July 25 – 31, 2021 Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society

Compiled by Judi Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Library Service

100 years ago

MERBEIN: Mr Kenny spoke of two early settlers who took up land in Merbein - one arrived with five pounds and said he believed he borrowed that, he sold his block three years ago for 9900 pounds. A second man, a Ballarat miner with two sons took up 5½ acres, and in order to carry that out he had to go out to work for seven shillings a day and he cleared, planted and trellised his block after his paid work was done - this he did for two years until he had to his whole time to his block. Mr Kenny said compared to other pioneers, Merbein pioneers really had few hardships to undergo. The railway reached their doors almost as soon as the settlement came into being, and the butcher, baker and candlestick-maker from Mildura supplied their daily household needs. However fortune favours the brave, it is said, so as Merbein was fortunate on the whole, so may it be called brave in the sense that so many of its pioneers started operations with so little capital. The confidence of the Water Commission in the possibilities of Merbein was undoubtedly a good factor in its success. The chairman, Mr Cattanach, was so imbued with the belief that the soil was not only suited for fruit growing but was not surpassed by anything he had seen in the famed orchards of America that he strongly advised to grow fruit and vines rather than lucerne-growing and dairying as originally carried on. In Merbein there are 60 miles of channels, nearly three-quarters of them concreted. An account of Merbein's early history, as it was then called White Cliffs, would not be complete without mention the late Mr Charles Grant, BCE who was its first district engineer, he also guided the destinies of many in Merbein with great success until the time of his death. (30.7.1921)

EYRE: Mr Edward J. Eyre, born in Yorkshire, England, 1815, came to Sydney in 1833 and engaged in sheep farming on the Lower Murray where he was also a magistrate and protector of Aboriginals. He explored much country especially in Central Australia, the settlement of King George Sound, which became well-known because of its harbour from 1926 as a popular whaling port. In 1840 he set out from Adelaide with a party of whites and blacks to explore the country north and the Torrens to ascertain the nature of Lake Torrens, it was actually a semi-circular chain of lakes and lakelets. From Mt. Hopeless he gazed on a cheerless aspect, losing all trace of Flinders Ranges and leaving most of his party he attempted to reach the Great Bight in hope of more favourable country opening up inland only to find the impenetrable land where Cox vanished. Having constructed water-bags and resting the cattle, he forged ahead with the few sheep that had belonged to the earlier expedition and a few bags of flour. "We were now alone with a fearful task before us. The bridge is broken - we must succeed or perish," Eyre wrote. The head of the Bight was rounded again and the same forbidding country was met extending along its western arm with the vegetation but scattered grass - death had come to his hapless mate. So far as companionship - Eyre realised he was alone. He signalled a French whaler and was taken aboard. He was later lieutenant-governor of New Zealand and many places were named after him. (30.7.1921)

ITEMS: Plans have been submitted to the Borough Council for a swimming bath, 20 by 66ft, to be erected in Langtree Ave - this will give three laps to the hundred yards - the baths will be heated for the winter months. More luggage thefts on the railway. The Railway Department plans to beautify the Mildura Station by leasing the adjoining land at a rental of 1 pound per annum and fencing it. Mr I. C. Anderson, architect of Mildura and Geelong will visit Mildura to meet with the library committee in regard to the erection of a war memorial clock tower at the Carnegie Library. A successful concert was held in aid of funds for Tyalla School. Cr Thompson has suggested naming some of the Merbein streets after fallen soldiers from Merbein who had died in World War I, Tom Surgey, Fred Saunders, Alf Cameron, K. Cameron, J. Obrien, F. Foster, Fred Chaffey, B. Seggie, K. Power, Smith, Flynn and Fred Box. (28/30.7.1921)

