Rural City of Mildura
Encyclopedia
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
, Murrayville
, Walpeup
, and Hattah
. It was formed in 1995 from a merger of the City of Mildura
, Shire of Mildura
and Shire of Walpeup
.
The Rural City of Mildura covers most of the Mallee
region of Victoria. Before the less infertile soils were fertilised and developed for the production of wheat
and barley
the whole region was covered in a dense mallee scrub of deep-rooting eucalypt
s that regenerated after the frequent bushfires in the region. Many of the soils are so sandy that clearing is impractical, and Murray-Sunset National Park
covers almost a third of the area of the LGA. Other protected areas include Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
and Murray-Kulkyne Park on the Murray River.
The climate of the region is the driest in Victoria, and Neds Corner in the remote northwest has the lowest average annual rainfall in the State at 240 millimetres (9.5 inches). In the south at Ouyen the average is 335 millimetres (13.5 inches). In all areas there can be considerable variation in annual rainfall: the range historically has been from 110 millimetres (4.5 inches) in 1967 to 605 millimetres (23.8 inches) in 1973. Temperatures are the hottest in Victoria and in summer maxima average 32°C (90°F) but often exceed 40°C (104°F). The winter is very pleasant with maxima of 16°C (60°F), but frost
s are common in the morning and sometimes severe.
The southeast of the LGA is used primarily for grain growing; however yield are erratic and often poor due to drought
. In the north irrigated fruit
(primarily oranges
and grape
s) growing is a huge earner of money and supports Mildura and nearby towns; however, salinity
in the Murray River is a major threat to the long-term sustainability of these activities, as is competition from overseas citrus
growers.
In 2006 the Rural City of Mildura had a population of 49,815, most of which was located in Mildura (30,016) and adjacent areas (that is Victorian Sunraysia
). Many of the small towns in the region have practically disappeared as more efficient farming methods reduce the quantity of human labour required.
The council is composed of nine councillors elected to represent an unsubdivided municipality.
Dali, Yunnan Province of China Kumatori, Japan Upland, California
, United States of America
Mildura, Victoria
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...
city itself and the towns of Merbein
Merbein, 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,...
, 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....
, 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...
, Ouyen
Ouyen, Victoria
Ouyen is a town in Victoria, Australia, located in the Rural City of Mildura at the junction of the Calder Highway and Mallee Highway, south of Mildura and north-west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census the town had a population of 1,061.-History:...
, Werrimull
Werrimull, Victoria
Werrimull is a small Australian town and locality the state of Victoria and a part of the Sunraysia region. The place by road, is situated about 10 kilometres west of Karawinna and 10 kilometres east of Bambill....
, Murrayville
Murrayville, Victoria
Murrayville is a town on the section of the Mallee Highway between Ouyen and the South Australian border. It is about east of the South Australian border and north west of the state capital Melbourne, but east of Adelaide...
, Walpeup
Walpeup, Victoria
Walpeup is a locality situated on the section of the Mallee Highway between Ouyen and the South Australian border in the Mallee region. The place by road, is situated about west from Galah and east from Torrita....
, and Hattah
Hattah, Victoria
Hattah is a locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately 70 km south of Mildura. Located adjacent to Hattah is the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park....
. It was formed in 1995 from a merger of the City of Mildura
City of Mildura
The City of Mildura was a Local Government Area located on the Murray River in northwestern Victoria, Australia. The City covered an area of , and existed from 1920 until 1995.-History:...
, Shire of Mildura
Shire of Mildura
The Shire of Mildura was a Local Government Area located at the northwestern corner pf Victoria, Australia, on the Murray River and the South Australian border. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1890 until 1995. From 1920 onwards, Mildura itself was managed by a separate entity,...
and Shire of Walpeup
Shire of Walpeup
The Shire of Walpeup was a Local Government Area located in northwestern Victoria, Australia, along the South Australian border. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1911 until 1995.-History:...
.
The Rural City of Mildura covers most of the Mallee
The Mallee
The Mallee is the most northwesterly district in the state of Victoria, and also encompasses the agricultural district of South Australia. Definitions vary, however all are based on the Victorian distribution of mallee eucalypts...
region of Victoria. Before the less infertile soils were fertilised and developed for the production of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
the whole region was covered in a dense mallee scrub of deep-rooting eucalypt
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
s that regenerated after the frequent bushfires in the region. Many of the soils are so sandy that clearing is impractical, and Murray-Sunset National Park
Murray-Sunset National Park
Murray-Sunset is the second largest national park in Victoria, Australia, 438 km northwest of Melbourne. It is in the northwestern corner of the state, bordering South Australia to the west and the Murray River to the north...
covers almost a third of the area of the LGA. Other protected areas include Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Hattah-Kulkyne is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 417 km northwest of Melbourne. The nearest regional centre is Mildura. It is a popular destination for bushwalkers and school camping trips.-Description:...
and Murray-Kulkyne Park on the Murray River.
The climate of the region is the driest in Victoria, and Neds Corner in the remote northwest has the lowest average annual rainfall in the State at 240 millimetres (9.5 inches). In the south at Ouyen the average is 335 millimetres (13.5 inches). In all areas there can be considerable variation in annual rainfall: the range historically has been from 110 millimetres (4.5 inches) in 1967 to 605 millimetres (23.8 inches) in 1973. Temperatures are the hottest in Victoria and in summer maxima average 32°C (90°F) but often exceed 40°C (104°F). The winter is very pleasant with maxima of 16°C (60°F), but 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...
s are common in the morning and sometimes severe.
The southeast of the LGA is used primarily for grain growing; however yield are erratic and often poor due to drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
. In the north irrigated fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
(primarily oranges
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
and grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
s) growing is a huge earner of money and supports Mildura and nearby towns; however, salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
in the Murray River is a major threat to the long-term sustainability of these activities, as is competition from overseas citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
growers.
In 2006 the Rural City of Mildura had a population of 49,815, most of which was located in Mildura (30,016) and adjacent areas (that is Victorian 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....
). Many of the small towns in the region have practically disappeared as more efficient farming methods reduce the quantity of human labour required.
The council is composed of nine councillors elected to represent an unsubdivided municipality.
Sister cities
Mildura has sister city relations with the following cities:Dali, Yunnan Province of China Kumatori, Japan Upland, California
Upland, California
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located at an elevation of 1,242 feet . As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 73,732, up from 68,393 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario.-History and culture:Upland...
, United States of America