Mildura, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria
, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura
local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia
region, and is on the banks of the Murray River
. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.
Mildura is a major agricultural centre notable for its grape production, supplying 80% of Victoria's grapes. Many wineries also source grapes from Mildura.
Its name is taken from the Mildura homestead, an early sheep station which covered most of the area.
of Mildura is not entirely certain as in several of the local dialects the words have different meanings. The word "dura" is generally thought to mean "earth", "sand" or "rock", at least in Latje Latje language. However usage of the word 'mill' can vary in dialect and is used to mean "red" or "water", thus interpretations of the name can vary from "red earth" to "water rock".
The first Europeans in the area arrived in 1857 and sheep to graze the rich pastures.
A major drought
in Victoria from 1877 to 1884 prompted Alfred Deakin
, then a minister in the State Government
and chairman of a Royal Commission
on water supply to visit the irrigation
areas of California. There he met George
and William Chaffey
.
In 1886 George Chaffey came to Australia and selected a derelict sheep station known at Mildura as the site for his first irrigation settlement signing an agreement with the Victorian government to spend at least £300,000 on permanent improvements at Mildura in the next twenty years.
After much political wrangling, the settlement of Mildura was established in 1887. The Post Office opened on 23 January 1888.
The nearby towns of Wentworth
, Gol Gol
, Curlwaa
and Yelta
sprang up in the mid-to-late 19th century. In the 1890s came the scourge of the rabbit
. This devastated the sheep farmers, especially south of the Murray. There was also a financial recession at this time. Combined, these factors restricted growth of the new settlement.
After this period, the new settlement grew and grew. It was soon the main town of the district. Suburbs and new satellite towns sprang up. From the 1920s, a number of 'suburban' train services were established to Merbein and Red Cliffs. These were operated by railcar
s.
Post war Mildura experienced a large influx of migrants particularly from Mediterranean countries including Italy and Greece. Many of these migrants were attracted by the unskilled labour offered by the fruit picking industry.
In 1934 Mildura was officially proclaimed a city.
, approximately 50 km south of Mildura. The site is a small enclave of state forest
surrounded by national park
, and contains habitat important to a number of threatened species.
The abandoning of the LTCF proposal was received with jubilation by opponents of the LTCF not only in the Mildura area and elsewhere in Victoria, but also across the border in South Australia where there were fears that in reputation, if not in substance, the toxic waste could effect the water supply via the Murray River
and thereby the fruit-growing industries of the Riverland
and Murraylands
.
The Mildura Rural City Council and residents spent almost $2 million fighting the Government's proposal for the LTCF at Nowingi. On 10 January 2007 the Victorian Government did not rule out some form of reimbursement for the Rural City of Mildura
council's legal and other costs in opposing the LTCF. "The general rule is that people bear their own costs, that is most likely to apply in this case ... but I've indicated and I am prepared to talk to the council and mayor about the whole issue of how Mildura moves forward and I'll do that," John Thwaites said.
to the west as well as Irymple
and Red Cliffs
to the south which could be considered suburban areas or satellite towns separated by small stretches of open farmland.
While the land along the river and irrigation channels is fertile, much of the land around Mildura is also dry, saline and semi-arid.
The central business district is located at the northern end of the urban area, fronting onto the Murray River. The main shopping street
of Mildura is Langtree Avenue, which features a pedestrian mall
and shopping centre. However this shopping precinct competes with the Centro Mildura shopping centre, located at the opposite end of the urban area on the corner of Fifteenth Street and Deakin Avenue. Fifteenth Street is also the main strip of big box stores and other commercial enterprises.
The tallest buildings are the two storey 1934 Old Mildura Base Hospital, two storey Marina Dockside apartments completed in 2010 and the three storey tower/spire of the 1920s T&G building.
Rainfall totals are about 280 mm a year and are spread evenly across the months and seasons with Winter and Spring having the most rainy days.
