Originally published August 11, 1987
ONE hundred years ago, this flourishing city that 18,000 people call home was a drought stricken sheep station which could scarcely give life to one sheep per 30 acres.
It was an isolated and desolate landscape yet it somehow inspired two pioneering brothers from America to leave their homeland and risk all they owned in an attempt to make this dry land live.
The fertile fruit tree studded garden of the Mildura homestead convinced George Chaffey, during a three-day visit to the station in 1886, of the potential irrigating and life giving power of the Murray River.
After buying the Mildura homestead, George cabled his brother W. B. to sell their American interests and come to Australia.
On May 31, 1887, an indenture was drawn up and signed by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Brougham Loch KCB, and the Chaffey brothers giving the brothers possession of 250,000 acres of land at Mildura for an irrigation colony.
It was the Mildura of today that the Chaffey brothers had the vision to foresee amidst dust and sun-baked soil, 100 years ago.
It is the vision, and the signing of the famous proclamation, that the citizens of Mildura will be celebrating today when the Governor of Victoria Dr Davis McCaughey proclaims August 11, 1987, as Mildura’s official centenary day.
Papers will be signed by the Governor, Mildura Shire President, Cr Nick Ribarich, and the Mildura Mayor, Cr John Blain, at a special ceremony to be held at the Mildura Arts Centre this morning at 10.30am.
The centenary will be attended by a select audience including Mildura City and Shire councillors and a delegation of special guests from Mildura’s sister city, Upland, in the United States.
The proclamation ceremony at the Arts Centre will be the highlight of the coming centenary celebrations.
The Mildura Centenary Historical Week officially began yesterday with the arrival of the Governor, his wife, and entourage by train (vice-regal carriage).
The vice-regal carriage will be the Governor’s accommodation during his four day stay.
Following the official signing, the Governor will unveil the special centenary sculpture honoring Alfred Deakin to mark Mildura’s 100 years of settlement.
The sculpture, the work of Melbourne sculptor Michael Meszaros, was donated by the Lanyon family, of Mildura, as a gift to the community.
It is situated on the 7th Street lawns and stands more than two metres tall and nearly three metres wide.
The unveiling will take place at 2.30pm and is open to the public.
This will be the community’s chance to share in the official preoccupation activities.
Entertainment prior to the unveiling will be provided by the 20 piece Mildura Technical School band.
