RIVERSIDE AVE

11TH ST

5TH ST

14TH ST

15TH ST/CA

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BELAR AVE

KOORLONG

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ONTARIO AVE

FLORA AVE

DYAR AVE

TO CULLULLERAINE

WERRIMULL

MERINGUR

ADELAIDESTURT HWY

CALDER HWY

SILVER CITY HW

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DARETON

WALNUT AVE

DEAKIN AVE

SAN MATEO AVE

ETIWANDA AVE

BENETOOK AVE

COWRA AVE

SANDILONG AVE

KARADOC AVE

KOORLONG AVE

IRYMPLE AVE

MORPUNG AVE

GINQUAM AVE

BELAR AVE

DEWRY AVE

CURETON AVE

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Historic Walking & Driving Tours

May, 2015

For more information please email chaffey.trail@mildura.vic.gov.auFor more history information please email mildurahistorical@gmail.com

Trace the story of how Mildura became an irrigated oasis in the midst of an arid landPsyche Pumps

Mildura Wharf

Rio Vista

The Coffee Palace

SIXTEENTH STREET

SEVENTEENTH STREET

TO APEX PARK

MILDURA CENTRAL

* This is a concept map, not to scale and to be used as a guide only for todays tour.

RIO VISTA

NOWINGI PLACE & WATER PLAY

WA

TER

TO

WER

The Chaffey Trail Reference Group in collaboration with the Mildura and District Historical Society with support from Merbein and Red Cliffs Historical Societies believe this to be an accurate document as at

the time of printing 1 May 2015

Drive 4 - Nichols Point Cemetery

U

Murray Ave

U

Drive 5 - Red Cliffs

Red Cliffs Streets: Rivers names run in alphabetical order east-west direction.Tree names run in alphabetical order, run north-south direction.

73

Time, distance and map should be used as a guide only.

1

Walks - Time and distance should be used as a guide only 1 - Historic Deakin Avenue Page 2 2 - Exploring East Mildura Page 10 3 - Mildura’s Riverfront history Page 12 4 - Rio Vista and surrounds Page 16 5 - The living heart of Mildura Page 19

Drives - Time and distance should be used as a guide only 1 - Mildura City Page 23 2 - Nichols Point Area Page 30 3 - Koorlong, Birdwoodton & Merbein Page 38 4 - Nichols Point Cemetery (Mildura) Page 49 5 - Red Cliffs Page 67

Chaffey Trail Reference GroupCr. Mark Eckel – Chairman Barbie Cornell – Mildura & District Historical Society / Langtree HallMax Whiting – Merbein & District Historical SocietyLance Milne – Château MilduraGlenn Miller – Mildura & District Historical SocietyLyn McKenzie – Paddleboat and Wharf areaJeff Galasso – Murray Goulburn Waters, Lock & WeirBob Walton – Educational RepresentativeSue Kelly – Mildura Rural City Council Library ServicePeter Wharton – Psyche Pumps Management CommitteeJulie Jewell – Mildura Rural City Council, Project Officer, The Chaffey Trail

Plaques Identifying buildings of significance

ForewordIt is opportune to have the historic drives and walks back in print under the banner of the Chaffey Trail. These first appeared in the 1990s and now have been combined and greatly expanded, some 25 years later.

The interest of the members of the Chaffey Trail Reference Group has been phenomenal and, since virtually everything historical in Mildura has a strong Chaffey link, they have taken the walks and drives under their wing.

We wish to acknowledge Freda Antcliff as the initial driving force to historic walks and drives, now years on, this concept has been built on extensively. We also acknowledge the major contribution of Glenn Miller of Mildura & District Historical Society also Helen and Bob Walton of the Red Cliffs & District Historical Society and Bernadette Wells and Max Whiting of the Merbein Historical Society for their timely contributions.

We could not have completed this task if it wasn’t for the Mildura Rural City Council Project Officer Julie Jewell, compiling this publication with website inclusion, linking to Victorian Walks, the inclusion of kilometre distances, maps and importantly working in collaboration with our community.

Cr Mark Eckel, May 2015

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Walk 1 - Historic Deakin Avenue

Walk one leads from the river, through Mildura’s central avenue, passing some significant points of interest along the way. It’s an easy stroll beginning at Mildura Wharf and with ample parking adjacent to the wharf it’s the perfect place to leave your car.

The Mildura Wharf, just up from the Mildura Rowing Club is located along Hugh King Drive, the road that skirts the riverfront named after one of our more prominent riverboat captains of the 1880’s and 90’s. Walks along the Murray, either turning left or right from the wharf will offer magnificent views of the river and the huge gum trees that border it and it’s well worth exploring them but for now, it’s into town.

• From the riverbank, this walk leads directly into Mildura’s centre. You can do this by either climbing the stairs and crossing over the footbridge that arches over the rail line, offering a great view back across the river to the George Chaffey Bridge, or by following the path that winds around the rail bridge. Either way will lead you to a grassed area that is home to a fountain and two memorials.

• The fountain was officially opened in 1985 the Prince and Princess of Wales.

• The War Memorial commemorates those who served in Vietnam, Korea and South East Asia.

• Located nearby is the Alfred Deakin Memorial, sculpted by Michael Meszaros and presented to the city to mark the centenary of the irrigation colony in 1987. Along with a profile of Alfred Deakin’s face, are survey lines, a representation of fruit blocks as seen from the air and lines representing the irrigation channels that have made farming in this region possible. Trickling water completes the sculpture.

• Crossing over Seventh Street, the walk proceeds towards Deakin Avenue.

The Chaffey OfficesWilliam Benjamin (WB) & George Chaffey

Time: 30 minutes - Distance: 1.85kms

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• To the right is The Grand Hotel, a Mildura icon that extends down the whole block, from Deakin to Langtree Avenue, Mildura’s main retail and dining precinct.

Beginning life as The Coffee Palace, The Grand expanded into its current site and was formally renamed The Grand Hotel in 1920.

The Chaffeys once had their office in the centre of this building, facing into Seventh Street.

A peek behind the gates of The Grand will reveal a fountain that has long graced the gardens.

• From the corner of Seventh and Deakin, cross the road, leaving the Grand Hotel behind you

• On the other side of Deakin Avenue, hugging the corner of Seventh Street, now stands the Commodore Motel but back in 1888, it was the home of The Warren, an early boarding house. A plaque marking the site can be found at the entrance to the motel’s restaurant. The Warren was demolished in 1965.

• Deakin Avenue is made impressive by the large central plantation that runs the entire length of the road, right up to the major roundabout at Fifteenth Street. It houses a number of features from rotundas to stunning jacaranda trees that abound in purple flowers when in bloom.

• Continuing up from The Warren/Commodore, you will pass the two major media offices in Mildura. WINTV, originally STV8, opening in 1966 and next door, the Sunraysia Daily, the local newspaper.

• Mildura’s earliest newspaper was the Cultivator, begun in 1888. It was a twice-weekly publication that moved to the current Sunraysia Daily site at 22 Deakin Avenue in 1912.

Local identity, C.J De Garis bought The Cultivator along with the Mildura Telegraph and Merbein Irrigationist and merged them into one paper, the Sunraysia Daily, in 1920.

The Cultivator Building

SunraysiaDaily

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• On the other side of Deakin Avenue stands Deakin 27 and Stefano’s Bakery, both popular places for locals to take a moment to catch up and enjoy wonderful food and drink.

• Just up from there is a single story late Victorian, red brick building, with a brick and iron palisade fence standing sentry. The building, complete with a light well and basement with front access, is the only building of its type in Mildura. Whilst it’s always been a single story building, watercolour paintings in the Historical Society suggest a second level was originally planned. It has been home to many things over the years, from the former offices of the Cultivator newspaper, to restaurants and is currently a part of Mildura’s LaTrobe University.

• In the centre plantation, just before crossing over Eighth Street, stands the Electric Supply Department Substation No.1, dating back to 1936, when the production of electricity was considered a local responsibility, rather than a state one.

• When Queen Elizabeth toured Mildura on March 25th, 1954, a decorative dais was erected in this area of the plantation. Thousands of people travelled huge distances to be a part of the occasion. Pictures of this day are displayed at the Carnegie Centre.

• Crossing over Eighth Street, to the right is the ANZ Bank, previously known as Bowring Corner and was the site of Bowring’s Store, opened in 1888. It extended into Langtree Avenue in 1961 but ceased business two decades later.

• Meanwhile, on the left side of Deakin, this corner building was for over a century, the Mildura Post Office. The earliest Post Office on this site was built in 1890, with much of the current building being erected in 1923. P.G Stewart, an influential local politician laid the foundation stone. It’s now the site a popular local nightspot.

• Crossing into the centre plantation, you will find the George V Memorial Fountain, originally erected in the gardens of the Rio Vista, home of W.B Chaffey, it was moved to its current position in 1936. George V Memorial Fountain

29 Deakin Avenue

Queen’s Visit1954

Mildura Post Office

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In 1991, marking the centenary of Rio Vista, the Mildura Shire had a replica fountain returned to the original site in the gardens of the home and can still be seen today. It’s an enduring favourite for wedding photography.

• Adjacent to the old Post Office are the Mildura Law Courts, opened by Robert Hulls, Victoria’s Attorney General, on November 23, 2004. This complex was built on the site that began as Washington Stores, before becoming Maples, another department store and from there, a number of other things, before it all went up in flames in 1996.

This area of Deakin Avenue has always been home to the ‘legal district’ and you will see a number of law offices dotted along the street.

• An example of this is at 70 Deakin Avenue. Once the site of the Shire Offices, beginning as a modest, timber, two roomed building before the current building was erected in 1922. In 1971, the Shire Offices were relocated to Irymple and a law firm took over the building.

• For people looking for photographs of the Queen’s 1954 visit, or any other historical articles, photographs and information, the Carnegie Centre is directly next-door. The Centre houses the Historical Society and the Genealogical Society and has a wealth of information for history buffs.

• The Carnegie Centre was constructed in 1908, as the Carnegie Library, courtesy of a two thousand pound grant made by Andrew Carnegie, in 1906, after a request from Lord Hopetoun. For a number of years, the main instigator of the project, James Matthew one of the district’s earliest Justices of the Peace, had gone largely forgotten. However, a room at the Mildura Library, in the Alfred Deakin Centre, was recently named in his honour.

The tower that presides over the Carnegie Centre was added in 1921-22 as a memorial to fallen soldiers. An Honour Roll is on either side of the entrance to the Centre.

• A few paces up, on the corner of Ninth Street are the Civic Buildings, opened in 1958 and it’s also the site of the original Shire Hall, also known as the Mildura Town Hall.

• Crossing over to the plantation, there’s a statue of W.B. Chaffey, who died in 1926. The Paul Mountford sculpture was unveiled in 1929. A similar sculpture can be found in Renmark, South Australia. If Paul Mountford sounds familiar, he was also responsible for the statuary at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, as well as many others around the country.

The Carnegie Centre

Mildura Shire Office

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• This part of the plantation is also home to the Desailly Rotunda, named for Cr George Desailly, former Shire President, who died whilst in office in 1913.

• Crossing over to the right side of Deakin Avenue, at number 61, you will find the earliest surviving building in Mildura. It started out as Mildura’s first general store, owned by H.B Williams, in 1887. In 1890, Williams became Mildura’s first Shire President and forming a partnership with his son-in-law, continued trading Williams and Yule until 1903. A bank finally took over ownership of the building in 1937, altering its appearance, to what you still see today.

• An Edwardian building at number 69 has also had many lives. Built in 1914, it has been a restaurant, a bank, a real estate agency and other businesses, which although altered over the years, still retains some of its original charm.

• ‘Ashfield’ circa 1908, was the home of Samuel Risby and although only glimpses can be seen of the red brick building today, it’s still standing at the rear of 75 Deakin Avenue.

• Samuel Risbey inherited his family’s mill business on the death of his uncle, G.H Risby, in 1898 and along with adding a house to the Deakin Avenue streetscape, Samuel also added an ‘e’ into the family name. Among the many projects that the Risbey Mills were involved with, they supplied the timber for the construction of Rio Vista.

• From here, the walk crosses over Ninth Street, remaining on the right side.

• The large building that dominates the corner of Ninth and Deakin is the Mildura Club which begun in 1890 with Lord Ranfurly as the first President. Meetings were originally held at the Coffee Palace, until this site was acquired. By 1920, the building was completed at a cost of 5500 pounds and although some minor changes have been made over the years, it still retains much of its original detail.

WB Chaffey Statue Mildura Club

Ashfield

The Mildura Club

The site of Williams Store

The Band Rotunda

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• Just up from the Mildura Club is the Deakin Cinema complex, established in 1975.

• A point of interest is that the cinema complex includes the original site of the Masonic Temple, with the façade still remaining. Built in 1907, it was the work of architect E.C Sharland, for a cost of 659 pounds. A south side extension was added in 1914.

• Crossing back over to the left side of Deakin Avenue, the walk brings us to the Mildura Working Man’s Club, an iconic Mildura landmark, once famous for having the world’s longest bar. Begun in 1908, it was originally a one-story structure but extensive alterations were carried out in 1935 and those works included the addition of a second level.

• A war memorial has stood at the front of the club, since 1920, honouring Mildura’s war dead. The marble soldier is the work of A.D Thomson and the three-sided list of soldiers’ names underpins the heavy losses of World War I.

• Approaching the crossing at Tenth and Deakin, we see the first of a number of churches found in this area.

• This sweet church with a number of architectural influences, including Byzantine, Queen Anne, Masonic and Art Nouveau, is the Methodist Church, opened in 1912. Round rose and porthole windows, Lombardic gables, a porthole parapet, fluted buttresses, spheres and an Islamic dome really set this church apart.

• The Methodists were the first church to be established in Mildura, with the Reverend James Trathan arriving in 1888 and building a bark-lined church in Deakin Avenue. One of Mildura’s infamous dust storms destroyed the church in the very same year and they relocated to Ninth Street until this building was completed.

The Methodist Church

Mildura Working Man’s Club

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• On the opposing corner, on the right side of Deakin Avenue, stands the Church of Christ, built in 1908. The Church of Christ was first organised by Reuben Mansell in 1890 and members met in a variety of venues until this building was completed using all voluntary labour. Extensive modifications have taken place, particularly over the last 20 years.

• Moving back across to the left side of Deakin, passing by the War Memorial in the centre plantation, erected by the R.S and S.I.L.A, the walk leads on to the next two churches that grace the avenue.

• Firstly, St Margaret’s. This church opened in 1902, with the addition of the sanctuary in 1934 and the vestry and bell tower in 1957 that honours the lost soldiers of World War II. It’s a distinctive building, constructed largely of limestone, rubble and brick, lending itself to a rustic appearance. Thought to be originally named for St Margaret of Antioch, in more recent times it has been attributed to St Margaret of Scotland, wife of Macbeth’s Malcolm.

