To Mildura

Euston, NSW

Row of grape vines, with yellowing leaves and blue sky with light clouds

Most of the Murray Valley Highway route is through Victoria. But before reaching Mildura, the main route crosses into New South Wales, near the town of Euston.

And this photo shows one of the big changes in the last 50 years - the enormous number of vineyards. This one is clearly well past prime for this year's harvest.

Bunch of ripe, red grapes in amongst the yellowing leaves

The same vineyard as above, but showing the pickers missed a few grapes. Presumably they were not ready for harvesting at the time of harvest.

Gol Gol, NSW

View down a river, trees both sides, and grey sky

Gol Gol is just a few kilometres from Mildura, but on the NSW side of the river. And it is located on a scenic bend in the river. This is the view looking WSW, downstream towards Mildura.

Dead trees in water at river's edge, green trees behind them

Did these trees die from lack of water in the drought, or too much water? Or just a natural part of life - trees do have a finite life.

Boat tied up to river bank at bend in river, with dead trees in water, green ones on land

Looking upstream on the river, roughly SE. There were a number of boats parked along the river bank. They appeared to be boats for hire, possibly even for long duration journeys.

Mildura, VIC

Looking along wide median strip with trees and a sculpture something like the Ying & Yang diagram

Looking south west down the median strip of Deakin Avenue. How nice to see such a wide strip down the middle of the main street. The grey building on the right is where I stayed for the night. The plan was to spend 2 nights here, but there was a JJJ concert on the next night, and there was no accommodation available.

Dark brick church, with white trim and very tall spire, also white, trees behind

Mildura has quite a number of churches on Deakin Avenue. This is St. Andrews Uniting Church in Australia.

L shaped church of stone, with tower at short end of the L

Next church along Deakin Street is St. Margaret's Anglican Church.

Hexagonal church with orange and gray horizontal stripes, plus a pair of large palm trees

This Methodist Church is quite distinctive, with it's striped exterior.
Logo for 1964-2014 comparison

Drab gray church with black window frames and dark grey roof; no tower or spire

By comparison with other nearby churches, this Church of Christ is rather ordinary. And it is directly across Deakin Avenue from the Methodist Church above.

Looking down median strip with trees and grass, and a rotunda in among the trees, cars parked on the outside of the roads

Looking north along Deakin Avenue also called the Sturt Highway, from near the Civic Building near Ninth Street.

Statue of man with inscription, rotunda and trees behind, all in the median strip

Canadian brothers George and William Chaffey founded the towns of Mildura and Renmark (South Australia, further downstream). They also introduced irrigation into the area, using water from the Murray River. Their company went bankrupt in 1895, and George returned to the United States. William recovered financially, repaying his debts before his death in 1926.

This statue is of William Chaffey, located in the median of Deakin Avenue. The commemoration on the plaque is below.

Close up of man on pedestal, holding binoculars in right hand, walking stick and hat in left

The commemmoration to William Chaffey:

William Benjamin Chaffey, C.M.G.

Erected by his many friends in Mildura and throughout Australia.

Commemorating nearly 40 years of untiring labour on behalf of the Australian Dried Fruits Industry.

He and his elder brother George were the pioneers of irrigation in the Murray Valley, founding the settlements of Mildura and Renmark in the year 1887.

He was the moving spirit and for many years President of The Dried Fruits Association which, in time of stress, saved these settlements from extinction.

He laboured for the common good.

Platform with station building, rail line heading off in distance, gardens behind, viewed from bridge over tracks

Mildura's train station, right at the northern end of the city, and adjacent to the river. Presumably there was a port on the river to transfer goods between rail and river, as in Echuca.

View from bridge over road, to park area along the river bank

The Murray River at the northern end of Mildura. The building on the lower right is the Mildura Rowing Club. Mildura also has a number of paddlewheelers for tourists.

Street scene, tiled, street furniture and large awning in the middle

Langtree Avenue between Eighth and Ninth Streets has been closed to traffic and made into this pedestrian only precinct. This was late Friday afternoon.

Mildura by Night

Hexagonal, horizontal striped church floodlit for night

The Methodist Church certainly stands out at night at least as much as during the day.

Long exposure photo of street, parked cars and illuminated palm trees in middle of street

Mildura on a Friday night. This is Eight Street, looking NW, with the cross street being Langtree Avenue. The pedestrian area of Langtree starts at the intersection, heading off to the left (SW).

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