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Griffith - a quick History...

The thriving City of Griffith is the regional centre of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area an abundant, picturesque oasis in an area which the explorer John Oxley described in 1817 as being "uninhabitable and useless to civilised man". Proclaimed a City in 1987, Griffith, with its modern shops, sophisticated boutiques, international restaurants, clubs, tourist attractions, leisure, recreational and accommodation facilities, bursts with vitality and friendly warmth.

Griffith's path from "uninhabitable...howling wilderness" to today’s cosmopolitan city has been a relatively short one, having its beginnings less than eighty years ago with the advent to the area of irrigation.

Following exploration of the inland, the 19th century saw the westward movement of settlers who utilised the semi-arid plains as massive sheep stations.The Griffith district occupies land which originally formed part of the pastoral runs of Cuba (now Kooba) and Benerembah Stations. Then, in the late 19th century, Sir Samuel Mc Caughey proved how irrigation could change the agricultural landscapes - by the potential for diversified crops and livestock, and the capacity for intensive farming. The New South Wales Government legislated for the "Barren Jack and Murrumbidgee Canals Construction Act" in 1906; Barren Jack (now Burrinjuck) Dam was commenced in 1907; huge tracks of land were resumed, and the great scheme was launched.

Large numbers of men came to the area as construction workers, many with the aim of securing their own irrigation farms when released. The temporarily headquarters of the administrative agency for the scheme. The Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, were established 5km south of the present site of Griffith at Bagtown - so named because of the widespread use of old cement bags from the canal constructions as the main building material. Quite a little village developed there as shops and service industries sprung up to service the needs of the construction camps, the Commission, and the new farmers and their families.

The first farms were made available in 1912, and the influx to the area increased as potential farmers from as far afield as Sydney, Broken Hill and California responded to the Government's vigorous advertising campaign. Many Italian migrants were drawn to the area to pursue the type of farming familiar to them in their homeland - some had already tried their hand at mining at Broken Hill, others had only just arrived in the country. Since then, Italians have lived and worked in the area, encouraging relatives and friends to migrate. The input of their toil and culture have enriched the area to the degree that it is now regarded as one of the most successful multicultural communities in the country.

Following World War 1, the population of the area again received a boost as returned soldiers settled on the irrigation farms under government sponsorship. By 1923, soldier settlers represented about one half of the total holders of M.I.A. farms.

The Town of Griffith was proclaimed in 1916 and was named after Arthur Griffith, who was the New South Wales Minister for Public Works, 1910 - 1915. It was designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the Chicago architect who received world wide acclaim in 1912 when he won the competition for the design of Canberra. Like Canberra, his design for Griffith featured a distinctive radial pattern with wide tree - lined streets, ring roads and parks. The focal point of the town was to be a grand circle, the centre of government administration, crowning the central hill, with the business sector in close proximity. Griffin's plan, however was not completely adhered to for a number of reasons, including the fact that his town plan catered for a population of 30,000 - whereas the 1990 figure is approximately 15,500. Also, at the initial auction of business blocks in July, 1916, sites along the present main street, Banna Avenue, proved to be cheaper than those located nearer the grand circle and they were in closer proximity to the railway station.

World War 1 held up the building and settlement of the new town, but by late 1919 settlement had begun. Some businesses were reluctant to leave the thriving Bagtown to relocate in the new town which was some considerable distance in the days of horse-drawn transport. However, by early 1920's Bagtown had been abandoned, and all that now remains is the small Bagtown cemetery.

Up until 1928,the W.C. and I.C. undertook all the responsibilities normally shouldered by local government. In that year Wade Shire (named after the first commissioner, L.A.B. Wade) was constituted. Altered to Griffith Shire in 1982 following concern that its name was not identifiable with the town, the municipality is now known as Griffith City Council in accordance with its city status.

The miracle of irrigation has lead to the establishment of two main farm types in the area. Firstly, there are the horticultural farms with an average size of 16 hectares, clustered around the city and its satellite villages, producing citrus, grapes, prunes, peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums. Secondly, there are large area mixed farms of about 180 - 200 hectares, on which rice, winter cereals, vegetables, sheep and beef cattle constitute the major agricultural yields.