• Looking to the right side of Deakin, proudly facing St Margaret’s is the Uniting Church, known as St Andrew’s. It started out as a Presbyterian church and was built in 1914, at a cost of 2097 pounds. It replaced a wooden structure that had been there since 1891. The Rt Reverend John Flynn conducted the first vestries in the new church in 1914.

• From St Margaret’s, the walk leaves Deakin Avenue, turning left and proceeding down Eleventh Street, towards Madden Avenue.

• There are a number of lovely homes in this stretch of street and of particular note is a home built in 1908, with decorative verandas. This home is known as St Austell.

• Crossing to the left, into Madden Avenue, the walk continues on a parallel path to Deakin Avenue.

St Margaret’s Church St Andrews Church

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• Interestingly, Madden Avenue was originally planned to be the principal retail district of Mildura due to its easy access to the wharf. However, with the advent of rail, Langtree Avenue, with it’s proximity to the railway line and station quickly proved to be more significant. A number of Mildura’s earliest businesses were located in the Madden Street area but most have long since gone.

• Madden Avenue was also home to the Police for many years. The first station was completed here in 1892. The Constable at the time was ‘King’ Carter, he was stationed in Mildura for an impressive 32 years and a lane was named after him. The station underwent a number of modernisations but when the large legal complex facing in to Deakin Avenue was opened in 2008, the Police adopted it as their new home.

• Continuing on, the walk moves past the Citadel, used by the Salvation Army, who’ve had a presence in Mildura since 1891, until their much bigger premises was opened in Fourteenth Street in 2000.

• Approaching the intersection of Eighth Street and Madden Avenue, the walk passes the old Commercial Hotel, commonly remembered as the Wintersun and now the Mecure Hotel, built in 1925. The bottom floor houses a number of businesses and a popular restaurant.

• Beyond this hotel is the disused water tower, which from 1912 until 1957 operated as Mildura’s sole source of water storage. Constructed at the instigation of the former First Mildura Irrigation Trust, and overseen by John Monash, it has a holding capacity of 180,000 litres and stands just over 17 metres high, with the tank measuring 6 metres across.

• This brings us to the end of Walk One. A leisurely stroll to the end of Madden Avenue and back across Seventh Street will lead you directly back into the river precinct, where you can pick up your car, or perhaps, take a break along the river bank.

Water Tower 1918

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Walk 2 - Exploring East Mildura

This walk begins at the old Water Tower, located at the corner of Tenth Street and Orange Avenue, a short distance from the major thoroughfare of Deakin Avenue. The Water Tower is one of a few peppered around the district and this one, opened in 1957, has the capacity to store 2.7 megalitres.

There is no shortage of parking in this area but there is a car park in Orange Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets should you require it. This walk is relatively short and will take you past some of Mildura’s older streets and homes.

• Crossing over Tenth Street, on the left is 158 Orange Avenue. The building is now the Guide Hall but it wasn’t always the case. Originally it was home to the Seventh Day Adventists and when they relocated, the Lutheran Church moved in. In 1966, the two Lutheran congregations in Mildura merged as one and having instantly outgrown this site, they moved on too. The Lutheran Church is now on the corner of Ninth Street and Olive Avenue.

• At the end of Orange Avenue, the walk intersects with Eleventh Street and turns to the left.

• A few paces down, on the far side of the road, on the corner of Henderson Place, is 223 Eleventh Street; Valetta. Built in 1891, Valetta has some interesting connections to Rio Vista and the Chaffey brothers. The internal woodwork was the responsibility of Mr. Kells, who also worked on the interior of Rio Vista. It’s also believed that D.T Edmunds, who supervised the construction of Rio Vista, designed the house, which has retained much of its original features.

• Valetta is on the corner of Henderson Place and two pillars at its entrance mark the little street. This street was originally a private lane and the former owners had the pillars positioned there for ornamental purposes and although the owners are long gone and the lane is now a public street, the pillars remain as reminder of what once was.

• A little further along, at the corner of Eleventh and San Mateo Avenue stands Mildura Primary School, which opened on September 13, 1890 with 300 eager students, despite the building not yet being complete. A year later, once all works were finished, Mildura Primary was official opened.

• Turning left into San Mateo and heading in the direction of the river, the walk crosses back over Tenth Street, to pause on the corner at No. 99.

Mildura State School (Primary) was opened in 1890

Time: 45 minute - Distance: 3kms

Water Tower

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• This is Proudfoot House. Built in 1891, it’s a fine example of a late Victorian brick dwelling, with its posted veranda and cast iron lace work. The original owner of 99 was John Proudfoot, a produce storeowner but for many years it acted as a Presbyterian manse, before moving into private hands.

• At Ninth Street, turn left and a block further; turn left again into Magnolia Avenue. There are still a number of attractive homes in this street but sadly many have been lost.

• Turn right into Eleventh Street and a short walk will bring you to Lemon Avenue which you turn into.

• Few streets in Mildura have retained their identity as well as Lemon Avenue and a stroll down here offers a lovely indication of what Mildura must have looked like in the early 20th century.

• This area was the tradesmen’s class and three of the houses along Lemon Avenue predate 1900 and another fourteen are pre World War I.

• Number 50 is currently a backpackers’ hostel but its original owner was A.C Pugsley, who commissioned the home in 1902.

• Turn left into Eighth Street and the walk passes the Kathleen Kelly Kindergarten. Kathleen Kelly was a member of the Bowring family and the kindergarten was originally opened as a free kindergarten for children living on the riverbank.

• On the opposite corner is the Mildura Post Office, which has been on this site since 1998.

• Across from the Post Office is the rather grand looking Mildura Settlers Club, or the ‘Setts’ as it’s commonly referred to. It has been on this site since 1893, originally as a club but today it’s a bar, office space with meeting venues and is open to everyone.

• In search of a good coffee, pass by number 77 Orange Avenue. It was the original Methodist Parsonage and was designed by William Sheridan and built in 1892. It’s an unusual example of a Tudoresque Victorian brick villa and has a number of decorative details of note.

• Returning now to your vehicle.

Mildura Settlers Club

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Walk 3 - Mildura’s Riverfront history

This is a picturesque walk that takes you along the riverbank and up passed Rio Vista. Evenly paced, it should take about ….. to complete.

Starting in Hugh King Drive, there are several car-parking opportunities, so leave your car and get ready to stretch your legs.

• This area of Mildura has always been busy but where once it was the centre for commerce and industry, with several mills, stores and works located conveniently close to the river and wharf, it’s now Mildura’s playground. Facing away from the river, to the left are the Ornamental Lakes, which mark the site of the old Risby Sawmill, circa 1888. Beyond the lakes is Nowingi Place, a sound shell that plays host to outdoor concerts and entertainment. The sound shell was given the name Nowingi, to acknowledge the tremendous community effort that went into successfully fighting against a proposed toxic waste dump in the Mallee locality of Nowingi. The grassed areas that wrap around Nowingi and the Ornamental Lakes.

• Looking a little further up, towards the rail bridge, is a skateboard park but it’s also the site of the old Mildura Baths. The baths were built on this location after the floods of 1917 and 1923 washed away the original river floating baths.

• Turning back towards the river, note the white wharf. This is where you come to board one of the numerous paddleboat cruises that are a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

• Setting off, the walk first passes the Mildura Rowing Club. Rowing is a popular sport in Mildura and the club hosts an annual Easter Regatta that sees crews visit from across three states.

Mildura Wharf, 1910 Mildura Wharf. June 2013 (low river) - showing the 1892 wharf remains

Time: 1 hour - Distance: 3.42kms

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• About 50 metres along, on the Rower’s Lawn is a marker that commemorates the passing of Captain Charles Sturt through this area in 1830.

• A further 100 metres downstream is the Pump House showing river heights.

• The walk now joins a path that extends all the way to Apex Park.

• 100 metres down on the left is the Powerhouse, which operated from the 1920’s through to the 1950’s, until the S.E.C took over Mildura’s electricity supply. Several community groups now use the Powerhouse, including the Art Group, the Mildura Theatre Company and the Red Cliffs Musical Society.

• The wonderful Jaycee Park is adjacent to the Powerhouse and is a perfect spot for family fun. A large locomotive dominates the grassed area to the front and fabulous play equipment, bbq areas and shady spots make Sundays deliciously lazy.

• The road splits here, the road leading up the hill is Cureton Avenue, and is named after Stephen Cureton, the man George Chaffey first sent to the district to explore the potential of developing an irrigation colony.

• This walk however continues along Hugh King Drive.

• 200 metres further down, the walk passes the Mildura Lawn Tennis Club. A part of the 1997 Davis Cup was played on these courts and it attracts a number of tournaments each year.

• Further up and on the right, is Lock 11, completed in 1928. Paddle steamers still pass through this lock daily.

• A detour is worthwhile here. Cross over the lock and explore Lock Island. During Mildura’s temperance era (1887-early 1900’s), this island was known as Pinkie Bend, due to the amount of illegal liquor drunk on the island.

The Lock being built The Weir

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• From here, the walk leads to the right and up the small hill, into Cureton Avenue, where it turns left.

• As you follow the path, look down and you will see the Mildura Amphitheatre, first used in 1985.

• A little further on and the walk approaches a prominent sculpture that has links with other sculptures around the world.

• Opposite this sculpture are the perennially beautiful Rio Vista and her gardens.

• Rio Vista was the home W.B Chaffey, built in a tangible show of his faith in the future of the district he founded.

• He lived there with his family from 1891until his death in 1926. His widow continued to live at Rio Vista, until her own death in in 1950. They are both buried in Mildura Cemetery.

• Point of interest: W.B Chaffey’s first wife is buried at the Mildura Station Homestead, along with a number of other people who were associated with the original homestead. This can be found by taking a drive out towards Apex Park and is highly recommended. This drive will take you past the homestead, woolshed and burial site and continues on to Apex Beach Park, a popular camping and caravanning spot and in summer its inland ‘beach’ draws locals and tourists alike, keen to cool off in the river.

• After the death of his second wife, Mildura City Council negotiated to purchase Rio Vista and in 1956 it was opened as an Art Gallery.

• In 1966, an art gallery and theatre were added and the whole complex became known as the Mildura Arts Centre and was officially opened by Sir Henry Bolte in November 1966. Extensive recent renovations to the theatre and gallery saw it reopened amid much celebration in 2012.

Mildura Art Centre Reopening 2012

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• The white wooden gates, in the gardens of Rio Vista, are a reconstruction of the fencing that bordered the property in 1900.

• Directly opposite Rio Vista and facing into Chaffey Avenue, is another striking home, known as the Bungalow. A Queen Anne style home, it is in keeping with its revered neighbor. The original owner of the Bungalow was Lancelot Conway-Gordon and later was home to J.H Shilliday. It remains a private residence.

• Leaving the lawns, the walk meets the footpath of Chaffey Avenue.

• Turn right into Chaffey and cross over the rail line before crossing over the road to turn left into Seventh Street.

• Much of the land to the left along this section still belongs to the Railways. The old sheds, 36 metres long, extending from Olive to Pine Avenues, have 24 bays for carriages, which are an essential form of protection from Mildura’s extreme heat.

• Mildura’s railway commenced operation in 1903 and the current station was completed in 1978.

• Further along Seventh Street and past the The Grand Hotel you will see on the left the Prince and Princess of Wales Fountain Plaza which was opened on the 29th October 1985.

• A short walk across the railway overpass leads back to the riverfront, to your car and to the end of this walk.

Rio Vista with wooden gates

Inside Rio Vista historic house

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Walk 4 - Rio Vista and surrounds

This walk takes you past some of Mildura’s most beautiful and oldest homes and it’s only fitting that it starts at the town’s most stunning building, once the home of the district’s founding family, the Chaffey’s.

There is ample street parking in this area and you can also find parking at the rear of the Arts Centre, so leave your car and begin to discover the architectural gems that are hidden in Mildura’s leafy streets.

• Rio Vista, which is Spanish for River View, was completed in 1892 and was the work of architects E.C Sharland and D.T Edmunds and builder John Williams and was commissioned by W.B Chaffey.

• Despite the necessary alterations that have taken place to allow Rio Vista to become a museum, it still retains much of the Queen Anne splendor that it had as a home to the Chaffey family.

• A tour of Rio Vista is highly recommended, as there is much to see and appreciate. It’s definitely true that they don’t make houses like this anymore. Stained and hand painted glass, a stunning staircase and intricate wood paneling are just some of the highlights.

• The gardener’s cottage to the rear of Rio Vista is also a delightful building and well worth a look.

• After building his family home and in doing so, publicly and demonstratively testifying to his faith in the future of the district he founded with his brother George, the Chaffey’s fell on harder times. With his company in collapse, W.B Chaffey offered Rio Vista for sale for 1000 pounds but he found no buyers.

• Instead, W.B Chaffey and his wife continued to call Rio Vista home until his death in 1926, followed by hers, some time later, in 1950.

• Upon Mrs. Chaffey’s death, the Mildura City Council negotiated to purchase the home and in 1956 set about turning it into a museum and gallery to house a collection of paintings.

• Further information about the history of Rio Vista and the Chaffey family can be found inside the building.

Rio Vista

Time: 45 minutes - Distance: 1.9kms

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• The walk leaves the grounds of Rio Vista and enters Chaffey Avenue. This avenue was originally called Palm Avenue because of the number of palms planted in the area. However, residents were keen to have a street named in honour of the Chaffey family and given the location, this avenue was deemed the most appropriate choice.

• Directly opposite Rio Vista and facing into Chaffey Avenue, is another striking home, known as the Bungalow. A Queen Anne style home, it is in keeping with its revered neighbor. The original owner of the Bungalow was Lancelot Conway-Gordon and later was home to J.H Shilliday. It remains a private residence.

• Continuing along Chaffey Avenue, the walk passes a number of old homes.

• Number 25, although much altered, dates back to 1892.

• Neighboring 27, built in 1891 was the home of riverboat captain William Miers, who took up permanent residence here upon his retirement in 1901. It was designed by Rio Vista architect, D.T Edmunds.

• A little way along, 37 was for a short time, the home of Samuel Risbey, the owner of the sawmills. The house was built in1913 and retains much of its original Edwardian charm.

• Number 38 was the home of Alice Lapthorne, daughter of Henry Lapthorne, editor of the Cultivator newspaper from 1896 to 1920.

• It’s said that the neighboring house, number 40, was owned by Alice’s grandparents but it has since been demolished.

• On the corner of Eighth Street and Chaffey, at 41-43, sits the one time home of W.J Bowring, owner of the Bowring Store, once prominent in Mildura. The building was completed in 1911 and is still an interesting home.

• Retracing steps slightly, return to Seventh Street and walk along here to reach Olive Avenue.

• Olive Avenue has a number of lovely old homes that have been restored, with respect shown to their original design.

• Number 64 is a wonderful example of an ironclad cottage, built in 1910.

• 78, a brick building dates back to 1891 and was the home of James Cruikshank, it has a number of notable features.

The Bungalow

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• At the corner of Chaffey and Ninth, is the Lutheran Church. The foundation stone was laid in 1964 and two years later, Mildura’s two Lutheran congregations united and made it home.