Average maximum temperatures range from a hot 32 °C (90 °F) in summer to 15 °C (59 °F) in winter. Minimum temperatures range from around 17 °C (63 °F) in summer to 4 °C (39 °F) in winter, when frost
is common and often destructive to irrigated crops. Mildura experiences some very hot days in summer with temperatures exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) on a number of days per year.
Mildura is also known as the centre of Victoria's Food Bowl and is a major producer of citrus fruits (especially oranges), and wine. It is also notable for its grape production, supplying 80% of Victoria's grapes. Many wineries also source grapes from Mildura.
Mildura is part of the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone, in which fruits or vegetables may not be taken into the area (they can, however, be taken out). This is to stop the fruit fly
from invading crops and plantations which could have a devastating effect on the economy. Disposal bins into which fruit can be disposed of are located along highways entering the zone.
take an interest in the city as a possible centre for population and industry decentralisation
programs. There have been numerous proposals involving the state government for large scale developments and investments, many ambitious and speculative that have been shelved indefinitely. Given the large amount of sunlight the city receives, it has been proposed as the site for several proposals for large scale Solar power in Australia
including a massive Solar updraft tower
proposals in 2004 and 2010 which have not yet eventuated. Another large development which has been the controversial proposal for Mildura to be the site for Victoria's second casino. The Mildura region has also been controversially proposed as a site for a toxic waste
disposal facility.
Tourism is a A$210 million industry in Mildura, however a large percentage (30%) are domestic tourists visiting friends or relatives.
The city's situation on the Murray River makes it a hub for watersports, paddlesteamers and boat cruises. The still conditions make Mildura ideal for hot air ballooning
and the Mildura International Balloon Fiesta attracts many visitors. The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens
, located nearby in Mourquong
is another popular attraction which draws visitors to the city.
, the International Balloon Fiesta, the Jazz Food & Wine Festival, Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival, Murray River International Music Festival, Mildura Writers Festival, Mildura Palimpsest and the Mildura Show.
there is also the annual Mildura masters coarse fishing competition held in November which attracts a number of international and local coarse anglers and the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
, there were 30,016 people residing in 13,053 households. 82.8 % of Mildura residents are Australian born. Of those born overseas: England (1.5%), Italy
(1.4%), Turkey
(1.4%), New Zealand (1.1%), Greece
(0.5%). English is the only language spoken at home for 86.2% of households.
, Mildura Midweek, Mildura Weekly and the Mildura Independent Star, which converted to an online only publication in 2007. Local radio stations include ABC Local Radio
, Easymix 1467AM
(3ML), 97.9 Sun FM Sunraysia, 99.5 Star FM
, and Hot FM.
Local TV stations include ABC Television
(ABC1), SBS Television (SBS ONE), Prime7, WIN Television
, Ten Mildura, 7Two
, 7mate
, GO!
, GEM
, ABC2
, ABC3
, ABC News 24
, SBS HD, SBS Two, One HD and Eleven
. Of the three main commercial networks, WIN
produces a 30-minute local news bulletin on weeknights, produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in Ballarat.
The Sunraysia region, including the city of Mildura, was the first region in Australia to switch off analogue TV broadcast in the implementation of the country's DTV transition process.
; Imperials, Mildura and South Mildura.
Mildura has a horse racing club, the Mildura Racing Club, which schedules around nine race meetings a year including the Mildura Cup meeting in May.
Mildura Harness Racing
Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the city.
Golfers play at the course of the Mildura Golf Club on Twelfth Street.
The Sunraysia Baseball Assocition plays during autumn and winter and has six baseball clubs in the league; Hawks, Saints, Eagles, wanderors, Tigers and Tornadoes formed in 2010.
Basketball also has a large following in Mildura with hundreds of teams in all divisions entered in the Mildura Basketball Association's summer league.
