Three states in three days

As you know, I started my day on Friday in New South Wales (at Broken Hill) and ended it in South Australia (in Waikerie).  Well today I went to my third state in three days - Victoria, to a town called Mildura.

Mildura is a regional city in north-western Victoria, on the banks of the Murray River, with a current population of approx. 30 000.
A major drought in Victoria from 1877 to 1884 prompted Alfred Deakin who was the Chairman of a Royal Commission on water supply to visit California to see irrigation work that was being done there.  In California, Deakin met George and William Chaffey, and the Chaffeys' model irrigation settlement really impressed Deakin, who in turn impressed them with the potential for irrigation for the Murray River in Australia.  In 1886 George Chaffey came to Australia and selected a derelict sheep station at the present site of Mildura as the site for his first irrigation settlement.  After much political wrangling, the settlement of Mildura was established in 1887.
The Chaffeys developed a series of steam-driven pumps to lift the water from the Murray River, first into a billabong area and then subsequently to various heights to irrigate up to 33 000 acres.
In addition to the irrigation system the Chaffey brothers also wanted to make Mildura a vibrant community and their plans included many visionary concepts.  Today visitors can follow the Chaffey Trail to see many historical landmarks of the Mildura area and the Chaffey brothers.

Now why am I telling you all this?  ---  Because George and William Chaffey were Canadian, born in Brockville, Ontario!

Now did you see those words --- Murray River?  Yes, again today I was visiting another location along the river.

Mildura is also home to Lock 11, one of many locks that are located along the Murray River.  Lock 11 was completed in 1927 and it is one of the stops along the Chaffey Trail.

Paddleboats are a popular attraction at Mildura, and it is home to three historic boats.  The P.S. Melbourne was originally built for the Victorian government as a work boat in 1912 and it was completely restored to a passenger carrying steamer in 1965.

Going for a walk along the riverbank was a good opportunity to see some bird life - and thankfully I managed to get a few pictures before things flew away.

These corellas are white cockatoos - a medium-sized bird that makes the largest, most ungodly screeching noise!

No, I didn't choose the name of these birds --- this is a purple swamphen!

And a little parrot too.

When visiting Mildura something else you notice is a number of substantial modern sculptures in public areas.  This project began modestly in 1961 and it was the first event to promote and encourage large scale contemporary sculpture - it was quite unique in the history of Australian art.  Artists came to Mildura from all around Australia and overseas - and the project was also renown for happening in a remote, regional location.

There is also a self-guided walking tour you can take in Mildura which highlights the Art Deco heritage still found in and around the city.  Many significant buildings in Mildura exhibit features that were built during the Art Deco period (1920-1950).
Etheringtons the Jewellers was established in 1932 and the Art Deco shop front and interior is still intact.

The T&G Tower is a Mildura icon.  It was built in the 1920's and the symmetrical stepped detailing to the walls and top section of the clock tower are a classic Art Deco feature.

And one other important thing in Mildura is a micro-brewery!  It produces 6 permanent beers along with several seasonal brews, and because I couldn't possibly pick which one to try I had the sampling platter instead.

Although not a long visit, it was a good visit to Mildura.