• Continue along Ninth Street towards Walnut Avenue turn right and you will see Langtree Hall at 79 Walnut Avenue. The Langtree Hall Museum was Mildura’s first public hall built in 1889. In 1991 it was relocated to this site and houses much of Mildura’s early memorabilia, worthy of a visit.

• Retrace your steps to Ninth Street and turn right, then right again in to Chaffey Avenue.

• 100 Chaffey Avenue is an old worker’s cottage, dating back to 1908 and still retains its timber posted veranda.

There are a number of other lovely homes in this area, so before heading back to your car, take some time to explore. From Victorian to Edwardian and Spanish Mission to Californian Bungalow, Mildura has a little taste of everything and its all here waiting for you to discover.

Inside Rio Vista historic house & inside Langtree Hall (bottom right)

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Walk 5 - The living heart of Mildura

This walk provides the perfect opportunity to combine some retail therapy with a walk through the centre of Mildura. Over the years, much has come and much has gone but the one thing that’s endured is Langtree Avenue. It’s the heart and soul of Mildura’s retail and commercial district and that’s where much of this walk takes place.

There are a number of car parks scattered throughout town and it’s suggested that you leave your car in one of these. Coles, K Mart and Woolworths are close by and all have ample parking.

• The walk begins at the entrance of the Grand Hotel in Seventh Street.

• Originally the Grand Hotel was known as the Coffee Palace and it was run by the two daughters of H.B Williams.

• The change of name to the Grand Hotel occurred in 1920.

• Enter the Grand Hotel’s main entrance and turn left.

• To your right, you will see a display of historical photos, take your time to look at these before progressing through the glass doors to see one of Mildura’s original Chaffey fountains that sits in the garden and to read the accompanying plaque.

• Retrace your steps back through the hotel foyer and out into Seventh Street, turn left and walk down to Langtree Avenue, where you again turn left.

• As you proceed, you pass on your left, some of Mildura’s iconic restaurants, The new Spanish Bar and Grill, Seasons and Stefano’s Cellar. All are well worth a visit.

• This end of Langtree Avenue is fondly known as Feast Street and the array of restaurants that you pass will leave you in no confusion about why.

• Continuing on the left, you come to the Mildura Brewery and for anyone with a taste for boutique beer, this is another must. Award winning beers and delicious food make for an enticing combination. It is also worth popping in here to see a wonderful old photo that captures the intensity of a real Mallee dust storm.

• The Mildura Brewery, incidentally, is the original site of the ‘hard top’

Time: 30 minutes - Distance: 2kms

Coffee Palace - now Grand Hotel site

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Wonderland, a wintertime cinema. Its name was changed to the Astor in the 1920’s and recent renovations have preserved parts of the old cinema.

• On the opposite side of the street from the Mildura Brewery you will see the Telephone Exchange. Back in 1910, it was the site of the Wonderland, an open-air cinema. It was a fabulous way to spend a balmy evening.

• You could be forgiven for thinking that Mildura was filled with movie buffs back in the day because only a little further up Langtree, on the right, were theatres variously known as The Capitol and The Majestic.

• The Majestic shared a similar place along the street to the Jones Livery Stables, which stood at approximately number 27. From here people could hire horses, jinkers and carriages.

• The T&G building on the corner of Eighth and Langtree has a distinctive clock tower. In the 1920’s it was the site of the Zimmers Building.

• Crossing over Eighth Street, the walk meets the Langtree Mall.

• The building on the immediate left now houses Mildura’s bakery institution, Hudaks but it started life as Bowrings Buildings, the lane behind the building is still named Bowrings Lane.

• On the opposite side of the mall is where another of Mildura’s old department stores, Shillidays once stood. Again, the lane behind this building is named after Shillidays.

• Interestingly, these two stores, along with Mildura’s other early department store, Maples, all ceased operation within a year of each other, in the 1980’s.

• A short walk down from Shillidays Corner is the store Doug Haynes. It sells men’s and women’s wear now but in another era, it was the site of Mildura’s Bakehouse.

• To the left and just slightly further up, where Rockmans is now located, was the site of yet another cinema, the Ozone. It closed in 1971, choosing the film ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ to say goodbye with.

• Walking now to the intersection of Ninth, the Mall comes to an end, with Banjo’s Bakery sitting on the corner.

• Banjo’s was once the surgery of Mildura’s first resident dentist, Claude Sutton. Mr. Sutton practiced here for 50 years.

• On the opposite side of Ninth Street, where the Bendigo Bank stands, was once the site of Dr. Abramowski’s Chemist, similarly to Mr. Sutton, he was the first physician in the town and he gained an impressive reputation. Dr. Abramowski is also credited as being responsible for the asparagus that grows along the district’s irrigation channels.

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• On the left, 89 Langtree Avenue marks where the Mildura Fire Station stood from early in the 20th century until 1980, currently Tristar Medical Centre

• Commercial and professional offices fill the rest of the street, as the walk approaches Eleventh Street, where the trail turns right.

• Across Eleventh Street, the Sacred Heart Peace Memorial Roman Catholic Church is the next stop.

Mildura had its first public mass in the old Langtree Hall, which was at 63 Langtree Avenue.

In 1896, a wooden structure was built in Pine Avenue and in 1924 that building was relocated to this site. It still stands in the grounds of the adjacent St Joseph’s College.

In 1921 the original brick church was built, with substantial alterations during the 1960’s. The nave however, remains as it was in 1921.

The neighbouring presbytery was erected in 1935.

A walk inside the church is welcomed and the 14 Stations of the Cross, fine timberwork and stained glass are worth closer inspection.

• Upon leaving the church, proceed back across Eleventh Street and approach the street down from Langtree and turn into it.

• The walk now continues down Lime Avenue.

• Lime Avenue was once a primarily residential street but in the last two decades it has become an extension of the commercial centre.

• Places such as the Ballerina Ballroom, a popular dance spot in the 1960’s are long gone, replaced by businesses.

• Enjoy walking down Lime Avenue until you meet the corner of Eighth.

• The building on the right is known as the Nash Building, named for G. A Nash, the original occupier of the building. The building was completed in 1917, however the Nash Bakery and Grocery business dates back to 1888.

• The Nash Building is the only substantially intact Edwardian store remaining in Mildura.

• For many years it was the base for a carpet retailer but it’s quite poetic to see it now housing a bakery, just as it was originally built to do.

• Walking back up towards the Mall, you will cross over Shillidays Lane and pass some lovely boutique stores.

• With the formalities of the trail complete, it’s time to head to one of the numerous cafés or restaurants that the walk has taken you past, so you can sit down and plan which shop to head to first.

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For Further Reading:

Water Into Gold, Ernestine Hill 1937 (and several later editions)

Mildura Calling, Alice Lapthorne, 1946, 1965, 1981

The Desert Blooms, Andrew Ward, 1988

The Life of George Chaffey, J. A. Alexander, 1928 [very difficult to find] Paddlesteamers to Cornucopia, Syd Wells, 1987

Chronology: Mildura and Renmark, Syd Wells, 1999

Mildura Police Station The First Hundred Years, Les Milborn, 1992

Mildura Police Station Addendum and Corrigendum, Les Milborn, 1996 [invaluable for its research into C. J. De Garis and Grant Hervey]

Where the Mallee Meets the Murray, Ron Parsons, 1990

Mildura Ariel (Deakin & Langree Avenues, Seventh & Eighth Street visuals), 1925

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Drive 1- Mildura City

This drive travels through some of Mildura’s inner residential areas and begins at Henderson Park, a pretty park that sits on the corner of Deakin Avenue and Thirteenth Street. This park is named after E.T Henderson OBE, the first mayor of the City of Mildura, in 1934. A board in the park honours him and the role he played in developing the City of Mildura. E.T Henderson died in 1953, at the age of 84.

Henderson Park is also the location of the city’s commemorations on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day each year. Along with the cenotaph in the park are three Gallipoli Pines, planted on Remembrance Day, 1990, by the RSL. Skirting the footpath on Deakin Avenue, the park has a further two memorials, one commemorating the 2 OTU who were located in Mildura during World War II and another to honour the pioneers, on the occasion of Mildura’s Golden Jubilee, in 1937.

Across the road from the park, on the other side of Deakin Avenue is a strip of shops that in the early years was known as Boyden Town. There are a number of areas that in the earlier days of Mildura, were given names attributed to some of the town’s more influential residents. Neighboring Boyden Town, was Williams Town, named after Henry Williams, who owned Mildura’s first general Store and was also the first shire president. Other areas included Staughton Town, Paterson Town and Kingston Town.

• From Henderson Park, driving a short distance westward in Thirteenth Street, on the left was the site of Mildura’s former hospital. The present opened in Ontario Avenue in 2000. The original building, known as the Cottage Hospital was opened on April 2nd 1892, with its first recorded patient being a local photographer, Ernest Oswald. Ernest was the victim of a fire at the Backcoller’s Boarding House in Langtree Avneue and he died as a result of the burns he suffered. By 1934 the hospital had become known as the Base Hospital and the site and buildings, much in the art deco style that you see before you now, was sold in 2014 after many years standing idle.

• Continue on to the next major intersection and turn left into Walnut Avenue.

• On the left side, you pass Mills Park, named after former Mildura City councilor Syd Mills. On the advice of prominent gardener and former ABC TV identity, Kevin Heinze, a number of Bottle Brush trees were planted in this park and elsewhere can still be seen flourishing today.

• Turn left at the intersection of Fifteenth Street and Walnut Avenue.

• Passing by the Cross Roads Caravan Park, it’s interesting to note that this was once the site of a drive in theatre, a popular destination for locals, in years gone by.

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* Distance travelled in kilometres indicated on left, time allows minor stops.

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Time - 90 minutes - Distance: 17kms See map on page 70

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• Turn left into Deakin Avenue at the large roundabout.

• As you turn, the plaza on the far right side of Deakin Avenue is known now as Mildura Central. The complex was opened in 1982, as Mildura Centre Plaza.

• Proceeding down Deakin, you will note the large centre plantations that continue right down to Seventh Street. It is a legacy both of the Chaffey brothers’ good planning and the once promised but never received, tramway. A number of the plantings and flowerbeds you pass have been placed to commemorate those lost in war.

• Many of Mildura’s accommodation options are located in this stretch of road and it’s also the home to fast food outlets and a local legend.

• It is said that at the approximate site of the current Mc Donald’s restaurant, a mob seized Grant Hervey from a police car carrying him, in 1921. It’s said that en route to the station, an angry crowd intercepted them and Grant Hervey found he was seized once again. This time, he was taken to the old aerodrome, where he was tarred and feathered.

• Continue down Deakin Avenue.

• You pass the Greek Orthodox Church, on the right, which was built in 1961. Prior to this, the Greek community worshipped at St Margaret’s Anglican Church, further down Deakin Avenue.

• On the left is Mildura Senior College, catering for years 11 and 12.

• The oldest part of these buildings dates from 1911 but the school itself opened in 1912, with 42 students and four staff. Four of the original group of students was lost in the first two years on World War I.

Deakin Avenue

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• Originally planned to be Chaffey Agricultural College, the depression and collapse of the Chaffey business, coupled with a series of poor harvests, meant the planned school never got much further than the 1891 foundation stone laid by Victoria’s then Governor, Lord Hopetoun.

• In the 1930’s the two-level building was added, opening in 1939 and in 1980, a library, since extended was constructed. The most recent building was completed in 1994.

• Cross over Fourteenth Street and continue on.

• You pass by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, on the left, with buildings both from 1955 and 1975.

• Another school is coming up on the left as you pass an area that was once the site of an olive oil factory, begun by Mildura’s first G.P, Doctor Abramowski.

• Chaffey Secondary College is a year seven to ten campus, opened in 1955, as Mildura Technical College. In 1990, it became a secondary school and changed its name to honour the founders of the district. It’s fitting that the Chaffey brothers finally had a school in their name; almost 100 years to the day after planning of the first Chaffey College began.

• Turn right at the traffic lights at Thirteenth Street.

• Continue to the first roundabout and turn left. You’re now in San Mateo Avenue.

• One block up, on the corner of Twelfth Street is the Mildura Primary School, the oldest school in the district, opened in 1890 with 300 students.

• Prior to Mildura Primary, there had been a few privately run schools in the area but with the opening of this school, education was made available to all children.

• Opposite the school is the Drill Hall and Mildura Recreation Reserve. A great many sports are played in this area, from football to netball and there’s even a trotting track. It is also the site of the Mildura Show, held each October.

• Continue on San Mateo and cross over Eleventh Street at the next roundabout.

• Just over this intersection on the right, is a block of flats, the site of one of Mildura’s earliest packing sheds, owned by Swallow and Ariell and opened in 1901. There were a number of packing sheds throughout the district but mergers and takeovers diminished them overtime. In 1937, the then Irymple Packing Company, took over Swallow and Ariell.

• Turn right into Ninth Street.

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• Turn left into Douglas Avenue and proceed to the end to see a magnificent Morton Bay Fig tree in Douglas Park, one of the few remaining in the district.

• This tree is older than the irrigation settlement and it’s thought that it marks the place where the outriders’ huts were located. There is another tree in Irymple, in Koorlong Avenue.

• Turn and proceed back to Ninth Street and turn right.

• Turn right back into San Mateo Avenue.

• As you proceed, you can see glimpses of the George Chaffey Bridge that crosses the Murray River and leads into N.S.W. The bridge opened in 1985, to replace the one-lane lift span bridge.

• Turn left at roundabout at intersection of Seventh Street and San Mateo.

• Take next turn to the right into Magnolia Avenue, next to the Petrol Station.

• After 100 metres right again into Cureton Avenue and proceed into what looks a little like a car park. The road moves downwards, towards the river and for a little way, you drive parallel to the George Chaffey Bridge before coming to a T intersection. The lifts span, painted red, of the 1927 bridge is now adjacent to the Marina, a recent development.

• Straight ahead is the river and up on your left is a monument to George Chaffey, which is nailed to a tree.

• Turn left at the T intersection and continue along Hugh King Drive, which snakes its way along the river for some distance.

• To the left of the road, you will drive past Nowingi Place, Mildura’s sound shell. It is named in honour of the Mallee locality of Nowingi and the community spirit that saw a successful stand against a toxic waste dump that was planned for the area.

• Adjacent to Nowingi are the Ornamental Lakes and this area is a popular place for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations and is also the site of the Sunraysia Farmers Markets.

• Continue along and pass the Mildura Wharf, where you can catch various Paddle steamers, for an afternoon along the river. The road turns to the left and forks.

• Instead of going underneath the railway bridge, turn to the right here and proceed past the Mildura Rowing Club and lawns, which includes a cairn starting that Sturt passed here in January in 1830.

• Further a long on the left is the Power House, formerly the source of Mildura’s electricity, now used by various art and theatre groups.

• Next to that is Jaycee Park, identifiable by the large locomotive K175 that sits in the foreground, with great play equipment and shaded picnic spots behind it as well as barbecue facilities.

