FOUNDATION PALMS PLANTED
IN MERBEIN 1909
On 21st October, 1909, to mark the founding of the new White Cliffs (Merbein) irrigation settlement, the Governor of Victoria, Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael, planted two Californian Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) on each side of the entrance to the Experimental Blocks on Channel Road.
Prior to the ceremony, the holes had been dug for the well grown trees which were held in place while the Governor shovelled in some of the loose earth which was lying conveniently by.
On his visit, the Governor also inspected various aspects of the infant settlement, including the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission Experimental Blocks of 66 & 67. These blocks had been cleared, fenced and planted with a variety of fruits and vegetables to show potential irrigators what was possible to grow with irrigation.
The Merbein irrigation settlement, known as White Cliffs until 1912, covered approximately 5,600 acres and was established by the State Rivers & Water Supply Commission (SR&WSC) of Victoria with water supplied from the nearby Murray River. E. J. Kenny was appointed as the first ‘Officer in Charge of the Merbein Irrigation Area'.
With each of the 150 Merbein irrigation blocks (Homestead Allotments), the settler could take up a 640 acres dry land block (Farm Allotment) in the Wargan/Yelta district, west of the irrigation area.
The settlement was primarily established for dairying and the linking up of the two areas would allow the settler to grow irrigated lucerne for his milking herd and run his dry stock and grow dry crops on his larger non-irrigable acreage at the same time.
Today, the two palms on Channel Road, across the road from the rear of the Merbein P-10 College, still survive and are a testament to the success and resilience of the Merbein settlement which was one of the first State owned Pumped Irrigation Settlements in Victoria.
Prior to the ceremony, the holes had been dug for the well grown trees which were held in place while the Governor shovelled in some of the loose earth which was lying conveniently by.
On his visit, the Governor also inspected various aspects of the infant settlement, including the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission Experimental Blocks of 66 & 67. These blocks had been cleared, fenced and planted with a variety of fruits and vegetables to show potential irrigators what was possible to grow with irrigation.
The Merbein irrigation settlement, known as White Cliffs until 1912, covered approximately 5,600 acres and was established by the State Rivers & Water Supply Commission (SR&WSC) of Victoria with water supplied from the nearby Murray River. E. J. Kenny was appointed as the first ‘Officer in Charge of the Merbein Irrigation Area'.
With each of the 150 Merbein irrigation blocks (Homestead Allotments), the settler could take up a 640 acres dry land block (Farm Allotment) in the Wargan/Yelta district, west of the irrigation area.
The settlement was primarily established for dairying and the linking up of the two areas would allow the settler to grow irrigated lucerne for his milking herd and run his dry stock and grow dry crops on his larger non-irrigable acreage at the same time.
Today, the two palms on Channel Road, across the road from the rear of the Merbein P-10 College, still survive and are a testament to the success and resilience of the Merbein settlement which was one of the first State owned Pumped Irrigation Settlements in Victoria.