Association football also has a large following in Mildura, with there being a popular junior and senior league played during the winter months. The league consists of six teams, those being Three Colours, Mildura City, Mildura United, Irymple Knights, Cosmos and Nichols Point
Mildura is a very motor sports oriented town. It has several tracks in the region to cater for different types of motor sports including the Mildura Kart Club (Go-Kart racing); Timmis Speedway (Automobile speedway); Olympic Park Speedway (Motorcycle speedway); Sunset Strip (1/8 mile drag racing); and North West Victoria Motorcycle Club (Off road motorcycle racing). The Mildura TT Circuit
hosted the Australian TT in the 1950s.
Mildura is on the intersection of the Sturt Highway
from Adelaide
to Sydney, and the Calder Highway
to Melbourne via Bendigo
. Deakin Avenue, the main street of Mildura, is known as the longest straight avenue in Australia, at 12.1 km. Sunraysia Bus Lines, Swan Hill Bus Lines and Dysons Bus Services
operate V/Line
bus services that connect Mildura to various parts of Victoria and southern New South Wales. Greyhound Australia
run buses to Adelaide and Sydney via Canberra
. Countrylink
run buses to Sydney. The Henty Highway Bus Service runs buses to Horsham
.
Mildura has a railway connection to Melbourne, which is used for freight transport. In May 2006, it was announced that the Mildura line would receive a $73 million upgrade using gauge convertible
sleepers
.
Mildura Airport
is the third busiest airport in Victoria, serviced by four QantasLink
flights daily to Melbourne, four Regional Express Airlines
flights to Melbourne, and two Sharp Airlines
flights daily to Adelaide
. Virgin Australia has one flight per day in each direction between Melbourne and Mildura.
and HMS Mildura.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura
Rural City of Mildura
The Rural City of Mildura is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-western part of the state. It has an area of 22,214 square kilometres. Localities within the LGA include Mildura city itself and the towns of Merbein, Red Cliffs, Irymple, Ouyen, Werrimull,...
local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia
Sunraysia
Sunraysia is an area of northwestern Victoria and southwestern New South Wales in Australia, known for its sunshine, grapes and oranges. Its main centre is Mildura....
region, and is on the banks of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.
Mildura is a major agricultural centre notable for its grape production, supplying 80% of Victoria's grapes. Many wineries also source grapes from Mildura.
Its name is taken from the Mildura homestead, an early sheep station which covered most of the area.
Toponomy
There are several theories as to the origin of the name Mildura. While it was the name of the sheep station, without precedent in the English language, most historians believe it to have originated from Indigenous Australian words. However the etymologyEtymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
of Mildura is not entirely certain as in several of the local dialects the words have different meanings. The word "dura" is generally thought to mean "earth", "sand" or "rock", at least in Latje Latje language. However usage of the word 'mill' can vary in dialect and is used to mean "red" or "water", thus interpretations of the name can vary from "red earth" to "water rock".
Prehistory and European settlement
Many Aboriginal people lived around the site of Mildura because of the abundant food. Local tribes included the Latje Latje and Yerre Yerre.The first Europeans in the area arrived in 1857 and sheep to graze the rich pastures.
Irrigation settlement
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
in Victoria from 1877 to 1884 prompted Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
, then a minister in the State Government
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Council ; and the Legislative Assembly...
and chairman of a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on water supply to visit the irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
areas of California. There he met George
George Chaffey
George Chaffey was a Canadian–born engineer who with his brother William developed large parts of Southern California, including what became the community of Etiwanda and cities of Ontario, and Upland...
and William Chaffey
William Chaffey
William Benjamin Chaffey was a Canadian engineer and irrigation planner who with his older brother George Chaffey developed what became the cities of Etiwanda, Ontario, and Upland in California, United States of America; and the city of Mildura, Victoria, Australia, as well as the town of Renmark,...
.
In 1886 George Chaffey came to Australia and selected a derelict sheep station known at Mildura as the site for his first irrigation settlement signing an agreement with the Victorian government to spend at least £300,000 on permanent improvements at Mildura in the next twenty years.