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• Again the road folks, with one lane veering to the left and up a hill. Stay to the right and continue on towards and you will see Mildura Lawn Tennis Club is on your left, host venue to the Davis Cup in 1997 and the Fed Cup in 2009. 32 manicured lawn courts are to be found here.

• To the right we can see the Mildura Weir adjacent to Lock Island. The Lock itself should be investigated as a significant part of the whole project of ‘locking the Murray’, which was undertaken in the 1920’s, A walk around Lock Island is recommended.

• Just up from Lock 11 the road climbs to meet Cureton Avenue and at this intersection, turn right.

• To the right, on the river side, are the River Murray Commission Buildings and opposite at number 269 is an old building that started life as the family home of the Mansell family, firstly with S.R Mansell and later, his son the Hon. A.R Mansell, MLC.

• Immediately after, to the right is the historic area that houses the historic Mildura Station Homestead and Woolshed.

• These structures are reconstructions of the buildings built by the Jamieson brothers who established the station in 1847 and added to by the Chaffey brothers in 1887. The original buildings were demolished in the 1920’s. The current buildings were opened in 1982 and are a replica of the buildings the Chaffey family lived in until the completion of Rio Vista in 1891.

• It is well worth a visit here and again there’s ample parking just a little way along the road.

• Continuing past the old Homestead, look for a marked road to the right that points to the site of some historic graves. Turn into this road and park.

• The graves to the right are the burial site of W.B Chaffey’s first wife, who died in 1889 after succumbing to pleurisy not long after the birth of their son Maurice. Sadly, this baby survived only four months and he is buried with his mother. Three further graves are with them, W.B and George Chaffey’s mother, Ann, who died in 1903 at the age of 79 and two of W.B’s children from his second marriage. His second wife was the niece of his first wife and one of the children buried here, a son, drowned tragically in the fountain that stood in the gardens of Rio Vista, in 1897. W.B and his second wife are buried in the Mildura Cemetery.

• The graveyard through the gate to the left of the car park contains the graves of at least 6 people associated with the old Mildura Station.

• Leaving this car park, proceed to turn left back into Cureton Avenue.

• Turn right into Washington Drive, named after J.W Washington, the owner of a store in Deakin Avenue from 1910 until 1937, when it was taken over and became Maples.

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• Turn left into Mansell Drive at the first intersection.

• Continue along Mansell Drive as it changes its name to Ontario Avenue, from Sixth Street intersection and continues to Seventh Street where there’s a quick “dogs leg”.

• The parks and netball courts on the left, after crossing Seventh Street, are known as S.R Mansell Reserve.

• Continue on to Ninth Street.

• On the corner of Ninth and Ontario is Mildura West Primary School. It was established in 1922 with 165 students and was officially opened by the Earl of Stradbroke.

• Turn right into Ninth Street and continue on.

• Turn left into Riverside Avenue.

• Immediately on the right at number 107 was the home owned by W.P Crockett, Shire President 1914-16 and a cabinet member during the H.S.W Lawson premiership. Crockett named the home Ularara and the whole estate is now named after this house.

• Number 127 Riverside Drive, on the right, is an old home that once belonged to G.H Tolley, surveyor for the Chaffey brothers. Tolley named the house Ediacara and it was later owned by a local solicitor, Percy Park, whose untimely death, at the hands of the Spanish flu, caused widespread shock. Some locals names “The Ponderosa” after a well known TV programme.

• Cross the major intersection of Eleventh and Riverside, with the St Joseph’s College Stadium and Mercy Theatre dominating the right corner, with the Aerodrome Ovals behind them.

• Up until World War II, this was the site of Mildura’s aerodrome.

• The first plane arrived in Mildura in 1919 and flying became increasingly popular through the 1920’s

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Mansell Reserve Home of WP Crockett (Shire President)

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• The first aircraft fatality was in 1922, when an accident claimed the lives of Syd Nettleton and Campbell Ladbrook.

• It is also here that the tarring and feathering of Grant Hervey took place in 1921.

• It is said that some of Syd Nettleton’s fuel was used to remove the tar from Hervey after the fact.

• A little further along the road swings left and passes by the Mildura Golf Resort, which offers a superb golf course, function facilities and accommodation. A new housing development is prominent.

• Turn right into Ontario at the main intersection ahead.

• Turn left at Thirteenth Street.

• This end of Thirteenth Street and Ontario has become the medical sector of Mildura with both the Base Hospital and Private Hospital here, along with various clinics.

• The Mildura Private Hospital, on the left as you turn into Thirteenth Street, is currently the only private hospital operating in Mildura but there have been many over the years, including Kirkee in Deakin Avenue, on the site now housing the Sandors Motel, Windulva in Twelfth Street, Denvae on Lemon and Olinda on Cedar.

• Continue along Thirteenth, cross over Walnut Avenue and you will soon see Henderson Park on your left.

• This concludes Drive One, so set off in any direction and explore the many treasures that hide amongst the streets of Mildura or, should you wish, turn the page and set off on Drive Two and let us be your guide.

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Mildura Base Hospital Mildura Golf Resort

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Drive 2 - Nichols Point area

This is a lovely drive that takes you into the settlements of Nichols Point and Irymple, two of the district’s older areas, popular with early settlers because of the quality of the soil. Both Nichols Point and Irymple are still home to working horticultural blocks, with citrus, table and wine grapes and dried vine fruit all produced here. The blocks provide a patchwork of colour and a number of them are still owned and operated by the descendants of the original owners.

• Find your way to the intersection of Eleventh and Deakin and turn into Eleventh, you will be heading east. On one corner of Eleventh and Deakin is Mildura’s large sports store, painted in bright blue; it’s rather difficult to miss. St. Margarets Anglican Church is on your right.

• Travel along Eleventh Street, going straight through the roundabout at the intersection of San Mateo Avenue.

• Continue on and again at the next roundabout at Etiwanda Avenue, travel straight ahead.

• On your right, number 99 Eleventh Street marks the spot where Hermosa once stood. It was the home of George Chaffey, until his departure back to Canada, in 1897.

• At the next larger roundabout, at the intersection of Benetook Avenue, a quick detour is in order to see an old home, just over the other side of the roundabout at 28 Eleventh.

• Cross the intersection and pull over at 28, on your left about 50 metres up, made identifiable by its dual entry driveway.

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Time: 90 minutes - Distance: 41kmsSee map on page 71

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• This home was built in 1916 by Sam Risbey, the local mill owner, as a wedding present for his daughter. It’s a pretty home that has been lovingly restored.

• Do a u-turn and return to the large roundabout.

• Turn right into Benetook Avenue.

• This is now largely an industrial area but originally it was filled with fruit blocks.

• New Zealander, Charles Trevatt is considered to be the first person to plant fruit trees in the irrigation colony and he developed a species of apricot that now bears his name.

• Turn right into Ellswood Crescent.

• Opposite Paul Place was the former home of Arthur Ellswood Chaffey. Arthur was one of W.B Chaffey’s sons. This home stood until 2014.

• Continue on to the intersection at the Palms Caravan Park.

• A quick turn left here to see the house on the right, with the red roof.

• This home belonged to Gordon Campbell. The Campbell family was very active in the community in the early years of the settlement, especially in musical affairs and at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.

• Do a u-turn and proceed straight through the Palms’ intersection.

• The road you are now travelling on is Cureton Avenue.

• Cross over Fifth Street and continue on.

• Cross over Sandilong Avenue.

• On the right, marked by two Washington Palms, is Denbigh, an old home, once owned by L.H Iredale. Construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1912 and from design to build it was all the work of the Iredale family. Iredale was an English-born stonemason, who spent time in Melbourne before moving to Mildura in1889.

• Ahead is what was once the Nichols Point Pumping Station, built in 1889. Working in conjunction with the pump at King’s Billabong, this station was designed to lift water from the 50 foot level to the 70 and 85 foot channels. Further improvements in1897 meant it could lift water to even higher levels.

Denbigh house

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• This station is now the Nichols Point Scout Activity Centre.

• Opposite is a driveway to the old home Oruru. This house, originally owned by the Wilkinson family, is over a century old and is still in remarkably good condition.

• Do a U-turn and go left into Karadoc Avenue.

• Turn right into Fifth Street.

• On the left, number 52 surrounded by pines and palms is Lumeah, the home of Colin Campbell and built in 1910.

• U-turn and return along Fifth Street and turn right back into Karadoc Avenue.

• 398 Karadoc approaches on the left.

• This is the old home of the Butchart family and dates from the early 20th century, although the land it stands on had been in the family prior to 1896.

• Do another U-turn and drive back towards Fifth Street.

• Turn right into Fifth Street.

• Continuing on Fifth Street brings you into Nichols Point itself.

• The old Nichols Point School, now no longer in use is one of the earliest buildings in the district. Prior to the construction of this building, classes were held in the church, just opposite.

• A new modern school is now located 300 metres behind this original building.

• Continuing on, cross the culvert and the first home on the right was the Gregory home, at 196.

• Gregory, a builder, was heavily involved in the early life of the settlement. He was on the committee of the Vineyard Protection Board and ran a post office agency. The best man at Gregory’s wedding was Ernest Oswald, a local photographer, who had the misfortune of going down in history

Lumeah house

Nichols Point School

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as Mildura Hospital’s first patient, after he was badly burned in a fire and later died from his injuries.

• Turn left at Irymple Avenue.

• The house directly on your right with the green gable is an early settler’s home.

• Turn right into Cureton Avenue and approximately 2km’s later you will see Woodsie’s Gem Shop.

• Woodsie’s has a large selection of gems on display and runs daily demonstrations. They also have a dizzying array of gems, stones and jewellery for sale. For those with children, they also have a maze and play equipment outside.

• Pass by Ginquam and Belar Avenues.

• Turn left into Cooke Street, named after the treasurer of Chaffey Brothers Limited.

• Immediately on our left is the King’s Billabong Pumping Station, circa 1889. The pumps commenced operation in 1890 and closed in 1955.

• The Chaffeys planned a number of the houses along Cooke Street for their pump engineers. On the right, behind a picket fence is Ingham and next door to that, at number 16 is a duplex designed by D. T Edmunds, both are examples of this and date from the 1890’s.

• This area once had all the character of a village, with a church and a general store. All this is long gone and now this stretch of Cooke Street is highly sought after real estate and some of the homes built here are quite substantial.

Early settler’s house

King’s Billabong Pumping Station Duplex House designed by D. T Edmunds

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• Continue on as the street winds around to again meet Cureton Avenue.

• Turn left into Cureton Ave.

• Pass Eleventh Street.

• From here there are excellent views of the Billabong, named after Captain King, one of the earliest riverboat captains. Known as King’s Billabong Park, this is a wonderful area, popular with walkers, riders and bird watchers.

• Continuing on you pass a power station on the left and a little further is the turn off to Psyche Bend Pumping Station. Take this turn.

• You will need to cross a small bridge to get to the pumping station.

• Psyche is one of a series of pumps in the billabong irrigation system and dates from 1889-90. This one ceased operation in 1959. Extensive restoration projects have been undertaken to return the pumps to their former glory and tours are now available and on certain days you can even see the pump in operation. People often ask where the name Psyche came from. There is some dispute but it seems a paddle-steamer of that name sank on this bend of the river in the 1890’s.

• Return to Cureton Ave and turn left into it.

• Continue until you reach Fourteenth Street.

• Turn left into Fourteenth Street.

• Fourteenth takes a right angle turn and becomes Fern Avenue.

• Continue along Fern Avenue.

• On the left corner of Fern Avenue and Cureton Avenue, number 93 was the former Thomas family home. The Thomas family was active in the community; J.W Thomas was responsible for forming the first co-operative in Mildura in 1904, which united a number of packing sheds, into a single organisation in which the growers had shares. J.W’s nephew Hal became the district’s first curator of the historical society.

• Turn right into Cureton Avenue and follow the road as it veers and winds including a right turn indicating towards Nichols Point. This is a scenic stretch of road and it passes by the Schmidt Gallery no. 873.

• Turn left into Eleventh Street, cross over Dewry Avenue.

• Turn left into Belar Avenue.

• Coming up on the left is Chateau Mildura Winery, constructed in 1888, making it the oldest winery in the district and significantly, the site of the first 150 acres of vines planted in the irrigation settlement. Chateau Mildura is an integral part of the Chaffey story and the history of this district and the museum here is well worth stopping to explore.

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• From the Chateau, turn left into Belar Avenue until you reach Fourteenth Street.

• Immediately to the left, if you’re interested, is an example of an old picker’s hut. Moved here from the former air base at the aerodrome, this hut has had many uses, from housing fruit pickers and air force trainees, during World War II, to being used as student accommodation for Mildura’s campus of the University of Melbourne, in the late 1940’s.

• Do a U-turn and continue along Fourteenth Street. An original channel is visible on your right.

• Turn left into Morpung Avenue.

• You will pass by an Edwardian style blockhouse, it was owned by the Smith family and is distinctive with many palms and pines in its garden.

• Go to the Calder Highway/Fifteenth Street, note the house on the opposite side of the road, to the left. The Henshilwood family, revered in the Irymple area, owned it. There are a number of places named after them, including the Henshilwood Ovals.

• Turn right into Fifteenth Street/Calder Highway.

• Just before reaching National Agricultural Services, is number 2164, Kombacy, it was once the home of E.J ‘Cocky’ Roberts. One of Irymple’s early ‘blockies’, Cocky was the Chairman of the Mildura Fruitgrowers Association and the Manager of the Irymple Packing Company, which he founded in 1900.

• Crossing the rail line in Irymple township, the large structures immediately to the left were once the site of the Irymple branch of the Mildura Co-operative, constructed in 1902-03.

• It now houses Angas Park Shop and this is definitely worth visiting. Along with a café, they sell a wide selection of dried fruit and chocolate treats.

• Leaving Angas Park, no doubt with a car now laden with the things you couldn’t resist, continue on down Fifteenth Street to a set of traffic lights.

• Turn left at these lights, into Karadoc Avenue.

• On the left you pass the Irymple Community Leisure Centre.

• On the right is the Irymple Secondary College, years 7-10. This school opened in1972, as the Irymple Technical School.

Chateau Mildura

Picker’s Hut.

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• Turn right at Sixteenth Street (the next major intersection)

• Turn right into Sandilong Avenue.

• The lovely timber home on the right near this corner is known as Elmshurst.

• 200 metres further down on the left, set back from the road and surrounded by conifers was the home of Syd Nettleton, who went down in history as the victim of Mildura’s first plane crash.

• On the left is the Irymple Uniting Church, once the Methodist Church. Until 1994, the original wooden church built in 1891, was on this site but it was relocated to Birdwoodton and is now a private residence. The brick structure was added in 1962. As well as being a church, the original wooden building also served as a school, until the Irymple School, we shall soon pass, was built.

• At the traffic lights, turn left into Fifteenth Street.