75 years ago

CLUBS: The Settler's Club president entertained the pioneer members by quoting some of their reminiscences of the past. "Can you remember the days when they caught baskets of fish from the wharf?" "That's nothing; what about the time we used to pull up the Melbourne train and cook bacon and eggs at the wayside camp and the passengers snored through it all?" "I didn't have my passage money given to me, but my first night in Mildura, after travelling from England was spent under a river-bank gum tree". These were memories exchanged including, "In the old days I can remember when it was never certain whether the train was going to be three hours late or early", said Mr Ford. Officers of No. 1 Zone of Apex have visited the local club to discuss questions affecting the movement and future plans of Apex here. Emphasis was placed on the value of Apex in promoting the spirit of community service among young men and the vast possibilities it gave like the busy scene today at Apex Park where they are creating a first-class tourist camping area with lawns and gardens. (25.7.1946)

NEWS: During the last year over 300 books, mostly the reference type, have been purchased at a cost of just $80 for the Merbein District Children's Library which now contains 3361 books. The third of a series of welcome home socials was held for 23 local returned service personnel in the Merbein South Hall - 19 others could not attend. In Red Cliffs, the delay in the construction and drainage of Guava Street is because the making of the pipes that need to be laid first are awaiting cement supplies. The work of extending the road over No.6 channels completed and about 20 men are engaged in cleaning and repairing channels for the irrigation season. Floodwaters in north-east Victoria are continuing to rise, breaking banks at Albury and spreading out over miles of open country entering streets and houses in low lying areas. (25/9.7.1946)

ITEMS: Police and CIB men have found underground workshops in Tel Aviv where "the milk churn bomb" was made. It wrecked the King David Hotel in Jerusalem last week - arrests have been made - 82 people died, 46 injured and 28 missing. The suspects are members of the Val Luem and Stern Gang. British authorities in Germany have abandoned the plan to raze the vast arms centre of Krupps which once employed 68,000 workers. When the Steamer Orbita, carrying 576 passengers, mostly war brides and their children arrived at Princes Pier some passengers were so disgusted with the conditions on the ship that they are going to demand part fare refund - many fights and drunkenness on board. The crew threw a dummy model of a figure overboard to amuse the crowd on the wharf as the ship was berthing. Mr George Bernard Shaw believes that people would be able to live 300 years "which is the necessary life span of worthwhile human life". The decision of the RSL state conference to exclude communists from membership of the league is to be discussed at the next meeting of the federal executive. (25/30.7.1946)

50 years ago

SCHOOL: Irymple Technical School will take girls for the first time next year on its unique agriculture course. The principal (Mr Frank Lyons) said that he expected about a dozen girls in all would be admitted to the Fourth and Fifth forms. They would be the only female students among some 500 boys.

GOLF: Mildura's Golf Week opened, with a capacity field competing in the mixed events at the Mildura and Riverside golf clubs. The first round of the Murray Valley Associates Championships at the Mildura Golf Club starts as well.

25 years ago

MERBEIN: Mildura Rural City Council chief commissioner Hugh Delahunty yesterday turned the first sod in a ceremony to mark the construction of the Multi-Purpose Centre. The centre will house a pre-school, maternal and child health centres, toy library, senior citizens' club and community rooms. Work on the centre, located on the corner of O'Bryan and Chaffey streets, will start in about two weeks. The centre was designed by Geoff Sparkes and will be built by Gol Gol-based builder, Ray King, of RJ, and E.M. King. (30.07.1996)

WAKEFIELD: Mildura's Olympic bronze medallist Deserie Wakefield has already turned her attention to winning a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, her elated father and coach Gordon Wakefield said yesterday. There was great elation at the family home when Deserie reached the final round and then won the bronze medal after a shoot-off to decide second and third placings. (26.07.1996)

MURRAYVILLE: Mildura had its moment of Olympic glory this week with Deserie Wakefield's bronze medal effort in the women's double trap shooting. Soon it could be the turn of another north-west Victorian town to celebrate. Australian basketballer Rachael Sporn hails from Murrayville, and with the Opals a big medal chance in Atlanta, the citizens of the small town, about 150km south-west of Mildura, have followed the team's fortunes closely. (27.07.1996)