After much political wrangling, the settlement of Mildura was established in 1887. The Post Office opened on 23 January 1888.
Growth
Wentworth, New South Wales
Wentworth is a small border town in the far south west of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It lies at the confluence of Australia's two most important rivers, the Darling and the Murray, the latter forming the border with the state of Victoria to the south. The border with the state of...
, Gol Gol
Gol Gol, New South Wales
Gol Gol is a small town in the far western region of New South Wales, Australia in Wentworth Shire. It is situated on the banks of the Murray River, which forms part of the New South Wales-Victoria state border, in the Sunraysia fruit-growing region of north-western Victoria...
, Curlwaa
Curlwaa, New South Wales
Curlwaa is a locality in New South Wales, Australia.Curlwaa is an irrigation settlement a few kilometers upstream of Wentworth on the Murray River in far southwestern New South Wales....
and Yelta
Yelta, Victoria
Yelta is a small locality in Victoria, Australia. It was for a short time in the 1870s and 1880s the Victorian administrative centre of what is now Sunraysia and the Millewa. This role was then taken over by Mildura...
sprang up in the mid-to-late 19th century. In the 1890s came the scourge of the rabbit
Rabbits in Australia
In Australia, rabbits are a serious mammalian pest and are an invasive species. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops.-Effects on Australia's ecology:...
. This devastated the sheep farmers, especially south of the Murray. There was also a financial recession at this time. Combined, these factors restricted growth of the new settlement.
After this period, the new settlement grew and grew. It was soon the main town of the district. Suburbs and new satellite towns sprang up. From the 1920s, a number of 'suburban' train services were established to Merbein and Red Cliffs. These were operated by railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s.
Post war Mildura experienced a large influx of migrants particularly from Mediterranean countries including Italy and Greece. Many of these migrants were attracted by the unskilled labour offered by the fruit picking industry.
In 1934 Mildura was officially proclaimed a city.
Nowingi toxic waste proposal
In 2004 there was a controversial proposal by the Victorian Government to build a state-level Long Term Containment Facility (LTCF) for Industrial Waste in NowingiNowingi, Victoria
Nowingi is a locality in Victoria, Australia. Approximately south of Mildura, the locality is in the Rural City of Mildura local government area.- History :...
, approximately 50 km south of Mildura. The site is a small enclave of state forest
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
surrounded by national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, and contains habitat important to a number of threatened species.
The abandoning of the LTCF proposal was received with jubilation by opponents of the LTCF not only in the Mildura area and elsewhere in Victoria, but also across the border in South Australia where there were fears that in reputation, if not in substance, the toxic waste could effect the water supply via the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
and thereby the fruit-growing industries of the Riverland
Riverland
The Riverland, is a region of South Australia. It covers the area near the Murray River from where it flows into South Australia downstream to Blanchetown.The major town centres are Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Waikerie and Barmera...
and Murraylands
Murraylands
The Murraylands is a geographical region in South Australia; based around the lower part of the Murray River in South-Eastern South Australia.The area stretches from Blanchetown; roughly 130 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, right down to Wellington, which is situated at the beginning of Lake...
.
The Mildura Rural City Council and residents spent almost $2 million fighting the Government's proposal for the LTCF at Nowingi. On 10 January 2007 the Victorian Government did not rule out some form of reimbursement for the Rural City of Mildura
Rural City of Mildura
The Rural City of Mildura is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-western part of the state. It has an area of 22,214 square kilometres. Localities within the LGA include Mildura city itself and the towns of Merbein, Red Cliffs, Irymple, Ouyen, Werrimull,...
council's legal and other costs in opposing the LTCF. "The general rule is that people bear their own costs, that is most likely to apply in this case ... but I've indicated and I am prepared to talk to the council and mayor about the whole issue of how Mildura moves forward and I'll do that," John Thwaites said.
