Our Region

In 1886 George Chaffey arrived in Australia and selected the Mildura sheep run on the Murray River as the site for his first irrigation settlement.  Mildura was officially established in 1887 and the first irrigation channels were constructed, making it one of the first horticulture regions in Australia.

Mildura is located on the Murray River in north west Victoria on the border of New South Wales – 550kms nor west from Melbourne, 400kms north east of Adelaide and 1080kms west of Sydney.

The Mildura region has access to sufficient water and wastewater for future business and industry growth.  Water is managed in the region through various government organisations. The Murray Darling Basin Authority is the Commonwealth agency that allocates base loads of water from the overall river system.  The Victorian Government through its agent, Goulburn-Murray Water, manages the transfer of water to the local corporation, Lower Murray Water. Bulk water entitlements are made available for urban users (residential and industrial), rural users (irrigation) and the environment.

Irrigated horticulture  utilised 77,750 hectares of land  in 2003 – an almost 24% increase from 1997.

The Mildura region economy generates $2.788 billion in Gross Regional Product (GRP) per annum and is diversified across agriculture/horticulture, advanced manufacturing, logistics and services. 

The Mildura region is one Australia’s most important areas for agribusiness (and in particular, horticultural) production.  For example the region grows the following percentage of Australia’s produce:

95% of dried vine fruit

74% of table grapes

41% of pistachios

65% of almonds

24% of citrus

20% of wine grape crush

16% of asparagus

11% of carrots

For further information and data go to Mildura Development Corporation  www.smedb.com.au/

Swan Hill Rural City is principally an agricultural and horticultural region deriving its income from these industries and the businesses that service them.

The municipality is bordered by the Murray River, Australia’s greatest river, for over 300 kilometres and is highly dependent on it for irrigation, domestic and industrial water supplies as well as active and passive recreational pursuits.

Swan Hill and Robinvale are the two largest service centres in the municipality, however a number of smaller towns such as Lake Boga, Manangatang, Nyah, Nyah West, Piangil, Ultima and Woorinen South offer a variety of lifestyles.

For further information go to: www.swanhill.vic.gov.au/region/about

The Gannawarra Shire is located in the Loddon Murray region in the state of Victoria, Australia and is 3 hours’ drive from Melbourne.

Gannawarra Shire is one of Victoria’s most diverse agricultural regions in the thriving Loddon Murray Region in the north of the state and comprises the towns of Cohuna, Koondrook, Kerang, Murrabit, Lalbert, Quambatook and Leitchville.

For further information go to: www.gannawarra.vic.gov.au/