• On the left is the Irymple Primary School, which opened in 1893, using the old church for classes until this building was completed in 1908.

• Turn left at the roundabout, into Cowra Avenue.

• Continue up about 500 metres to see two interesting house of note.

• On the left is Iola, a white home, with a steeply pitched roof and cast iron decorative work. It was the home of Captain Miers and dates from early in the 20th century.

Iola house

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• To the right, is its neighbour, Arlington, built in 1914 by Edward Lloyd. The pressed metal and timber home has been lovingly restored by Edward’s grandson and great grandson and the family still live in Arlington and continue to work the dried fruit block that Edward began in 1890.

• Interestingly, Captain Miers and Edward Lloyd, neighbours in life, are also neighbours in death. Their graves are appropriately located opposite each other in the Mildura Cemetery.

• Both Iola and Arlington featured in a 1917 publication ‘Mildura on the Murray’, which had a print rerun in 1974, courtesy of the Mildura Arts Centre.

• Turn right at Sixteenth Street.

• Cross over Benetook and then Etiwanda Avenues.

• Turn right into San Mateo Avenue.

• The house on the left, at number 617, behind a corrugated iron fence is Imbarlee and dates from 1907. George Wittmann, Shire President 1912-14, built it. George, born in Hungary, ran a General Store here and lived, for a while, in the Bungalow, the timber home opposite Rio Vista, in Chaffey Avenue.

• Number 574, on the right, is Wonwondah, built by Dan Edmunds in 1891, a prominent builder of the era. It is a matching pair to the house that has been relocated to Mildura Station Homestead, once owned by H.P Thomson. Thomson’s only daughter went on to live in Wonwondah, with her husband, David Bell.

• Reaching the lights at San Mateo and Fifteenth Street, turn left.

• Ahead on the right is Mildura Central and it marks the end of a drive that has taken you through some beautiful country that epitomises what Mildura is and what it’s been. Nowhere do the words ‘the fruits of our labour’ carry more significance than they do here, in Australia’s food bowl. Feeling inspired? Grab an orange, some sun muscats, grapes or any other fruit in season and experience the flavours of Sunraysia.

Arlington house

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Drive 3 - Koorlong, Birdwoodton & Merbein

This is a relaxed drive that begins at the intersection of Deakin Avenue and Fifteenth Street, identified by the large roundabout, with Mildura Central on the left as you proceed away from town. The drive will take you out to the settlement of Koorlong before winding back to explore the delights of Merbein.

If you have done drive two, you will know that the areas of Nichols Point and Irymple were much favoured by the early settlers, both because of the proximity of the river and pumping stations and because of the quality of the soil. The same can’t be said of Koorlong. This is an area inhabited by the toughest of settlers and they encountered the toughest of conditions. The ground was hard and water was at times scarce. Within ten years of the Chaffey’s arriving in Mildura, there were hundreds of miles of channels delivering water to the settlements but seepage often meant that outlying areas like Koorlong were without a reliable water source. Add to this the isolation that these early settlers experienced, being far from town and the company that it offered and it’s not hard to understand why the Koorlong settlers were a tough bunch! Today, Koorlong is a proud little town and it’s worth having a look, so let’s get going.

• Starting your speedometer to zero cross through the large roundabout, over Fifteenth Street and continuing on Deakin Avenue heading towards Adelaide.

• On the left just up from this intersection is Club Da Vinci, one of Mildura’s largest function venues, used for balls, weddings, conferences and other events, built by the Italian community.

• Mildura has long been the home to immigrants from Southern Europe, particularly those from Greece (from the 1920’s), Italy (from the 1930’s), Yugoslavia (also from the 1930’s) and Turkey (from the 1970’s). More recent immigration has seen our population boosted with immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Islands, particularly Tonga and Samoa.

At the Alfred Deakin Centre, which is adjacent to Waves, Mildura’s indoor/outdoor aquatic centre, you will see a display of flags. Each of the 60 flags represent a nation from which Mildura’s population has been built.

• Next to the Da Vinci Club is the Mormon Church, officially opened in 1968.

• Here Deakin Avenue narrows and as you continue, you pass on the right, the Mildura South Primary School, opened in 1930. It’s now one of the largest primary schools in the district.

• Crossing the intersection of Sixteenth and Deakin, you pass on the left, the former site of the Sixteenth Street Drive In. It operated between 1950 and the 1970’s and the housing estate now built here reflects its cinematic past with streets such as Hollywood Boulevard and Brando Court.

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Time: 120 minutes - Distance: 78kmsSee map on page 72

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• Turn left into Seventeenth Street (to the right is the A79 sign).

• Cross over San Mateo and Etiwanda Avenues.

• Turn right into Benetook Avenue.

• Cross over Eighteenth Street, also known as Dow Avenue, after J.L Dow a writer for the old Leader paper, part of The Age group.

• Cross Nineteenth Street.

• Approaching Twentieth Street you will see on the left the quarries that have provided vast quantities of limestone to the district and beyond.

• An example of the use of this limestone can be seen at St Margaret’s Church, on the corner of Deakin and Eleventh, back in town.

• Slow down as you head into the township of Koorlong.

• The stone cottage on the left, was built from materials mined on the property itself, dated approximately 1891.

• Turn left at Twenty-third Street to see the Dal Farra house on the right. It is an interesting structure that has been progressively built by the family over a number of years. The Dal Farra family has been in the district since the 1930’s.

• Do a u-turn at Dal Farra Road returning to Benetook Avenue and turn right returning to Koorlong.

• The Koorlong school is a well resourced Primary School deeply committed to the districts heritage.

• Adjacent is the Koorlong Hall, a popular place for functions, and next to it is the General Store and Koorlong Post Office.

• Continue along Benetook Avenue retracing our steps.

• Turn left into Gordon Avenue (also known as Eighteenth Street).

• From 1937 to 1994, there was a Shire run abattoir on the left along this stretch of road.

Dal Farra house

Koorlong Primary School

Koorlong Hall

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• Continue on Gordon Avenue until you reach a T Intersection, turn right.

• Turn left on to the Sturt Highway (A20).

• Follow the road until the intersection of Walnut Avenue, where you will be turning right.

• To the left you will see Mildura Airport, recently extended and refurbished. The airport was the site of the Air Force Training Base during World War II.

From 1947-1949 students undertaking courses in medicine, dentistry and engineering at the University of Melbourne were housed here during some of their first year rotations.It also acted as a Migrant Centre, housing women and children while men worked on government projects.

In 1956, this district suffered devastating floods and victims were provided emergency accommodation here.The airport is also the location of the Weather Station and in 1960 the U.S Atomic Energy Authority chose it for the launch of the famous Hibal balloons collecting air samples at very high altitudes.

An Air Force Museum now operates in what was once the training base and is worth a visit, whilst you’re touring Mildura.

• We now turn right into Walnut Avenue, opposite the road leading to the airport.

• Approaching the intersection of Seventeenth Street, there is a house on the left, set well back from the road. This is St Ives, owned for many years by the Johnstone family.

• Turn left into Seventeenth Street (A79).

• Cross over Ontario Avenue.

• On the left, shortly after, is another house, Glendale, snug behind a picket fence. This is another of the area’s older homes and was held by two local families for a number of years, firstly the McLarens and later, the Hepworths.

• You are now in the locality of Cabarita and on your right you will see Lake Hawthorn, named after an early settler, Harold Hawthorn, who arrived here from England in 1891.

• The lake was originally a fresh water overflow from the river. The area itself was for many years deserted as it was thought that the land would be of poor quality.

• In the late 1930’s the lake became a drainage point when an underground drainage system was constructed, with the outflow to the river up stream of the Merbein pumps.

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• The Lake School, on the left, was erected on a site selected by the local residents and donated to the Education Department by the First Mildura Irrigation Trust in the early 1900’s. The original building was lost in a fire.

• For many years, locals would travel out to Lake Hawthorn for pleasure and there were even bathing boxes on the foreshore.

• The area ahead on the left is known as Birdwoodton.

• On the right, is the extreme end of the Chaffey First Mildura Irrigation Trust area.

• A little further up to the left is the Merbein Golf Club (700m to the left on McEdwards Street).

• Turn right into McEdward Street.

• McEdward Street was once known as The Ridge but was renamed after the man who ran the homestead, predating the Chaffeys. The homestead was eventually taken over by the Tapalin Pastoral Company.

• This is a picturesque stretch of road, offering unique vistas of vines, orchards and trees and there are some lovely old homes to see as well.

• This is now considered to be Merbein, so the houses you’re now passing belonged to some of Merbein’s original settlers.

• Number 221, the red roofed home, behind the palms, was the Mitting’s family home.

• A little further, just before the bridge, again behind palms, was the Walters home, both families made significant contributions to the district through roles in local government.

• Turn right to cross a small railway bridge.

• This bridge is the northernmost rail bridge in Victoria.

• In the early days, all water came from the Psyche Pumps, you may have visited those on Drive One, this was quite a distance.

• This road, once called The Ridge, was named thus because it marked the boundary between Mildura and Merbein.

The Walters home

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• In 1909, the pumps became operational with the opening of the Merbein settlement.

• Continue to wind with the road until River Road rises up from the right and you meet Pump Hill.

• Turn left towards Merbein and you will see Chaffey Park. No prize for guessing for whom it’s named.

• Turn right into River Avenue.

• The house on the corner, to your left, once belonged to Herbert Chaffey, the son of W.B Chaffey and his first wife, Hattie.

• Continue turning right around the park, until you come to International Drive Pioneer Plantation. A sign indicates the “Lookout”.

• Turn left here and find a suitable car park. It is well worth hopping out to see the wonderful views of the river and if you feel energetic, continue on downstream a little way, via Blandowski Walkway to Chaffey Landing. It’s an interesting spot, with links to the Blandowski Expedition of 1857. Markers will guide you and offer an explanation.

• Along the way you can include the Garden of Memory, Pioneer Walk and the Sturt Cairn in your explorations.

• Once back in your car, return to River Avenue.

• The large building on the right was Mildara Winery but is now known as Australian Vintage. It was built in 1913 by W.B Chaffey and thirteen years later, in 1926; it was the site of his death.

• Turn into Commercial Street, the second exit.

• The water tower on the right was built in 1920 and supplied Merbein with water for over 78 years. It was decommissioned in 1998.

• On the left are a group of houses built for winery staff. The palms out the front are the original plantings.

• In 800 metres you pass Merbein P-10 College, on the left. The school opened in 1960 as the Merbein High School, moving to this site in 1962. It is also the former site of the Australian Natives Association Park.

• Again on the left is Mead Street, named after Elwood Mead, an American irrigation engineer who was responsible for Merbein’s irrigation system. He became chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, set up in 1905 and wrote an introduction to J.A Alexander’s book, ‘The life of George Chaffey’. Lake Mead, held back by the Hoover Dam in America, is named after Elwood Mead too.

• On the left is the Uniting Church, it was originally the Methodist Church, first established 1910, the present building was erected in1965.

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• Opposite, is the Merbein District Historical Society. For opening times and contacts, check the notice boards, next to the entrance.

• Many of the streets in Merbein are named for local men who were killed during World War I.

• On the left is Fishers Supermarket, established in 1911 by Eugene Fisher and along with a number of other stores across the state and beyond are still owned by the Fisher family. This is their original store.

• Turn left into Railway Avenue, with the Post Office and Commonwealth Bank on its corners. On the next corner is the Merbein Hotel.

• Turn right into Game Street. On the left is one of three dried fruit packing houses which once packed over twenty thousands tons of dried vine fruit. One building is now a processing plant for grape products, the other two are part of one of the largest freight forwarding companies in Victoria.

• Turn right into the Calder Highway.

• Turn right again into Commercial Street through town. The name is appropriate because this is the commercial centre of Merbein.

• Turn left up Railway Avenue.

• Turn left into Box Street.

• The CWA building on the right was once the Baby Health Centre.

• Opposite, on the corner is the site of one of Merbein’s earliest doctor’s surgery, headed by the exotically named Dr. Spargo.

• On the right is the Fire Brigade, near Main Avenue.

• Cross over Main Avenue.

• On the left is the Scots Presbyterian Manse that was once part of a church on this site, since demolished. It is now part of Sunraysia Community Health Services. Behind it, is the new Community Hub that includes a new library opened in 2013.

• Next to it, on the left, is a privately owned building that was once, the Parkside Private Hospital, before becoming a boarding house.

• Still looking left, Bingarra Court sits on land that was once owned by St John’s Church of England. The architect of the church was Louis Williams, who was responsible for the design of many churches across Australia and even one church in Japan.

• Cross over Smith Street.

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• Travel 500 metres to see the Catholic Church built in 1956. Next to it is a school, built in 1928, which was also used as a church.

• Do a U-turn at Surgey Street and go back to Smith Street and turn into the driveway of Kenny Park on left. Surgey Street is named after Tom Surgey who was the distrcits first soldier to die in WWI.

• The driveway is called ANZAC Drive and it leads past the George V Memorial Rotunda, opened 1937.

• The park owes much of its appeal to the original work done by the ‘sussoes’- unemployed local men who received ‘sustenance’ payments.

• Within the park you will find a bowling green, netball courts, swimming pool, tennis courts, soccer fields and football grounds.

• Former Shire engineer, M.K.N Johansen was a driving force behind Kenny Park. This was named after E.J Kenny State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC), Officer in Charge of the Merbein Irrigation Area.

• Return to the entry of the park after a U-turn at soccer rooms leaving through the Kenny Park memorial columns.

• Turn left into Smith Street.

• Turn left onto the Calder Highway (Third Street)

• Looking to the right, you will see the Chaffey Aged Care home which is a community owned not-for-profit residential Aged Care facility

• Looking to the right, the next road, Dalmura Avenue would lead to the cemetery, if you have an interest in visiting there.

• Continue along the Calder Highway.

• On the right, set back from the road and shrouded in palms, is an impressive old home, Stonnington. It is a pre World War I build and belonged to Walter Bennett. It is now being developed for experimental wine grape varieties.

• Closer to the road, is another Mitting home; you passed the other one on McEdward Street. This one was the home of original settlers who were allocated land in 1909.

• The impressive passage of palm trees you are now passing through add great character to the area and are listed on the National Trust Register of Significant Trees.

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• On the left, No. 265 on the corner, is an original settler home, one owned by the Jenner family.

• On the right you can see a fascinating mud brick house and barn. It originally belonged to the Allens before being bought by the Metcalf family.

• The highway now veers to the right and becomes Cowanna Avenue North.

• On the right at 209, is The Gables, built in 1911 by Will ‘Limestone’ Bennett. It has a strong South African influence, with an arched entrance and an enclosed veranda. It’s part of a dried vine fruit property and remains in the Bennett family.

• A little further up, still on the right, is Hildarry, at 143. It was built in 1912 by Harry Curtis and it too, still remains in the family of the original owners, the Curtis family.

• As you proceed, you will pass on the right, the Old Wentworth Road and it will join the road on which you’re travelling.