Topography
Mildura is situated on flat land without hills or mountains on the southern bank of the Murray River and surrounded to the west, north and east by lakes and billabongs including Lake Hawthorn, Lake Ranfurly and Lake Gol Gol. Several towns surround Mildura on the flat plains including MerbeinMerbein, Victoria
Merbein is a town outside Mildura, Victoria, in the Sunraysia region of Australia. At the 2006 census, Merbein had a population of 2526.The area was known as White Cliffs until 1909 when the township was established, the Post Office opening on 16 August 1909.The name was intended to be Merebin,...
to the west as well as Irymple
Irymple, Victoria
Irymple is a town in the state of Victoria in Australia. Located in the region of Sunraysia in the far North-West Victoria, Irymple is 6 km south of Mildura and 550 km northwest of Melbourne...
and Red Cliffs
Red Cliffs, Victoria
Red Cliffs is a town in Victoria, Australia in the Sunraysia region. It is located on the Calder Highway, 16 km south of Mildura and 544 km north-west of Melbourne....
to the south which could be considered suburban areas or satellite towns separated by small stretches of open farmland.
While the land along the river and irrigation channels is fertile, much of the land around Mildura is also dry, saline and semi-arid.
Urban structure
Mildura is a largely low-rise and low density urban area that is overwhelmingly dependent upon private automobiles for transportation. Residential dwellings consist almost solely of single-family detached homes on relatively large allotments. The population has been growing rapidly for several decades and most of the residential growth has occurred in the south-western and southern parts of the urban area.The central business district is located at the northern end of the urban area, fronting onto the Murray River. The main shopping street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
of Mildura is Langtree Avenue, which features a pedestrian mall
Pedestrian mall
Pedestrian malls in the United States are also known as pedestrian streets and are the most common form of pedestrian zone in large cities in the United States. It is a street lined with storefronts and closed off to most automobile traffic...
and shopping centre. However this shopping precinct competes with the Centro Mildura shopping centre, located at the opposite end of the urban area on the corner of Fifteenth Street and Deakin Avenue. Fifteenth Street is also the main strip of big box stores and other commercial enterprises.
The tallest buildings are the two storey 1934 Old Mildura Base Hospital, two storey Marina Dockside apartments completed in 2010 and the three storey tower/spire of the 1920s T&G building.
Climate
Mildura enjoys a mostly warm climate. It is only about 50 metres above sea level despite being several hundred kilometres from the coast. Mildura is classified as a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) as a result.Rainfall totals are about 280 mm a year and are spread evenly across the months and seasons with Winter and Spring having the most rainy days.
Average maximum temperatures range from a hot 32 °C (90 °F) in summer to 15 °C (59 °F) in winter. Minimum temperatures range from around 17 °C (63 °F) in summer to 4 °C (39 °F) in winter, when frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
is common and often destructive to irrigated crops. Mildura experiences some very hot days in summer with temperatures exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) on a number of days per year.
Economy
Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
from invading crops and plantations which could have a devastating effect on the economy. Disposal bins into which fruit can be disposed of are located along highways entering the zone.
Centro Mildura
Centro Mildura’s extensive redevelopment in 2005 has positioned the centre as the major shopping destination within the Sunraysia region. Centro Mildura is also the only fully enclosed, air-conditioned centre in this area and offers a strong retail mix including representation from a number of key national fashion stores. Serving a primary trade area population of 60,000 residents, Centro Mildura also attracts consumers from beyond the trade area including the Riverland, Swan Hill, Robinvale and Broken Hill.Development proposals
Mildura's location in Victoria and consistently strong local lobbying has seen the Government of VictoriaGovernment of Victoria
The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas...
take an interest in the city as a possible centre for population and industry decentralisation
Décentralisation
Décentralisation is a french word for both a policy concept in French politics from 1968-1990, and a term employed to describe the results of observations of the evolution of spatial economic and institutional organization of France....
