January 10-16
Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society.
Compiled by Judi Hyde and Sue Kelly for Mildura Rural City Council Library Service.
100 YEARS AGO
HISTORY: The first brick building to be erected in Mildura was the Chaffey Bros office — the next adjoining it was Mr Jas. Hudson’s and it was quickly followed by the Cultivator office in Deakin Avenue. In those days Mildura was a town of canvas. Between 400 and 500 men were employed in building and engineering work along the river front exclusive of the men clearing, grinding and planting gangs so the population was fairly large. Life flowed merrily enough in the first few years despite hardships and privation. The accompanying group photographed on one hot Sunday afternoon in 1889 included Mr Dan Edmunds, Lord Ranfurly, Dr Abramowski, the Rev Jas. Trathan (first Wesleyan Minister), Constable A.B. Carter (in white helmet, second row), Messrs W. Ciarson, F.L.S. & F.J. Noble, J. Billington, P. Jeffrey, E.W. Cross, W.S. Glasson, W.M. Patterson, N.B. McKay, R.E. Lord, F.E. Boyden, Taggert, N. Jamieson, F. Leonard, W.A. Stern, H.P. Thomson, F. Fleetwood, J. Braithwaite, H.F. Jones, E. Fitzroy, F.W. Pickering, P. McLaren, E.F. Cooke, C.J. Skinner, E.W.N. Anderson, J. Wilson, Arthur Wheatcroft, W.B. Christie and school master Matthew. It was taken near the wharf the house in the background then nearing completion was a residence erected by Mr Sharland for Mr W.F. Waddington — it stood on the site now traversed by the railway line.
PROHIBITION: Mildura was a prohibition settlement but the climate was no less thirst-inducing then from now and Constable Carter reduced the discovery and capture of sly-grog sellers to a fine art. Some “big bags” stood to his credit. Mr Edmunds stated that the constable’s record was 45 in one batch. Prohibition or not, the settlers decided to establish a club and the original 50 members of the old Mildura Club (including Mr Edmunds) met in the Coffee Palace, after its completion. Constable Carter’s activities were correspondingly reduced until rapid growth of population created a bigger thirst than could be slaked by one club and history repeated itself. Because of the lack of accommodation, because Mildura has but one hotel instead of six, because the boarding houses of the town are always full to overflowing, because the supply of dwelling houses lag far behind the demand and perhaps the grace of hospitality is not quite so the entertainment of a visitor and the holding of the Australian Natives Assoc. Conference here is hard. The delegates will most likely spend an average of five pounds each in the district we need every mayor of every borough and every president of every shire in Victoria at the expense of the growers to visit so they might go back to their centres as unpaid missionaries preaching the gospel of Sunraysia, singing the praises of our dried fruits.
BUILDER: Mr Dan Edmunds, Mildura’s first builder, in the foundation of Mildura played no inconsiderable part in our beginnings. His first residence was a simple one known as “The Bungalow”- constructed of Willesden paper, a light building material much in vogue for a short time. The house which stood on the site now occupied by Risbey’s Store was shared by Mr Edmunds and several friends and arguments sometime minuted by the disappearance of one or other of the parties through the wall. In scratch games of cricket played near the house, lost balls were frequent for the same reason. The first private house put up in Mildura after the “Warren” undid neighbours was a wooden one still standing in Langtree Avenue by Mr Edmunds. Mr Edmunds did not solely focus his activities to house building, as at the old saw mill he was engaged in boat-building and states that he built the Ellen, Ruby and Nellie and rebuilt the Pearl, which was imported by the Chaffeys from America as an ideal type of light-draft river craft — one of those remarkable vessels claimed by her designers to be able to sail across country or over a wet stone. Mr Chaffey was most optimistic and asked Mr Edmunds to make plans for a “Lop” that should include four decks.
75 YEARS AGO
LOCK ISLAND: After having been closed from public inspection for over four years, Lock Island will be open this week. Lockmaster of Lock 11, Mildura, (Mr. G. L. Vale) said he had received a communication from the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, informing him that all National Security Regulations applying to Lock Island had been revoked. This means that one of the most beautiful show places in Sunraysia is now open to both local and tourist traffic.
CAMPING: Mildura might be called the Mecca of campers. During recent weeks cars, trucks and many types of transport, packed to the limit, have been seen in Mildura, heading for camping site. The majority of camps have been established on the river bank. Numerous holiday makers from Broken Hill and many other distant towns were among the visiting campers.
TEMPERATURE: For four consecutive days, the maximum temperature recorded at the Mildura post office has been well over the century mark. An interesting feature was that at 6 o’clock last night the temperature was still 106 degrees.
50 YEARS AGO
SWIMMING: Little Flippers has achieved great success. The object is to encourage juniors to learn to swim and the races they hold help improve their swimming strokes. The swimmers are aged four to eight. Races are held every Saturday morning and parents attend as well as 40 to 50 swimmers. Merbein, Mildura and Irymple swimming clubs have also formed similar Little Flipper groups which are hoped to have as much success as Red Cliffs.
CURRANTS: A heavy crop of currants is expected in Sunraysia this season, but harvesting will be a week or more later than usual. Growers have reported a large number of bunches, a good setting of fruit, and good size berries. But ripening is a long way behind average. The delayed maturity situation is district-wide, and being attributed to changeable weather conditions which cause the fruit to flower in two distinct stages.
TEMPERATURE: Sunraysia sweltered as the mercury climbed to 108.4 degrees. Two people collapsed from the heat. Ouyen was the worst hit in the state-wide heatwave. Top temperature there was 110 degrees. Mildura almost came to a standstill.
25 YEARS AGO
BAGPIPES: The skirl of the pipes, a whiff of haggis, a bright tartan and the lyrical magic of Robbie Burns…what more could a Scottie lad or lass ask for. Last year the Rotary Club of Mildura Deakin held its first Burns night, and such was the success of the club venture that it has been decided to “go public” this year. To celebrate the bicentenary of Robbie Burns’ death, the club has planned an extensive program of feasting, fun, poetry, song and dance.
PUNT ENDURO: The Old Man River section of the annual Punt Enduro will be expanded next year after a huge response from fishing enthusiasts last Saturday. More than 20 boats took part in the Old Man River event, which requires entrants to fish in certain areas at specified times, while also giving them time to test their favourite fishing spots. The fishing competition operates on a points system with prizes awarded in categories including biggest and most fish. Bambill Football Club organised the enduro and according to club president, Brett Robertson, planning would begin immediately to attract up to 50 boats next year.
HARVEST LABOUR OFFICE: The Mildura Harvest Labour Office, set to open its doors on Monday, has already attracted a record number of early vacancies for harvest labour. HLO co-ordinator Tom Crouch said the organising committee was delighted with the response from district growers and the interest being shown by potential pickers inquiring when thy might have a job. The 1995-96 harvest will be different to recent years in that the grape growing industry is taking a higher profile in the planning and operation of the harvest office as Mildura CES participation is reduced.
