Mildura History

Pre 20th Century

Many Aborigines settled around Mildura to be near the Murray River and plentiful food. After the arrival of the English, numbers began to dwindle and by the late 1800s few remained.

An irrigation colony was called for to support the growing number of new settlers and the Chaffey brothers from Canada were asked to help establish the settlement given their experience in irrigating large rivers. By 1887 Mildura (meaning 'red sand' in an Aboriginal language) officially became a town. The Chaffey's legacy is well documented in Mildura. Rio Vista house, built by the Chaffeys, retains many of its original features.

Modern

Sheep farmers were hit hard by a rabbit plague that devasted the area in the 1890s and slowed the pace of settlement for a while. It wasn't long, however, before things began to boom again and growing suburbs and satellite districts ensured Mildura gained city status in 1937.

Recent

Mildura is a major producer of citrus fruit and wine, thanks to its warm climate and well-watered fields. Foodies are well catered for in the city's restaurants, and the region is popular with locals and travellers looking to have an 'out bush' experience without having to make 'chiko rolls' (an Aussie take on a Chinese spring roll) and chips their daily staple.

Recently there were wranglings over a proposed toxic waste dump near Mildura (and two national parks). In January 2007, however, the Victorian Government abandoned its proposal.