• In days gone by, people travelling to Wentworth would have used that old road and passed by the Merbein Common, originally used for grazing, the golf links, racecourse, gun club and the old brickworks.

• Continue on past Sylvia Street (you can see Cowanna Bend from Sylvia Street, where you’re able to see a billabong in the process of being formed).

• Continue along the highway.

• On the left, past the sale yards and the Elders Yelta sign is a vast underground storage facility that was used during WWII, to store aviation fuel for the Air-force Base. Via No Through Road for external viewing.

• We have reached the end of the Calder Highway, named after a Commissioner of the Country Roads Board. Across the river, in N.S.W, it becomes the Silver City Highway.

• Turn left, before the bridge, into Meridian Road. This famous road marks the longitude of 142 degrees east to Greenwich.

• The bridge ‘now’ behind you is called the Abbotsford Bridge and it was built in 1928 replacing a ferry.

• On the left, is some rather unusual B&B accommodation, should you be looking for somewhere a bit different to lay your head. The bunker style B&B was part of the WWII fuel storage facility.

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• A large grain silo marks the site of the old Yelta Railway Station. The rail line is still there but the building was lost to fire. This is the end of the northern most point of rail line in Victoria.

• Continue for several kilometres, passing grain bunkers on the right.

• Turn left at Yelta Road (had we turned right into Old Mail Road, we would have found the old Yelta Mission, circa 1855, also the former location of a Police Station and Customs Office).

• You’re now in West Merbein. This area was a soldier settlement after World War I, prior to another soldier settlement in Red Cliffs being set up. The local Merbein residents were instrumental in establishing this settlement.

• You will see Honour Avenue on the right.

• Continue for a few kilometres.

• The Merbein West School that closed in 2012 is on one corner whilst diagonally opposite there was once a corner store run by a Miss Mazou.Miss Mazou’s father, a vigneron, had arrived in this district from France at the behest of the Chaffey brothers, as did the Gelly family and together, they drove the early days of the wine industry. They worked to improve quality of product, removing the vinegary taste that comes with wine made by people with little experience.

• Cross Paschendale Avenue named after a Belgian town anglasised spelling (Passchendaele).

• On the right, up a bit at 177, is the home of a former Shire Councilor, Stephen Thompson (Eldorra - block 51).

• Turn right into Cowanna Avenue.

• This road turns to the left and then back to the right.

• On the left, 459, now obscured by a new house, was the home of J .J.T Lever, he was a part of the First Mildura Irrigation Trust and after acting as a Justice of the Peace (J.P) in Mildura, moved to become the first J.P in Merbein.

• Turn right into Fifth Street.

• 374, surrounded by trees is another original home, that of W.T Jones.

• Do a U-turn and continue back on Fifth Street.

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• Turn right into Channel Road.

• This road winds about to travel alongside a channel.

• The houses to the right along here mark land that was originally allocated for workmen’s housing.

• Turn left into Sixth Street.

• The Norfolk Island pines coming up on the left mark the site of the former home of Arthur Lever, son of J. Lever. At 84 acres, this was once the largest block in Merbein. The house was brought up from southern Victoria, by rail, in two halves.

• We are now approaching Main Avenue (the A79).

• Turn right into Main Avenue.

• This leads to the old Birdwoodton Store site which sits on a rather confusing intersection.

• Turn right in the direction of the Adelaide sign.

• Continue south down River Avenue, towards the former C.S.I.R.O site.

• You are now on an old boundary, dividing Birdwoodton on the left from White Cliffs on the right, renamed Merbein 1912.

• A committee of original settlers helped to establish the C.S.I.R.O facility in 1917, with A.V Lyon in control. It was a major centre for horticultural research and was significant to the district. It is now closed. Currently this site is occupied by NorthEd International College

• Do a U-turn and return up River Avenue, which also marks the boundary of the Cowra run.

• Pass straight through the Birdwoodton intersection and continue along River Avenue.

• Along on the left, are properties once owned by original settlers, the Martin and McCarthy families.

• Before the railway crossing turn right on McSwains Road where a cream house set back on the road. This was originally the Ball property. Significantly, one of Australia’s greatest, yet underrated poets, John Shaw Neilson, lived here for several years, whilst a casual labourer. The house is named Grand View.

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A Workman’s house

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• U-turn and return to River Avenue and turn right continuing over the railway crossing.

• Turn right onto Channel Road and right again to re-join River Road to Mildura.

• Immediately on your left, the channel systems developed by the Chaffey’s for irrigation is being replaced by high pressure pipe providing 24\7 water availability to irrigators.

• Descend Pump Hill, with the Merbein Pumping Station on the left at the bottom of the cliff. The pumping station dates from 1909.

During the great flood of August 1956, this pumping station was saved by local growers and towns people building the large levee bank around it.

Originally, the pumping station was wood fired but it is now electrically driven.

• The area you are now driving through what was for 50 years, the location of the New Year’s Day Merbein Settlers Picnic, it was an event that was held for the entire district.

• Continuing on, you pass Gibbs Street on the right.

• The Gibb family owned this land and it was into this family that Mildura Noble was married. Mildura was the first white child born in the district, after the Mildura Irrigation Colony was established in 1887. Her father was the Captain of the Jane Eliza.

• This part of Mildura was once known as Old Mildura and a little further on, Ranfurly Estate.

• The Ranfurly Homestead was located on the Mildura side of where the River Road Caravan Park now stands.

• Lord Ranfurly of Tyrone, Ireland, had come here as an early settler and later, became Governor General of New Zealand.

• The Ranfurly Estate was separate from the Chaffeys’ and in fact, had its own pumps on the curve of the river.

• Lake Ranfurly is coming up on the right. It is here that a Salt Inception Scheme works to extract saline from the ground water, preventing its entry into the Murray River system.

• The road turns left and you pass what used to be the Fauna Gardens and prior to that the home of early settlers, the Gordon family.

• Turn right at the roundabout ahead and make your way into town for a well-earned coffee.

• Back to the City approximately 4kms.

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Drive 4 - Nichols Point Cemetery

A Step Back In Time

This tour combines a drive and a walk that allows you the opportunity to explore this region’s history. Every town has its stories; its colourful characters, scandals, tragedies and triumphs. Mildura, once a wild frontier, whose river, on the one hand, offered welcome, while on the other, the heat and desert cast ominous warnings, has a catalogue of characters, who though long gone, still whisper their tales, should you care to stop and listen.

There’s no better place to connect stories to characters than at a cemetery and on this tour, you will be exploring the Mildura Cemetery, also known as the Nichols Point Cemetery. So grab a comfortable pair of shoes and get ready to take a step back in time.

• The drive component of this tour begins in Seventh Street, at the intersection of Deakin Avenue.

• From Deakin, turn right into Seventh Street, which is the T-intersection at the river end of the avenue.

• Continue along Seventh Street, crossing over the San Mateo Avenue roundabout.

• Proceed over Etiwanda Avenue.

• Ahead, Seventh winds sharply to the right, turn left here into Benetook Avenue.

• Continue on, along Cureton passing the Palms Caravan Park on your left.

• You will come to the old Nichols Point Pumping Station and Scout Hall on a corner.

• Turn left just before the pump station into Karadoc Avenue.

• Turn left into Cemetery Road. You will see signs for the Mildura Cemetery.

• Follow these markers and they will lead you to the old entrance, there is ample car parking here. Should you be unable to walk, there are satisfactory roads running through the cemetery and cars are permitted. If possible though, walking provides the best opportunity for exploring.

• This cemetery is subdivided into denominations.

• Facing into the cemetery from the car park on the left is the

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Time: 2 hours - Distance to site: 5.9kmsSee map on page 73

Cemetery main entrance

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PRESBYTERIANROWS A - M

PRESBYTERIANROWS A - V

WAR

METHODIST ROWS A - O

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

CHINESE

CATHOLIC

CONGREGATIONAL

VAULTS

SALVARMY

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

ROWS P - XMM & XX

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

OTHERDENOM

BAPTIST

GREEK

GREEKORTHODOX

LAWN SECTION TOILETS

MUSLIM

MAIN ENTRANCE

LUTHERAN

WALLS

ROWS AA - LLY & Z

MILDURA CEMETERY (NICHOLS POINT)MONUMENTAL SECTION PLAN

Start Here

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Church of England and to the right is Methodist, followed by, as marked:

• -Roman Catholic

• -Greek Orthodox

• -Presbyterian

• -Baptist

• -Lutheran

• -Salvation Army

• -Congregational

• -Chinese

• -Other Denominations

START

• Turn left to the first complete row of graves.

• The nearest grave is that of George Hart. 29 graves along brings us to GIFFORD HALL.

Gifford was a local journalist of some repute who went by the pen name of Steele Blayde, a name given to him by his friend Joseph Conrad. As well as a gifted writer, Gifford had a handy knack for being at the right place at the right time; he even managed to find himself in San Francisco in 1906 when the earthquake struck. For over 30 years Gifford wrote for the Mildura Cultivator that became the Sunraysia Daily, when it was bought out in 1920.

• This is our row 1 facing down hill. Row 2 backing onto it faces uphill. Row 3 again faces downhill. We move upwards to row 7.

• To the right and ‘facing’ downhill, is the grave of MARY WOORLONG.

Mary was the last of her tribe.

She took part in Mildura’s 1937 Golden Jubilee and is described by Alice Lapthorne, in the book, ‘Mildura Calling’, as ‘sitting in a car in the procession in lonely dignity’.

Mary’s father, known simply as Woorlong, was the head of her tribe and in 1859 he was taken to England to demonstrate boomerang throwing and he was also introduced to Queen Victoria.

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Europe was not for Woorlong though. As A.S Kenyon put it, Woorlong “saw Paris and London and marveled not.”

• Venture another row up, to Row 9.

• Move about 12 graves to the right until you come to URBAN STANLEY BILLING.

Known to all as Stan, here lies a real character. Stan lived to the ripe old age of 103 and by all reports was energetic and cheeky until the end.

Stan served with the Light Horse Brigade in World War I at the time of Allenby and Lawrence.

In his mid 80’s, looking for a challenge, he scaled Uluru.

Stan’s life was marked by sadness however and with him are buried his wife and both his sons who died tragically. Also his daughter Ella Guy, a well remembered district nurse.

• Walk two or three graves up to the end of this row and you will find HAL THOMAS.

Hal was the first curator of the historical society and his incredible knowledge meant he was employed by the Museum of Victoria, for all things related to Mildura and its surrounds.

Abutting the graves you have just seen, ‘facing’ uphill are a few more notable former residents of Mildura. This is row 10.

• Firstly, the grave of ARTHUR ELLSWOOD CHAFFEY son of W.B Chaffey.

• Up a little and to the right in row 11 is the second WIFE, HELENE OF DR OTTO ABRAMOWSKI AND SON OLAF.

Dr. Abramowski was Mildura’s first physician and it was because of his efforts that Mildura Hospital was established.

His life too, was touched by tragedy. His first wife died and their son died as an infant. Along with his twin sister, this boy is buried with his mother elsewhere in this cemetery.

Dr. Abramowski himself, died and was buried, in Melbourne.

• Approximately 10 graves further along row 10 you come to W.H CHAFFEY (HERB), another of W.B Chaffey’s sons.

Herb was for many years, the Manager of what became, Mildara Winery.

• Proceed up one row to Row 12.

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• Facing uphill, about another 15 plots along is SAM WIGHTMAN.

Best remembered for the bicycles he manufactured, Sam was a long serving committee member of the Mildura Hospital. Wightman Lane in town is named after him.

• Returning the way you walked along Row 12, you pass HUGO ALBERT, one of Mildura’s early pharmacists.

• Fifth from the end, on the left in row 13 is E.N WELLS.

Wells was a builder and is most remembered for building the Working Man’s Club on Deakin Avenue. However he also worked on the Post Office, Mildura Primary School and even had a hand in Rio Vista.

• The last grave on the left in this row belongs to T.C RAWLINGS.

Rawlings was the original Commissioner for the First Mildura Irrigation Trust and was a founder of the Australian Dried Fruits Association, now known as Dried Fruits Australia.

Rawlings lost his son Tom, in World War I. Tom was one of four students from the old Mildura High School who lost their lives in the war. He’s honoured, along with his three fallen classmates, in a memorial at the school, now called Mildura Secondary College.

• Backing onto Rawlings’ grave in row 14, is that of KARL SCHELL CHAFFEY and his WIFE.

• Alongside them, is undoubtedly, the most famous grave in this cemetery. W.B CHAFFEY and his second wife, HARRIET SCHELL CHAFFEY.

• By now, you no doubt know the role W.B Chaffey and his brother, George, played in developing Mildura into a successful irrigation colony. You may know less about his family-

• W.B was married twice, both times to a woman named Harriet Schell. The second Harriet was the niece of the first Harriet.

First Harriet and W.B had four surviving children.

A daughter, who moved to Melbourne and three sons; Arthur, Karl and Herbert, all of whom remained in Mildura and are buried in this cemetery. Karl’s grave you just saw, next to W.B.

• The first Harriet died subsequent to childbirth in 1889.

First Harriet’s last child, Maurice, died four months after his mother and is buried with her, near the Mildura Homestead.

• In 1891, W.B returned briefly to California and he married the second Harriet and together they returned to Mildura.

• Second Harriet and W.B had another four surviving children:

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• Fred was killed in action in France during World War I.

• Robert (Bob) who lived in Mildura and is buried here.

• Isabel (buried elsewhere)

• Emily married into the Bowring family and is buried in a corner near one of the cemetery entrances.

• W.B and the second Harriet lost one son tragically, when as a small boy, he fell into the fountain outside Rio Vista and drowned. It is said that Harriet never recovered from this loss. This boy is buried, along with one of his sisters, with the first Harriet, at the Mildura Homestead Cemetery.

• A little further along is a grave not dissimilar to W.B’s. This is ARTHUR LESLIE JOHNSTONE.

Arthur was the Chairman of Directors of the Mildura Co-Op, in the years between the two World Wars.

• As you continue to follow rows upwards, you reach the BAPTIST SECTION

• There are four of these double rows before reaching the paved road.

• We will now renumber our rows, calling number 1 that’s nearest to the road parallel row 2 backs onto it and in row 5 facing the road, about 10 along is JOHN HENSHILWOOD.

John was Shire President and also the author of ‘Pioneering Days in Mildura’ published in 1950.

John’s father was one of the first people to plant vines for dried fruit in the district and the family is much revered in their home township of Irymple.

• Another 10-12 along, in row 4 is JACK SEARLES, a popular riverboat captain in his day.

• Backing onto these graves are those of the MANSELLS in row 3.

• REUBEN MANSELL along with Charles Faulkner, was responsible for establishing the Mildura Church of Christ Among many other projects he also built the original Mildura Wharf.

• CR. S.R MANSELL, buried alongside, was his son. S.R Mansell has a sporting reserve in Ontario Avenue, in Mildura named after him.

• S.R Mansell’s son was the Hon. Arthur Mansell, the local member for the legislative council and through whose generosity, the Mildura Homestead was rebuilt in the 1970’s.

