala
is
a
picturesque
sight
with
its
thousands
of
ghostly
dead
gum
trees
protruding
from
the
water.
Scenic
cruises
around
the
lake
are
available.
With
its
many
species
of
water
birds,
Mulwala
is
a
favorite
spot
for
bird-watchers.
Impressive
clubs
offer
poker
machines,
entertainment,
and
an
array
of
food.
There
are
all
types
of
accommodation,
from
camping
grounds
to
international
standard
resorts.
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