With few exceptions water is delivered to the various farms by gravitation, and each farm's intake is measured by a Dethridge Wheel which has become one of the symbols of the district. No single industry in the M.I.A. has enjoyed such spectacular success as rice growing. Tried as an experiment in the early 1920's, it rapidly gained favour with the large area farmers and is now the area's largest money earner.

Completing the thriving primary industry of the area, secondary and service industries have evolved and become well established, making decentralisation in Griffith a working reality. Packing houses and fruit juice factories pack and prepare fruit and vegetables for markets around Australia and overseas; rice is milled and packaged in local grower-owned mills; and Australia's largest egg and poultry enterprise is located near Griffith.

Many other heavy industries are allied with primary industries, such as the engineering and manufacture of harvesting and handling equipment, whilst others, such as the large building trade, aren't dependant on agriculture. Along with rice and citrus, grapes make up the third component in the three main income earners for the area. The local wine industry now produces 80 % of all wine produced in New South Wales. Both national and local wine - makers have established wineries in and around Griffith and have won many industry awards both in Australia and overseas. Most of the wineries are open for inspection and wine - tasting, with some offering guided tours and barbecue facilities. The Griffith Wine & Food Festival is held every Easter to celebrate the harvest. Festivities include champagne breakfasts, country music shows, wine tastings, banquets, wine auction, street procession and Venetian Carnival held on the main canal.

Griffith possesses service facilities worthy of a provincial city. Road, rail and air services connect the city with other centres around Australia, local radio, television and newspaper media inform and entertain the population and the excellent medical facilities are backed up by the base hospital with its attendant specialist services.

There are a huge array of recreational outlets in and around Griffith. All sorts of sports are catered for at the playing fields, sports ovals, indoor stadiums, racetracks, and pools within the city boundaries. As well, Lake Wyangan, 10 km from the city centre is an ideal location for water sports such as sailing, water skiing, power boating, rowing and windsurfing - and has 10 hectares of picturesque picnic grounds.

A little further afield, the Cocoparra National Park, 24 km from Griffith provides the opportunity for bushwalking, picnicking, nature study, bush camping and photography. The park is abundant with varieties of flora and fauna, and the springtime sees the area alive with colour as a great number of wildflowers burst into bloom.

The escarpment which forms the northern boundary of the city area, known as Scenic Hill, offers panoramic views of the city and farming area, as well as being criss-crossed by walking tracks for bushwalking enthusiasts. Also located on Scenic Hill is the Hermit's Cave. This small cave was home for many years to Valerio Riccetti, an Italian migrant who created cliffside gardens, whilst living as a recluse in the cave. Along with many of his countrymen, Riccetti, was interned at the nearby town of Hay during World War II, then following the War he returned to Italy. His hillside gardens are being restored to their former glory by a local service club.

Also located on Scenic Hill is the popular Pioneer Park Museum where buildings and machinery used in the early days of settlement are displayed in 17 hectares of bushland. The Park is involved in a major undertaking for the 1988 Bicentennial Year, by re-creating the temporary settlement of Bagtown from which Griffith had its humble beginnings.

For those interested in the more artistic forms of recreation, Griffith now boasts an impressive regional theatre which was opened by the New South Wales Premier in 1987. the theatre's programme is filled with a variety of live entertainment featuring performers of a high calibre from local, national and international spheres. A regional art gallery and a number of private galleries also have much to offer the art lover.

Obviously Griffith, situated 570 km west of Sydney and 450 km north of Melbourne, is the ideal destination for visitors, as well as being an interesting stop-over point for travellers using the nearby Newell, Sturt and Western Highways. Straddling the banks of the main irrigation canal, it is the largest centre of population in the M.I.A., supporting 14,000 people, with another 10,000 living within the municipal boundaries, yet over eighty years ago not more then 100 people earned a living from the same soil. Gone is the semi-desert - verdant farms are now to be seen everywhere, planted with fruit trees, vines, cereal crops, pastures and rice, all of which make the area attractive and productive.