Arthur’s ashes, with those of his wife, Dorothy, were scattered in their garden.

• The unmarked grave next to S.R Mansell’s is believed to be that of CHARLES FAULKNER.

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• Opposite the Mansell graves are those of the MUDGE family.

Farmers in the Millewa are proud of their MRS MUDGE. In the 1950’s, as a widow, she fought a landmark legal battle to get compensation from the government for the poor land allocations and services they had been given. She won the case.

• There is a paved road ahead, which you will walk to the left of but before you do, make a quick detour to the right along the road into the METHODIST SECTION.

• At the nearest corner of the METHODIST SECTION there’s a grave worth a look.

• It is that of LEANDER IREDALE.

• You may have seen Leander’s family home, Denbigh, if you have done the earlier drives.

• Leander was also responsible for the stonework in the rose windows in the Wesley Church, now part of the MADEC building in Deakin Avenue.

• Almost adjacent but facing away from the road, is the grave of JAMES JOHNSTON.

James was the third Shire President and died in 1909.

• Now you can turn and continue to the left up the paved road.

• The area to the right is the PRESBYTERIAN SECTION.

• Adjacent to the road about 50 meters from the JOHNSTON grave and facing the marker is the grave of GEORGE GALLAGHER.

George was a saddler and a lane in town is named after him. He died in 1907.

• The road turns slightly ahead and the area to the right is the CONGREGATIONAL SECTION.

• The Congregational Church only lasted about 10 years in this district but it did have some notable members.

• On your right, adjacent to the Congregational Marker, is the grave of REV. J.G PEPPER.

The Reverend died of Typhoid Fever in 1896, only five months after his induction and sadly when he was still only in his 20’s.

• On the left further along is the LUTHERAN SECTION. See marker.

• Near the marker you will find the grave of AUG MILLER and his WIFE.

Aug owned a furniture store in Langtree Avenue.

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Aug had a daughter, Sophie, who was a talented violinist and she was very active in Mildura’s music life in the early 20th century.

• A little further along and to the right is the CHINESE SECTION.

• Although Mildura’s Chinese population has never been large, they have made significant contributions to the community over the years.

• You may note a large Italian grave opposite the CHINESE SECTION. Next to it on the left is the grave of HARRY PETER PAULSON.

Harry was born in Norway, arriving in Mildura in 1891 and purchasing land. He was a member of both the Mildura Dried Fruits Association and the Mildura Irrigation Trust.

• The Lutheran Section gives way to the PRESBYTERIAN SECTION.

• Soon thereafter are the graves of C.D LANYON and his wife DORIS PLANT LANYON.

Lanyon was for many years, the owner of the Sunraysia Daily newspaper and he was a great benefactor of Mildura. C.D Lanyon House was a prominent section of the old Mildura Base Hospital in Thirteenth Street.

• Further on and you see the graves of the WOOD FAMILY.

The Woods owned a shoe store in Langtree Avenue, famous for the ‘Little Man’ who lived in the window. (The Little Man can now be seen in the Carnegie Centre). By the time they ceased business, they were the longest running family business in Mildura.

• At the end of this row, turn left into the Presbyterian Section.

• In the first vertical row to your right, 6 graves in note the grave of STANLEY CUTLER. Stanley was a well-known ‘blockie’ in his day.

• ANDREW STEEDMAN lies nearby, 3 graves up.

Andrew was an engineer with the First Mildura Irrigation Trust and Steedman Lane is named after him.

• 5 graves further along is DR. NEIL HENDERSON.

The Doctor came to Mildura Hospital in 1912 as a Medical Superintendent and Radiologist.

He was a pioneer in x-ray and for many years he provided a free x-ray service to the hospital. He worked at the hospital until 1919 and was an honourary staff member until his death in 1964.

• Walk to the end of the path and turn left, about 20 metres, up 15 graves.

• The third row back to the left leads to the graves of AUGUSTUS and ANNIE PEGLER, on the right.

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The Peglers were prominent in the early years of the settlement.

• Opposite the Pegler graves is H.F. WEGNER.

Wegner achieved fame of sorts, when he appeared in an often-reprinted photograph in which he appears at Mildura Wharf, in the midst of a diving expedition to retrieve gold coins belonging to the National Bank, which had “fallen” into the river.

• Behind the Pegler graves, in the next row are BOB and DOROTHY CHAFFEY.

Bob was the son of W.B Chaffey and the Second Harriet.

• Heads towards the road and 6 graves on your right is the COLIN CAMPBELL grave. He served a record number of years as choir master at St. Andrews Church, where a stained glassed window is created to his memory.

• 4 graves on returns us to the path where we turn left. 15 metres down we see the CR. A.J JENKINS grave.

Jenkins served, for what was at the time, a record term as a City Councillor, from 1923 to 1950. He was also Mayor for a part of this time. He is commemorated with a Sundial that was erected in Henderson Park, but now has been relocated in the Carneigie Centre. Jenkins also owned the old pharmacy that was located next to the Post Office on Deakin Avenue.

• Returning to the paved road nearby and turn right.

• The grandiose graves and family vaults you see before you belong mainly to Italian families. They stretch along one whole row and then on to the right. There’s a notable disparity between these and the simplicity of the graves of some nuns you will soon come across.

• Staying on the paved road, turn right round and head back past the Chinese Section and the grave of Aug Muller.

• Walk on past the first 2 pine trees on the left, turn left at the second and left again into the CATHOLIC SECTION.

• The second grave you pass in this section is that of ELIZABETH MORRISON.

Elizabeth was a much-loved journalist in Mildura. Under the name Estelle, she wrote a Social Column and as Aunt Beth, she penned a children’s page in Sunraysia Daily.

Elizabeth was also a gifted pianist, performing for many organisations.

Elizabeth was married to Hugh Morrison.

• Walk up the path opposite the Morrison grave and turn left when next possible.

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• Directly ahead you will find a plot reserved for the NUNS.

The iron crosses mimic the simplicity in which these women lived their lives.

Among them are SR. CECILIIA and SR. URSULA. They both lived into advanced age, as you will note.

• Return to the road and continue 10 metres to the left and among a set of Pine Trees.

• The last row along here on a vertical plane holds the graves of J.H SHILLIDAY and his WIFE.

The Shillidays owned one of the most popular department-style stores in Mildura. They began with a store in Madden Avenue in 1888, moving to their Langtree Avenue site in 1910. Large numbers of people were very grateful to Shillidays for the credit extended during the depression years.

• From here the graves are once again horizontal and parallel to the road. It is the beginning of the main Presbyterian Section.

• These rows were sensibly labeled A to H, each row containing 2 sets of graves back to back.

• Row A runs along the paved road, while H runs along the back.

• Following this logic, search out Row E.

• Walk along this row and locate the grave of W.M PLANT, facing downhill.

The Plant family was influential among the community but as is sometimes the case, the enduring memory of W.M Plant was created upon his death.

Unfortunately, during the funeral procession, one of the horses drawing the hearse frightened and bolted away, taking the hearse, with W.M Plant inside, with him.

• A little further along are the graves of the CAMPBELL FAMILY.

TIMOTHY CAMPBELL was the family patriarch. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Nichols Point community. He also played a pivotal role in the developing musical life of the district; founding the Philharmonic Society.

His sons followed his lead. TIMOTHY JNR became the conductor of the Philharmonic Society and COLIN conducted the Presbyterian Choir.

• Move down to Row G and find HURTLE PEGLER, facing downhill.

Hurtle spent his early years out on Ned’s Corner, where his father was the Manager, from 1870.

Hurtle moved to Mildura in 1903 and established a butcher shop.

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He married Miss Jessie Crozier and together they had six children.

Hurtle was extremely active in the community, serving as Chairman of the Commissioners for the Mildura Urban Water Trust (1921), President of the Mildura Club, he was on the committee for the Mildura Golf Club, the Wentworth Racing Club and he was also Chairman of the Mildara Winery.

Hurtle had extensive pastoral interests, including Neilpo and Moorna.

Hurtle was a close friend of W.B Chaffey’s.

• Opposite the Pegler grave is that of A.S LOCHHEAD.

Lochhead was well known in the district and owned a large property in Irymple. He was featured in Chapter XXIV of ‘Water into Gold’.

• Face to the right and walk to the end of this row and turn right.

• On the left is the grave of A.D THOMSON.

Thomson was an early town surveyor and engineer. He was responsible for a number of local buildings including the Carnegie Centre and the soldier memorial that stands outside the Working Man’s Club.

• At the top of the hill, you will meet Row A and should be able to see ahead, just to the right, the grave of the MCDONELLS’.

This is a family that over successive generations, delivered remarkable people who gave much to the world of education.

The two McDonells lying here had two sons who held prestigious roles; Alex was the Victorian Director of Education from 1960 to 1965 and Doug was the Principal of Melbourne College of Education.

• To our left, is a predominate black headstone, you will find the grave of CAPTAIN MIERS, whose home you would have seen in Cowra Avenue, if you have enjoyed Drive Two in this tour guide.

• Close by is the LLOYD family plots and 3 graves along lies E.J LLOYD himself, the family patriarch, who established the Lloyd property and home, opposite that of Captain Miers, in Cowra Avenue. Neighbours in both life and death.

• Backing on the road and just to the left you can see the grave of THOMAS LANCASTER.

Thomas is said to be the first to grow sultanas, in this district.

• Returning past the tall black headstone of Captain Mier and turn right down the hill passing about 20 graves and you will come across the REG BECHER grave on the left.

Reg owned a property in Nichols Point and was one of the district’s early entertainers.

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His brother CHARLES was one of the first solicitors in Mildura.

• MARTHA was from the Bottams family, also notable in the area. One of Martha’s sisters married local architect, E.C Sharland.

• Continue to the bottom of this section and just to the right you will see the memorials marking the LAMONT FAMILY graves.

CHARLES LAMONT was the secretary of the Red Cliffs RSL. He died tragically in a fire on his property in Red Cliffs.

This was not the end of the tragedies of the LAMONT family.

Less than a year after Charles’ death, his widow and children were killed in what for many years was the worst accident in the district’s history.

A truck carrying the Lamont family and some of their friends, was struck by a train at the Irymple level crossing. The widow and 3 daughters were killed and the remaining 3 survived, including a MISS KENT who lies in an adjacent grave.

• Make your way back up to the Becher graves.

• Take the path directly opposite.

• There should be 3 double rows on your left.

• Approximately 20 graves along, a grave surrounded by wrought iron railings, is that of ROBERT STAVELEY HOOPS.

Robert was one of Irymple’s early settlers and he was for a time, Chairman of the First Mildura Irrigation Trust.

• About half way between here and the end of the row is the grave of Mildura’s first resident dentist CLAUDE SUTTON.

• Proceed up two double rows, towards the road.

• A grave just to the left here is prominently marked LINTON.

• Oddly however, it is the final resting place of CATHERINE MURRAY.

Catherine, who died in 1920, was the beloved ‘Auntie’ who ran The Warren Guest House, for 30 years. It was located on the corner of Deakin Avenue and Seventh Street.

• One row up and close by on the left, you should find FRED HAWKES.

Fred was a prominent character and was active on the board of the Fruit Growers Association, the Mildura Co-Op, and the Australian Dried Fruits Association and was also on the Hospital Committee.

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Fred was a real estate agent and was married to ROSE APPELBY HAWKES. Rose kept a diary, as a teenager, that chronicled her journey to Mildura in the late 19th century. This diary is now a treasured item in the Historical Society’s archives.

• Take a peek behind the Hawkes grave and you will see the graves of HENRY WILLIAMS and MARY WILLIAMS.

Henry was the first Shire President and he owned a General Store, in partnership with his son-in-law WILLIAM YULE, from 1890 to 1903.

• A little way to the left and facing the road, you will also come across the graves of the JONES family. They once owned the livery stables in Langtree Avenue.

• Return to Catherine Murray’s grave and continue on this path, a few graves a long is that of R.R BUTCHART. The grave is surmounted by a huge cross.

• If you have done Drive Two, you may remember passing his old home.

• 3 graves sites along is F.H SHERRING.

Sherring was a builder with a particular talent for woodwork. Examples of his work can be seen at St Margaret’s Church and Rio Vista.

• Almost adjacent you will see PERCY PARK.

In 1900 Percy, a solicitor, established a set of chambers, now known as Hillard and Higham, located in Deakin Avenue.

Percy was a victim of the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1919.

His widow went on to marry Mr Hillard and Percy’s 1900 chambers continued on and is now the longest continuing legal practice in Mildura.

Percy’s death rocked the district and a large cross identifies his grave and the esteem in which he was held.

• A couple of graves on and you find GEORGE DESAILLY.

If you have had the opportunity to see the band rotunda that sits in the centre plantation in Deakin Avenue, you may know that it is named after George.

George Desailly was a popular man and was Shire President, dying in office in 1913.

• Go up another two double rows, one row back from the road.

• A large slab marks the grave of SIMON. F. STAUGHTON.

Simon was a wealthy man who believed in investing in Mildura’s future and was known for his saying, “An ounce of help is worth a pound of advice”. He was a much-loved member of the community.

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Simon served on the board of the irrigation Company and his brother was a member of the legislative assembly.

When not working, Simon was busy with his 8 children- four sons and four daughters.

• Walking to the left approximately 50 metres to the end of these rows, and almost to the connecting boundary you will see an Angel, facing away, atop a grave.

• This is the grave of CHARLES TREVATT.

It’s widely accepted that Charles was the first person to begin planting in the district.

• You’re now in the oldest part of the cemetery.

• Many of the graves here date from 1890.

• The headstone of ERNEST EDGAR OSWALD, which faces the sealed road, was erected by the Historical Society.

Ernest was a gifted photographer and the society has a wonderful collection of his work.

Ernest died a horrible and premature death, in March 1892, when he became the victim of a fire at the Backcoller’s Lodging House in Langtree Avenue.

He was also to go down in history as the very first patient of the newly opened Mildura Hospital.

• The grave next to Ernest is that of W.W. CATER.

Cater was the solicitor for the Chaffey brothers.

• Cross the road and you find the graves of MRS ABRAMOWSKI and her children by DR. ABRAMOWSKI.

• Incidentally, the twins, a boy and girl, were buried exactly 101 years and one month apart! While the boy died at 11 months, from exposure, the girl grew up to become known as Martie Newton and lived a long life, before returning to her mother and brother.

• Six graves to the right of here, facing away from the road is a large grave with brown tonings. This is the grave of E.J ‘COCKY’ ROBERTS.

Cocky was the founder of the Irymple Packing Company. Other members of his family are buried here also.

• Further along and facing the road is H.A ISARD.

Isard had a stunning nursery that was, in 1894, featured in the old newspaper, The Leader.

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• Continuing on is the grave of JOHN GEORGE LANE.

George is said to have owned the first store in Irymple.

• Three graves on is the grave of W.F SHERIDAN.

Sheridan was an architect and was also the first Shire Secretary.

