Chaffey Trail
Chaffey Trail a story of Australia's first irrigation colony
The Chaffey Trail is the story of how Mildura became an irrigated oasis in the midst of an arid land. In 1847 the Jamieson brothers took up the pastoral lease which was later to be named Mildura.
George and W.B. Chaffey were developing an irrigation settlement in Ontario, California when they met the Victorian Cabinet Minister Alfred Deakin. Deakin was appointed by the Victorian Parliament to visit America on a fact finding mission.
The Chaffeys’ model irrigation settlement impressed Deakin who in turn impressed them with the potential for irrigation from the Murray River in Australia.
The Chaffey brothers subsequently came to Australia and, after protracted negotiations, in 1887 purchased the then defunct pastoral lease and created the Mildura Irrigation Colony.
The Chaffeys adapted the plan of Ontario to the present site of Mildura. They developed a series of steam-driven pumps to lift the water from the Murray River, first into Kings Billabong, then subsequently to various heights to irrigate up to 33,000 acres.
The Chaffey brothers wanted to make Mildura a vibrant community. Their plans included many visionary concepts: an agricultural college was needed and to finance this they allocated one-fifteenth of the land to be for College leases, which has provided support funding for schools over many years. Prominent locations were made available for churches and facilities for clubs were encouraged. Parks and town transport were considered – together this gave us the beautiful centre plantation of Deakin Avenue, surely one of the finest thoroughfares in Australia. Lanes and streets were laid out in all the town planning making Mildura the beautiful place it is.
Mildura Visitor Information & Booking Centre
Freecall 1800 039 043
180-190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura
The Chaffey story begins with a wonderful interpretation and film about the Chaffey brothers at the centre. You are invited to view the informative video production of the “Chaffey Trail” in the theatrette, detailing the history of irrigation in the region and the Chaffey brothers.
Open 7 days showing every half hour commencing at 9.30am with the last film screening at 4.30pm.
1. The Old Mildura Homestead
Telephone (03) 5018 8330
(GPS Co-ordinates X=606,833 Y=6,218,379)
Situated on the original site in Cureton Avenue, formerly known as Mildura Station Homestead. It is a reconstruction of the first Mildura station established by the Jamieson brothers in 1847. It was here that the Chaffey vision for the irrigation colony evolved. It was the success of the fruit trees around the homestead that were watered from the river which demonstrated the potential of the irrigated settlement. The re-creation consists of the homestead, outbuildings, the wool-shed and rose garden.
Open 7 days from 10am - 4pm. Adults $2, Pensioners/Groups $1, Children free.
2. Mildura Homestead Cemetery
Telephone (03) 5018 8330
(GPS Co-ordinates X=606,878 Y=6,218,728)
Mildura’s earliest cemetery includes graves of some early pioneers and members of the Chaffey family. Antonia Chaffey, great grand daughter of W.B. Chaffey, has designed a commemorative garden beside the burial site of the mother of the Chaffey brothers, Ann Maria and W.B.’s first wife, Hattie Schell, as well as four infants. The commemorative garden comprises a granite sculpture and observation seat, with the inscription “Memento Matrem”, Latin for “Remember the Mother”.
3. Rio Vista House
199 Cureton Avenue, Mildura.
Telephone (03) 5018 8330
(GPS Co-ordinates X=606,812 Y=6,217,530)
Rio Vista was the home of W.B. Chaffey, it is Spanish for “River View”. Designed by architects Sharland and Edmunds in the classical asymmetrical villa form, it was completed in 1890 by the Adelaide builder John Williams. The house boasts wide verandahs, cedar and jarrah panelling, Italian marble fire places and Victorian leadlight and stained glass windows.
Open 7 days from 10am - 4.45pm. Closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and 1pm start Anzac Day. Adults $3.50, Pensioners $2.50, Groups $1, Children free.
4. Lock 11 & Mildura Weir
Hugh King Drive, Mildura.
Telephone (03) 5023 1396
(GPS Co-ordinates X=607,372 Y=6,217,742)
In its natural state, the Murray River was quite different from the regulated river we see today. During droughts it was often reduced to a series of waterholes. The locks and weirs on the river were built to provide a constant level for both irrigation and navigation by paddle steamers. Construction of the Mildura Lock and Weir began in 1923 and finished four years later. You can visit the lock and Lock Island. The Mildura Weir is the only one on the Murray River where the lock and weir are separated by an island.
