FACTS ABOUT THE MILDURA REGION
ECONOMY
The Mildura Region (also known as Sunraysia
and part of the wider Murray Valley) has a
diverse thriving economy. Mildura is
immediately surrounded by an irrigation-based
horticultural area, with dryland cropping on its
fringe. Agriculture, coupled with a population in
excess of 57,000 enables the region to sustain
a significant commercial and industrial base.
The two major regional locations are Mildura in
Victoria and Wentworth in New South Wales.
Squatters, soldiers, settlers, drovers, entrepreneurs, Prime Ministers, explorers and many others appear throughout the colourful history of the Mildura region. Aborigines lived in the Mallee for many thousands of years before European settlement, and indigenous descendants still live in the region.
The 1830s search for an inland sea resulted instead in the naming of the Darling and Murray Rivers by Captain Charles Sturt, who was the first on record to suspect a junction where Wentworth is situated today. Explorers began occupying land for sheep grazing from the 1840s. In 1887, the enterprising Canadian brothers, George and William Benjamin Chaffey, at the invitation of Alfred Deakin, travelled from California to set up irrigation colonies at Renmark and Mildura.
The region’s first horticultural industry was dried fruits (raisins and sultanas) followed post Second World War by citrus. More recently it has been dominated
by wine grapes, table grapes, large scale wine production (Southcorp, Hardy Wine Company, Beringer Blass, McGuigan Simeon Wines) and food processing (Mildura Fruit Company Ltd, Sunbeam Foods and Irymple Group).
Currently this irrigated oasis produces approximately 21% each of Australia’s total wine grape crush, 20% of citrus production and almost 100% of Australia’s dried vine fruit production.
The emerging new industry is mineral sands mining, as focus shifts from coastal areas to a new frontier in the rich Murray Valley basin. Major deposits located north of Wentworth and south of Mildura will ensure the future development of this vital international industry.
The region’s mediterranean climate and proximity to the Murray and Darling Rivers has ensured a flourishing tourism industry. The region boasts notable established sporting and recreational facilities.
The existing critical mass and growing population means all major services such as hospitals, airports, schools, banks, supermarkets, cinema, doctors, lawyers and accountants (professionals and tradespersons) are extensively represented.
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Mildura Region Geographical Indicator The data and tables contained in this publication refer to either the Mildura Region, the Murray Valley or the Tri State-Lower Murray Darling, depending on the industry profiled. |