programs. There have been numerous proposals involving the state government for large scale developments and investments, many ambitious and speculative that have been shelved indefinitely. Given the large amount of sunlight the city receives, it has been proposed as the site for several proposals for large scale Solar power in Australia
Solar power in Australia
Australia has an estimated 300 MW of installed photovoltaic power , contributing an estimated 0.1 to 0.2% of total electricity production despite the hot and sunny climate that would make it ideal for utilisation...
including a massive Solar updraft tower
Solar updraft tower
The solar updraft tower is a renewable-energy power plant. It combines the chimney effect, the greenhouse effect and the wind turbine. Air is heated by sunshine and contained in a very large greenhouse-like structure around the base of a tall chimney, and the resulting convection causes air to...
proposals in 2004 and 2010 which have not yet eventuated. Another large development which has been the controversial proposal for Mildura to be the site for Victoria's second casino. The Mildura region has also been controversially proposed as a site for a toxic waste
Toxic waste
Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.Toxic waste...
disposal facility.
Tourism
The city's situation on the Murray River makes it a hub for watersports, paddlesteamers and boat cruises. The still conditions make Mildura ideal for hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning is the activity of flying hot air balloons. Attractive aspects of ballooning include the exceptional quiet , the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird's-eye view...
and the Mildura International Balloon Fiesta attracts many visitors. The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens
Australian Inland Botanic Gardens
thumb|right|Sir Ninian Stephen, AIBG patron.The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens is a botanical garden within The Mallee and the Sunraysia regions of Australia. It is located on River Road in Wentworth Shire's Mourquong, New South Wales, northwest of Buronga...
, located nearby in Mourquong
Mourquong, New South Wales
thumb|right|Orange World at Mourquong.Mourquong is a locality in New South Wales, Australia on the Murray River just over the bridge from Mildura, Victoria, near Buronga.-Attractions:...
is another popular attraction which draws visitors to the city.
Culture
Mildura is host to many annual festivals such as the Mildura Country Music FestivalMildura Country Music Festival
The Mildura Country Music Festival is an annual Australian country music festival based in Mildura, Victoria. In 2005 it was sponsored by Telstra Countrywide...
, the International Balloon Fiesta, the Jazz Food & Wine Festival, Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival, Murray River International Music Festival, Mildura Writers Festival, Mildura Palimpsest and the Mildura Show.
there is also the annual Mildura masters coarse fishing competition held in November which attracts a number of international and local coarse anglers and the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
Demographics
As of the 2006 CensusCensus in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, there were 30,016 people residing in 13,053 households. 82.8 % of Mildura residents are Australian born. Of those born overseas: England (1.5%), Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1.4%), Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(1.4%), New Zealand (1.1%), Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(0.5%). English is the only language spoken at home for 86.2% of households.
Notable Residents
Notable people from the Mildura district include:- Leigh AdamsLeigh AdamsLeigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion...
, motorcycle speedway rider - Jason AkermanisJason AkermanisJason Dean Akermanis is an Australian rules football player. He is a Brownlow Medallist and triple premiership player who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs...
, Australian Rules footballer - Chris TarrantChris TarrantChristopher John "Chris" Tarrant, OBE is an English radio and television broadcaster, now best known for hosting the first version of the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom and later Ireland, as the two national versions of the show merged in 2002.Chris...
, Collingwood Football ClubCollingwood Football ClubThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
defender - Matthew KnightsMatthew KnightsMatthew Knights is a former Australian rules football player, having played in the midfield for the Richmond Football Club from 1988 to 2002. He went on to a coaching career, most notably as head coach of the Essendon Football Club from 2008 to 2010...
, former Richmond Football ClubRichmond Football ClubThe Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
captain & Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
coach. - Patricia EdgarPatricia EdgarPatricia May Edgar AM is an Australian author, television producer and educator, best known as the founding director of the Australian Children's Television Foundation....