His daughter married into the Lane family.

• Then comes JAMES PUGSLEY, facing the road.

The Pugsley family was popular in town and owned the news agency that was on the corner of Eighth Street and Langtee Avenue, where the Hudak’s Bakery now stands.

James is buried with his son, who drowned in the Murray River, at the age of 20.

• Five along and one row back is the grave of L.W. LILLEY.

Lilley was one of four American ‘experts’ who came out here to help set up the irrigation colony.

He was Shire President from 1919-1920.

His house still remains on the corner of Valencia Avenue and Centreway.

• Return along the first road parallel to the paved road and just behind the Izard grave is that of FRANK JENNER.

Frank was the President of the Mildura Hospital from 1948 to 1951.

The Jenner Centre at the hospital is named in his memory.

• Return to the road and the grave of the ABRAMOWSKI’S.

• Close by is the grave of E.T HENDERSON OBE and his father JOHN HENDERSON.

E.T was highly politically involved. He was the first mayor of the City of Mildura in 1934, was the second Mayor of the Borough (the first being W.B Chaffey) and was the first Mayor of the town in 1922. Henderson Park, Henderson Place and Henderson College are all named after him.

Other members of the Henderson family are buried nearby. One row back and a little to the left you will see his first wife’s grave and whilst not buried here, their son, Albert (Bert) who was killed at Gallipoli, is named here.

In a little fenced area between are the graves of E.T’s infant children.

• On the left are the graves of the NASH family.

JOSEPH NASH established the first bakery in Mildura, on the corner of Eighth and Lime. This has always been known as Nash’s Corner.

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• Further along are the BOWRING graves.

• William Bowring established the first emporium in Mildura, beginning in 1888.

• Adjacent to W.M Bowring are the plots of his son and daughter-in-law.

• COLIN and EMILY BOWRING and other members of the Bowring family.

Emily was the daughter of W.B. Chaffey and the second Hattie.

Colin and Emily had two children, Helen and William (Bill).

Bill took over the running of the store until it closed in the mid 1980’s.

Helen and Bill are buried near their parents.

• We are now in the METHODIST section, which has a number of double horizontal rows.

• Just behind W.M Bowring, you will find EDMUND SEMMENS and G.W GREGORY opposite each other.

Edmund was Shire Secretary from 1898 to 1911.

He was also the first Worshipful Master of the Mildura Lodge, the first Masonic Lodge in the district.

His son S.H Semmens took over from him as Shire Secretary and held the position until 1943.

• Opposite Semmens is G.J GREGORY.

Gregory was prominent in the Nichols Point community and ran a post office there. He was also on the Vineyard Protection Board.

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• Move to the row behind Gregory.

• First you see A.W PEARCE.

Pearce was one of the men instrumental to the establishment of Mildura High School.

• Adjacent are the SARAH FAMILY graves.

Norman Sarah, who died in 1974, was the second Mayor of the City of Mildura and before that, was Mayor of the Town. He operated a tailoring business.

There is a stand at the South Mildura Ovals named after him.

• Almost 20 metres along the same row is EDWIN MIDGLEY.

Along with his brother, Richard, Edwin started the Alpha cordial Factory.

There is a lane named after them both.

• Make your way one row back towards the paved road and walk along about 30 metres until you find SAM RISBEY.

An obelisk will assist in identifying this grave.

Sam Risbey and his family began and ran Mildura’s sawmill.

There is a lane in town name after the family.

Other members of the Risbey family are buried here, you will see.

A brown obelisk marks the burial place of Sam’s young sons.

• One more double row from the Risbey grave is the Surgey and young TOM SURGEY was the first local who died at Gallipoli.

• Adjacent you will find the JEWELL family graves and perhaps the most poignant illustration of the toll the Spanish Influenza took on communities.

By the time the Flu had wreaked its havoc on the Jewells, there was virtually no one left to grieve for the tragedy of life taken so cruelly and prematurely.

You will see that in one week, the Jewells were all but wiped out.

• Another double row down, on the lower side, turn right and about 20 graves along, you will find HENRY C. LAPTHORNE.

Henry came to Mildura to work as a journalist for the Cultivator newspaper. In 1896, he became the owner and editor and remained as such until it was bought out and became the Sunraysia Daily in 1920.

• His daughter was ALICE LAPTHORNE- GOLDRING-FARMER.

Alice wrote ‘Mildura Calling’ and 3 graves along behind Henry Lapthorne is HARRY GOLDRING.

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Harry was Alice’s first husband.

• Alice later remarried to JIM FARMER. Alice died in May 1993.

• She is buried with Jim in the lawn cemetery.

• A shaded seat near the start of this row was erected to the memory of Reg and Eva Etherington buried nearby. Reg contribution was enormous for Mildura serving on council for many years. Thanks to him we have the Arts Centre, the Mildura Station Homestead, The Historical Society and so much more.

• Our last guided stop here today is at the WAR GRAVES. You will find these in front of the METHODIST section. These graves are the responsibility of the War Graves Commission in Canberra.

• For many, on their first visit, it comes as a shock to discover how many young men lost their lives during training exercises here in Mildura. The Number Two Fighter Operational Training Unit was located at the Mildura Aerodrome during the war years and hundreds of men did their pilot training in Wirraways and Kittyhawks, there.

• You will find 49 graves here, 47 of them are young pilots who lost their lives during training. It is always important to remember that these pilots were just young men, boys really, in many cases. They all had bright futures to plan for and dream of. They had families, girlfriends, wives. They all had their stories.

• Perhaps the most powerful example of this can be found at the grave of Flight Sergeant M.J. Russell. He died an agonizing one week before VJ Day and even more heartbreaking still, on the eve of his wedding.

• In life, there is always death but it is hard not feel the anguish of a generation that saw death visit the young, more than it could ever be seen as decent.

• Continue to explore Mildura’s history, the stories and the people, etched in stone and when you’re ready, return to your car and enjoy a leisurely drive back into town, where fabulous food and drinks await.

Local military men involved in combat were buried on the battlefield, however many mentioned on their family headstones.

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Drive 5 - Red Cliffs

This historic Driving Tour complied by Red Cliffs and District Historical Society.

• The tour begins and ends at Big Lizzie, the icon of Red Cliffs, standing on the corner of Barclay Square on the Calder Highway. Big Lizzie was the giant engine used to clear the area for soldier settlement after the First War.

• Park and listen to the Big Lizzie story then take a walk around the Square. It was originally laid out as the public domain for the town and included significant public buildings. The Water Tower displays a mural depicting the history of Red Cliffs.

• The State Rivers & Water Supply Commission [SR&WSC] was the authority responsible for the planning and development of Red Cliffs and allocating blocks to the original settlers. Supplying water to 700 blocks within 4 years for Australia’s largest irrigated Soldier Settlement Scheme was an incredible achievement in engineering and management.

• The Square is named as a memorial to Cr. Nathaniel [Nat] Barclay a decorated returned serviceman and MLA for Mildura. Barclay Square also includes the Cenotaph and memorials to worthy locals.

• The memorial cairn in the centre of Indi Ave honours local politician Percy Stewart who died in office in 1931. The cairn was unveiled by his friend, former Prime Minister Billy Hughes.

• Along Indi Ave is Diggerland Theatre one of the earliest buildings of Red Cliffs. It was built in 1922 as an entertainment centre for the Diggers. It began showing silent movies and later live theatre and community balls were held there.

• Along Jamieson Ave is the Court House, now home to the Red Cliffs & District Historical Society’s local history collection, and the RSL building which houses an excellent military museum.

• On the corner is the A.S. Kenyon Library. A.S. Kenyon was the supervisor/engineer for the SR&WSC and provided the vision behind the development of the Red Cliffs settlement. He suggested the location and negotiated the purchase from the Chaffey Brother’s Company.

Time: 90 minutes - Distance: 22.2kms See map on page 73

The State Rivers & Water Supply Commission buildings and Tower, from Indi Ave.

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• Return to your car and proceed along the Calder Highway [Jacaranda St.] south towards Melbourne. The street plantings here are Jacaranda trees. Red Cliffs’ streets which run North South were named after plants. The avenues which run East West were named after rivers.

• The Fergie tractor in the winery grounds honours the effort in building protection levees during the big flood of 1956.

• Turn right at Karadoc Railway Station. The 1901 steam train Lukee, was acquired in 1924 by the SR&WSC to transport briquettes from the Red Cliffs Railway siding to the pumps at Cliffside. It has been restored by the Sunraysia Steam Preservation Society and operates on special days courtesy of the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway volunteers.

• Continue along Millewa Road to Lowan Avenue.

• Turn left to visit the Pioneer Cemetery which is on the left.

• Retrace your steps to Millewa Road, turn left to Lawn Cemetery and Pioneer Plantation.

• Return towards Red Cliffs along the highway for 1km. Turn left into Murray Ave.

• Red Cliffs Primary School was opened on this site in November 1924. Turn right at Kauri Avenue. This side of the railway was the site of the temporary tent accommodation during the formative years. Later it became the industrial part of the settlement where produce was packed and loaded on trains for market.

• Red Cliffs had four Packing Sheds for dried fruit. The first being the Red Cliffs Cooperative Society’s shed. The first consignment of dried fruit was farewelled for Britain mid-April 1924 with much pride. At the ‘T’ turn right.

• Cross the highway into Fitzroy Ave. Behind the houses on the left, is Quandong Park sporting grounds. Red Cliffs biggest event, with over 30,000 in attendance, was held here on March 25th 1954 when the RSL hosted the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

• On the left side of the road behind the Scout Hall is a mound, evidence of the rail track for Lukee which followed Pumps Rd.

• The roads around Red Cliffs are planned like the channels to follow the contours of the land. This area is known as ‘The Spider’s Web’ where even locals become lost. Opposite the Web Store was the site of the Karadoc stockyards from the pastoralist era. This soil was particularly fertile for the lucky settler allocated this block.

• Turn right around the roundabout then immediately left into Pumps Rd. Along this road you will cross the main irrigation channel.

• Reaching Woomera Ave turn left to Cliffside and the Pumps and Power station.

1.2

1.5

4

4.3

5.1

8.1

9.3

10

10.8

11

11.8

12.1

14.9

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• The Pumping Station was the epicentre of the whole settlement. The water was pumped into channels and gravity fed to all the block allocations. For many years the pumps were the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. From here you can see the road crossing over the rising main pipes one of which is original. U turn at the Power Station entrance.

• Retrace your steps veering left onto Woomera Avenue.

• Arrive at the Red Cliffs Lookout. The view gives an idea of the vegetation before clearing for settlement. The Chaffeys considered establishing their colony here but the cliffs were too high for pump engineering of the time. In 1956 the river flooded these river flats and by August threatened the pumps and SEC power plant. The giant levee bank is still visible.

• Return to Woomera and turn left at the next T intersection. On your left 200m up is a car park for Red Gum Gully. The cliffs can be accessed with a short walk and is a must. A closer look reveals shell fragments from aboriginal middens.

• Continue on Woomera around the corner and turn right into Nursery Ridge Rd. Native Murray pine trees can be seen along the roadside. Nursery Ridge was where 3 million vine cuttings were nurtured for the original plantings. Follow the road over a channel into Indi Ave and back towards the town.

• Turn right into Heath Street, Red Cliffs.

• The SR&WSC reserved two allotments in the town for each church who wished to apply. Two are along Heath St. St Marks Anglican Church is so named because 25th April, ANZAC Day, is St Mark’s Day. The first Salvation Army meeting hall was erected in a day on the town’s west side and in January 1923 transferred to Heath St. Turn left into Heytsbury Ave.

• Turn left into Heytsbury Avenue. George V Memorial Baths was built in 1935 financed partly by public subscription and fund raising. A feature was the cartoon characters painted on the pool floor. Turn left at the Calder Highway.

• The Red Cliffs Hotel was built in 1934 with fine stained glass windows featuring European scenes. Continue along to tour end at Barclay Square.

A more detailed tour is available on the Red Cliffs & District Historical Society Website. Search: Red Cliffs History.

Big Lizzie Lukee Train Unveiling Stewart Memorial

16

16.2

17

17.4

21.4

21.6

21.922.2

15.5

70

0

1,410

metres

Scale:

1:22

,530

Wal

nut A

venu

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Cure

ton

Ave

extn

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Huge King DriveWashington Drive

Rive

rsid

e Av

enue

Thirteenth Street

San

Mat

eo A

venu

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Dou

glas

Ave

nue

U

U

Drive 1 - Mildura

Time, distance and map should be used as a guide only.

71

U

U

U

UU

U

Drive 2 - Nichols Point area

Time, distance and map should be used as a guide only.

72

5,416

Scale: 1:86,540m

etres

0

Fifteenth Street / Calder Highw

ay

Seve

ntee

nth

Stre

et

McEdward Street

River Avenue

Comm

ercial Street

Honour Avenue

Paschendale Avenue

Cowanna Avenue

Main Avenue

Channel Road

Eigt

htee

nth

stre

et /

Gor

don

Aven

ue

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

Drive 3 - Koorlong, Birdwoodton & Merbein

Time, distance and map should be used as a guide only.

SIXTEENTH STREET

SEVENTEENTH STREET

TO APEX PARK

MILDURA CENTRAL

* This is a concept map, not to scale and to be used as a guide only for todays tour.

RIO VISTA

NOWINGI PLACE & WATER PLAY

WA

TER

TO

WER

The Chaffey Trail Reference Group in collaboration with the Mildura and District Historical Society with support from Merbein and Red Cliffs Historical Societies believe this to be an accurate document as at

the time of printing 1 May 2015

Drive 4 - Nichols Point Cemetery

U

Murray Ave

U

Drive 5 - Red Cliffs

Red Cliffs Streets: Rivers names run in alphabetical order east-west direction.Tree names run in alphabetical order, run north-south direction.

73

Time, distance and map should be used as a guide only.

RIVERSIDE AVE

11TH ST

5TH ST

14TH ST

15TH ST/CA

LDER H

WY (TO

MELBO

URN

E)

19TH ST

BELAR AVE

KOORLONG

20TH ST

ONTARIO AVE

FLORA AVE

DYAR AVE

TO CULLULLERAINE

WERRIMULL

MERINGUR

ADELAIDESTURT HWY

CALDER HWY

SILVER CITY HW

Y

APEXPARK

DARETON

WALNUT AVE

DEAKIN AVE

SAN MATEO AVE

ETIWANDA AVE

BENETOOK AVE

COWRA AVE

SANDILONG AVE

KARADOC AVE

KOORLONG AVE

IRYMPLE AVE

MORPUNG AVE

GINQUAM AVE

BELAR AVE

DEWRY AVE

CURETON AVE

9

Historic Walking & Driving Tours

May, 2015

For more information please email chaffey.trail@mildura.vic.gov.auFor more history information please email mildurahistorical@gmail.com

Trace the story of how Mildura became an irrigated oasis in the midst of an arid landPsyche Pumps

Mildura Wharf

Rio Vista

The Coffee Palace