This thriving provincial city is fast becoming one of the great cities of Australia, a wonderful place to live, and a delightful place to visit.
Information compiled by Pamela Young, Western Riverina Community Library, Griffith

Griffith - the M.I.A.

Did You Know?

THE M.I.A. - VALUE ADDING TO WATER

"……there is little probability that these desolate plains will ever again be visited by civilized man".
John Oxley, 1817.

DID YOU KNOW?
- that over 130 semi-trailers leave Griffith daily &1200 tonnes on rail (40-50 semis)!
- that Griffith Council had over $48m in development (1999) - more than Wagga Wagga, which has twice the population.
- that Griffith Visitors Information Centre registers 40,000 visitors annually.
- that Griffith is Australia's second largest user of steel.
- that Griffith is 6th in Australia in fuel usage.
- that Griffith has Australia's lowest rate of unemployment.
- that Griffith has been named the fastest growing inland city (2001).

- that the M.I.A. produces 20% of Australia's wine, 80% of NSW wine and is Australia's largest wine area.
- that the M.I.A. grape crush is 120,000 tonnes, which is 6 times that of the Hunter Valley.
- that the total Hunter Valley crush is exceeded by several Griffith wineries individually.
- that A & G Industries are world leaders in winery equipment invention, production and installation.
- that award winning flavour extraction technology was invented in Griffith.
- that a DeBortoli Bilbul wine series has won more trophies and gold medals than any Australian wine in history.
- The M.I.A. is Australia's largest source of vine cuttings & No3 in grafted vines.
- that the M.I.A. is Australia's cleanest source of cuttings & grafted vines.

- that the Riverina rice growers top the world in yields per hectare.
- exports 85% of production to over 40 countries despite subsidized competition.

- that Bartters (2001) are Australia's second largest egg producer.
- that they are Australia's second largest chicken meat producer, in excess of 120,000 birds daily.
- that they use 100,000 tonnes of grain annually.
- that they are vertically integrated, from the genetic research through to the finished product.
- that they are the M.I.A.'s largest employer (over 1,500).
- that they are constantly expanding their production.

- that South Pacific Seeds is in the world's top 3 in contract vegetable seed production.
- that they are the world's No1 in disease free lettuce seed production.

- that the M.I.A. and other irrigation areas have world leading agricultural research organizations committed to greater water efficiency higher returns per mgl of water, better and cleaner drainage, decontamination and other projects to further enhance the sustainability of irrigation agriculture.

- that Parle Foods supply all of McDonalds gherkins in Australia.
- that Parle Foods frozen food output is growing rapidly - capsicums, carrots, onions, corn, celery, potatoes and rice meals.
- that Parle Foods new Frozen Food Centre will have 2 hectares of freezing area - 10 hectares of concrete.

- that Nugan's are one of the state's largest distributors and exporters of fruit and vegetables.

- that Griffith supplies almost all NSW carrots.
- that Griffith supplies almost all NSW onions.
- that Griffith is Australia's top rockmelon producer with 30% of the total. Hay is another big producer.

- that the M.I.A. supplies the bulk of NSW fruit juices.
- that the M.I.A. and other irrigation areas are dotted with large packing sheds, packing for the big coastal cities and for export.
- that huge quantities of tomatoes, sweet corn, prunes and other fruit and vegetables are trucked out of irrigation areas at harvest time.
- that the M.I.A. is maintained as a fruit fly free area.

- that the irrigation areas have many large engineering shops which invent and manufacture a large range of irrigation equipment and machinery for use here and for export.

- that Griffith has extensive and successful nurseries. These are a most significant source of plant material for vineyards, orchards and ornamental.

- that huge quantities of grain and oilseeds are produced for local consumption and export, stored and transshipped through a large number of grain merchants.
- that hay and straw from irrigation areas drought proof South Eastern Australia and are also exported.

- that the M.I.A. feedlots have total annual throughput of over 80,000 head with plans for early expansion to 115,000.
- that the Griffith, Yanco and other abattoirs process meat for Australian and export consumption.
- that Griffith Saleyards are the 5th in the state for lamb.
- that wool and hide production is quite significant.

Any one of these facts would be sufficient to verify the value of irrigation and Australia's dependence on it.

Compiled by Tom Condon.