, founding director of The Australian Children's Television FoundationAustralian Children's Television FoundationThe Australian Children's Television Foundation is a non-profit, government-funded organisation in Australia concerned with the development, production, dissemination and promotion of children's television and other audio-visual material for children.... - Julia ZaettaJulia ZaettaJulia Anita Zaetta , surname is , is an Australian journalist, and magazine editor. Currently Editor of Better Homes and Gardens, "Australia's favourite homemaker magazine" and Family Circle for Pacific Publications and over the last 17 years, has been involved an exciting partnership with the...
, editor of Better Homes and GardensBetter Homes and Gardens (magazine)Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per...
Media
Local newspapers include the Sunraysia DailySunraysia Daily
The Sunraysia Daily is a daily newspaper in the north-western Sunraysia region of Victoria, Australia. From its first publication in 1920 up until 14 September 2007, it was published in broadsheet format, changing to tabloid-size the following day....
, Mildura Midweek, Mildura Weekly and the Mildura Independent Star, which converted to an online only publication in 2007. Local radio stations include ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
, Easymix 1467AM
Easymix 1467
Easymix 1467 is a commercial radio station based in the Mildura/Sunraysia region. Commercial radio first started in the region on May 25th 1933, from the T & G Building in 8th Street Mildura...
(3ML), 97.9 Sun FM Sunraysia, 99.5 Star FM
Star FM (Australian radio network)
Star FM is an Australian radio network, consisting of stations in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.The brand was created in 1999 by DMG Radio Australia. In 2004 Macquarie Regional RadioWorks bought all the stations except Star 104.5FM on the New South Wales Central Coast which is...
, and Hot FM.
Local TV stations include ABC Television
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
(ABC1), SBS Television (SBS ONE), Prime7, WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
, Ten Mildura, 7Two
7Two
7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
, 7mate
7mate
7mate is an Australian free-to-air high definition digital television channel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010.The network stated that 7mate would contain sport and regular programs aimed primarily at a male audience, with programming drawn from a combination of new...
, GO!
Go! (Australian TV channel)
GO! is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 9 August 2009.-Origins:...
, GEM
GEM (Australian TV channel)
GEM is an Australian free-to-air high definition digital television channel, launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 26 September 2010 at 6am...
, ABC2
ABC2
ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia...
, ABC3
ABC3
-Future shows:Programming confirmed for future broadcast will include:* After School Care * Bindi's Boot Camp * Bushwacked! * Dance Academy * Dancing Down Under...
, ABC News 24
ABC News 24
ABC News 24 is an Australian 24-hour news channel launched and owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The channel replaced the former ABC High Definition simulcast of ABC1 and commenced broadcasting at 7:30pm 5:30 on Thursday, 22 July 2010.-Pre-launch:The ABC announced in January 2010...
, SBS HD, SBS Two, One HD and Eleven
Eleven (TV channel)
Eleven is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel, which was launched by ElevenCo, on 11 January 2011.-Joint venture:...
. Of the three main commercial networks, WIN
STV (TV station)
STV is an Australian television station licensed to and serving the regions surrounding Mildura, Victoria, owned and operated by the WIN Corporation and part of the WIN Television network. The station commenced transmissions on November 27, 1965...
produces a 30-minute local news bulletin on weeknights, produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in Ballarat.
The Sunraysia region, including the city of Mildura, was the first region in Australia to switch off analogue TV broadcast in the implementation of the country's DTV transition process.
Sport
Mildura has three Australian Rules football teams competing in the Sunraysia Football LeagueSunraysia Football League
The Sunraysia Football League is an Australian Rules league based in Northwestern Victoria with clubs located in the vicinity of Mildura and Wentworth, New South Wales...
; Imperials, Mildura and South Mildura.
Mildura has a horse racing club, the Mildura Racing Club, which schedules around nine race meetings a year including the Mildura Cup meeting in May.
Mildura Harness Racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the city.
Golfers play at the course of the Mildura Golf Club on Twelfth Street.
