Mildura, Australia

Mildura is a city in northwestern Victoria, Australia. It is located in the Rural City of Mildura. Mildura is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the bank of the Murray River, at geographic coordinates 34°11′ S 142°09′ E. The town population was 23,893 at the 2001 census.

History

Many Aboriginal people lived around the site of Mildura because of the abundant food. Local tribes included the Latje Latje and Yerre Yerre. Europeans noticed this abundance, and decided to harness it. So they brought sheep to graze the natural pastures.

The towns of Wentworth, Gol Gol, Curlwaa and Yelta sprang up in the mid to late 1800's. The number of Aboriginals started to decrease.

Then came the scourge of the rabbit. This devastated the sheep farmers, especially south of the Murray. The Victorian government decided the region was the perfect place for an irrigation colony. So they sent for the Canadian Chaffey brothers, who had been very successful at such projects in the USA.

After much political wrangling, the settlement of Mildura was established in 1887. It was named after the Mildura sheep station that provided most of the land. The name is of Aboriginal origin, and means either "red sand" or "sore eyes".

The new settlement grew and grew. It was soon the main town of the district. Suburbs and new satellite towns sprang up. In 1937 it officially became a city.

Transport

Mildura is on the intersection of the Sturt Highway from Adelaide to Sydney, and the Calder Highway to Melbourne via Bendigo.

Mildura has a railway connection to Melbourne, however V/Line actually runs a daily bus to Ballarat, and several times weekly to Swan Hill, both connecting to Melbourne.

Mildura has the busiest regional airport in Victoria, serviced by five Qantaslink flights daily to Melbourne, three Regional Express flights to Melbourne, and two O'Conner Airlines flights daily to Adelaide.