Open 7 days.
5. Mildura Wharf / Port of Mildura
Port of Mildura – Hugh King Drive, Mildura
(GPS Co-ordinates X=607,531 Y=6,216,921)
River transport played a very important part in the opening up of the settlement of Mildura. The Mildura Wharf was completed in 1892 by A. McPherson of Kerang. It was then extended in 1899 and three additional levels were added to accommodate vessels at various river heights. In the early 1900’s, before railways began to make an impact, this region depended almost entirely on paddle steamers to bring everything required for the successful operation of the land and to send grapes and citrus products to market. Today you can experience travelling on the Murray by paddle steamer offering a variety of cruises or special charters.
6. Mildura Grand Hotel
Cnr Seventh Street & Deakin Avenue Mildura.
Telephone (03) 5023 0511
(GPS Co-ordinates X=607,212 Y=6,216,943)
Mildura was established as a temperance colony and the Grand Hotel was originally the Mildura Coffee Palace. The Chaffey offices were next door but were later demolished to make way for the expansion of the Grand. The fountain at the Grand, the only remaining relic of the Chaffey Office, was brought to Mildura on the paddle steamer Gem together with another fountain that originally stood in front of Rio Vista House. Several titles over more than a century existed, but it is generally known as Mildura Grand Hotel.
7. Psyche Pumps / Kings Billabong
Psyche Bend Road.
Telephone (03) 5024 5637
(GPS Co-ordinates X=612,395 Y=6,211,610)
To create an irrigation settlement, pumps were needed to lift water to the height of the land. It was a height several times that of the lift of the pumps of the day. It was solved by lifting water first to Kings Billabong, then progressively through other pumps to the height required. The pump at Psyche Bend was a revolutionary design of George Chaffey. It was a triple expansion steam engine connected to three centrifugal pumps and driven by a wood burning boiler. Visitors to Psyche Bend can experience the original pump house, reconstructed pumps, steam engine and boiler house. Kings Billabong is a wetland reserve and bird sanctuary with bird hides.
The Psyche Bend Pumps is open Tuesday and Thursdays from 1-4pm and Sunday 10.30am - 12.30pm Costs: $3 Adult, Family $8 (2 adults & children) Its running days include New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Queen’s Birthday Weekend (Sunday) and middle Sunday during Victorian School Holidays during July and September. Costs: $4 Adult, Family $10 (2 adults & children). Special arrangements can be made for major events/conferencing.
8. Chateau Mildura
191 Belar Avenue, Irymple.
Telephone (03) 5024 5901
(GPS Co-ordinates X=610,840 Y=6,210,308)
In 1888 the Chaffey brothers planted 150 acres of wine grapes on their Belar Avenue property ‘Chateau Mildura’ commencing the region’s wine industry. Chateau Mildura became part of Mildura Wines, then later Mildara Wines specialising in the production of brandy and sherries until the late 1990’s. In 2002, the property was purchased by a local (4th generation) horticulturalist who has taken the historic complex back to its original purpose of table wine production. A large section of the building now houses a museum containing a unique collection of wine related items.
The Château is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Museum cost $7.50 Adult.
9. Merbein Chaffey Links
Forbes Drive, Merbein.
(GPS Co-ordinates X=599,644 Y=6,218,485)
Starting from the Merbein Rotary Lookout at the top of the white cliffs, which are a unique geological feature and the district’s highest point, look to the right, you will see Victoria’s first Government owned irrigation pumps, then walk to the left through Pioneer Plantation passing the distillery/winery that was established by W.B. Chaffey in 1913 and where he sadly collapsed and died in 1926. The original Mildara Distillery is heritage listed. The sandstone walk takes you down to the Chaffey landing. Grape spirit was once loaded from here on onto paddle steamers. Also at Chaffey Landing is the William Blandowski Cairn, the site of the Victorian Government Zoologist camp in 1857. New interactive walking tracks, encompassing the nearby Merbein Common and floodplains are now open.