The Sunraysia Baseball Assocition plays during autumn and winter and has six baseball clubs in the league; Hawks, Saints, Eagles, wanderors, Tigers and Tornadoes formed in 2010.
Basketball also has a large following in Mildura with hundreds of teams in all divisions entered in the Mildura Basketball Association's summer league.
Association football also has a large following in Mildura, with there being a popular junior and senior league played during the winter months. The league consists of six teams, those being Three Colours, Mildura City, Mildura United, Irymple Knights, Cosmos and Nichols Point
Mildura is a very motor sports oriented town. It has several tracks in the region to cater for different types of motor sports including the Mildura Kart Club (Go-Kart racing); Timmis Speedway (Automobile speedway); Olympic Park Speedway (Motorcycle speedway); Sunset Strip (1/8 mile drag racing); and North West Victoria Motorcycle Club (Off road motorcycle racing). The Mildura TT Circuit
Mildura TT Circuit
The Mildura TT Circuit was a motor racing venue in Victoria, Australia, which was used for three motorcycle road racing events from 1954 to 1956. It was located next to Mildura Airport and ran along a section of the Sturt Highway...
hosted the Australian TT in the 1950s.
Transport
Sturt Highway
The Sturt Highway is an Australian highway in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is part of the Auslink National network and is part of the main highway route between Sydney and Adelaide.-Route:...
from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to Sydney, and the Calder Highway
Calder Highway
Calder Highway is a Highway linking Ravenswood South in Victoria, to Mildura. North of the Victoria/New South Wales border, the highway continues north to Broken Hill, Tibooburra and the New South Wales/Queensland border as the Silver City Highway, under the standard national route shield as far...
to Melbourne via Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
. Deakin Avenue, the main street of Mildura, is known as the longest straight avenue in Australia, at 12.1 km. Sunraysia Bus Lines, Swan Hill Bus Lines and Dysons Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
operate V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
bus services that connect Mildura to various parts of Victoria and southern New South Wales. Greyhound Australia
Greyhound Australia
Greyhound Australia is the largest long distance bus operator in Australia, operating in all mainland states and territories. It is owned by the Chapman Group and ANZ....
run buses to Adelaide and Sydney via Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. Countrylink
CountryLink
CountryLink is the operator of passenger rail services in country New South Wales, Australia and into Queensland and Victoria. It is an operating brand of the Rail Corporation New South Wales, a government-owned entity...
run buses to Sydney. The Henty Highway Bus Service runs buses to Horsham
Horsham, Victoria
Horsham is the largest city by population and regional centre of the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia and is approximately north-west of Melbourne via the Western Highway. At the 2006 census, Horsham had a population of 14,125. Horsham is in the federal Division of Mallee...
.
Mildura has a railway connection to Melbourne, which is used for freight transport. In May 2006, it was announced that the Mildura line would receive a $73 million upgrade using gauge convertible
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
.
Mildura Airport
Mildura Airport
Mildura Airport is located in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. It is the busiest regional airport in Victoria and has twice been named Australia's Rural Airport of the Year....
is the third busiest airport in Victoria, serviced by four QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
flights daily to Melbourne, four Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Pty Ltd is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services. It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, North Queensland and Tasmania...
flights to Melbourne, and two Sharp Airlines
Sharp Airlines
Sharp Airlines is a regional airline headquartered in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. Its main bases are Portland Airport, Adelaide Airport and Launceston Airport. The airline also provides charter operations to regional Victoria and South Australia...
flights daily to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. Virgin Australia has one flight per day in each direction between Melbourne and Mildura.
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE's main campus is located in Benetook Avenue. In 2008, the Institute had 6592 students enrolled.La Trobe University
La Trobe University operates a regional campus in Mildura, with 322 students enrolled as of 28 May 2008.In popular culture
Two Australian Navy boats have been named after Mildura, HMAS MilduraHMAS Mildura
HMAS Mildura , named for the city of Mildura, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction:...
and HMS Mildura.