đźšś Soldier Settlement and Irrigation: Ivan Routley Shares a Legacy of Resilience
- Ivan Routley delivered a presentation on the history of the Soldier Settlement Schemes and their connection to the irrigation development in the Katunga and Numurkah districts. His talk traced the evolution of water infrastructure, land use, and the enduring spirit of farming families in the region.
đź’§ The Long Road to Irrigation
- Efforts to bring water to the region began as early as 1886, with a proposal to pump water from Koonoomoo to Numurkah — a plan that was ultimately shelved. A 1903 vote from Katunga also failed to advance irrigation. It wasn’t until 1932 that a decision was made to source water from Yarrawonga, leading to construction between 1934 and 1937. The Murray Valley Irrigation District (MVID) was officially proclaimed in 1938, and the first water deliveries arrived in 1939.
- This development attracted orchardists from Ardmona to Cobram, seeking refuge from fruit moth infestations. However, the move was short-lived. By 1945, the government purchased 60,000 acres for settlement as the district faced decline — schools were closing, production was falling, and the land was overrun with Bathurst burrs and rabbits.
🪖 Soldier Settlement: A Second Chance
- The government’s plan to settle 600 ex-servicemen on 150-acre blocks met resistance, and only 29 settlers remained. The earlier WWI settlement scheme had been a disaster, with half of the participants leaving within a decade. The failures were attributed to poor land quality, lack of infrastructure, and minimal support.
- Learning from past mistakes, the WWII settlement scheme was shaped by Rural Reconstruction. Led by chairman Les Simpson — a wheat farmer and WWI veteran — the new approach emphasized better planning. Unlike the earlier scheme, no Crown Land was used; all land was freehold, and values were controversially set at 1942 levels. Most farmers in the Murray Valley agreed to sell, with one challenging the decision in the High Court and losing. Evelyn and Eddy Sage were among those evicted.
- Housing was prioritized, with every block required to have a house facing the road and supplied with water. Of 16,000 applicants, 11,000 were approved, and 540 settlers joined the Murray Valley scheme. House designs varied between northern and southern Victoria, but amenities like septic tanks and hot water were excluded to match community standards.
🌱 Orchards, Dairy, and the Challenges of Farming
- Orchards were subdivided into 40-acre sandy loam lots, with blocks laid out for peaches, pears, apricots, and five acres of the grower’s choice. Unfortunately, incorrect deliveries of fruit varieties caused problems. Today, only the Golden Queen peach remains from the original plantings.
- Dairy farms were planted to pasture, and the scheme covered all expenses until production — typically 4–5 years for orchards and 3 years for dairy. Machinery was shared among farmers and financed through the scheme once interim leases were secured. Supervisors regularly visited farms to ensure progress.
- Despite early promise, floods in 1954 and 1956 caused major setbacks. Poor drainage and limited fungicides led to crop losses. By the mid-1960s, overproduction created cannery access issues, with owners prioritizing their own fruit. England’s entry into the common market in 1969 further disrupted exports. In 1973, a tree-pull program encouraged growers to exit the industry, and by 1974, another flood and the closure of the Kyabram cannery left only six growers — three in Katunga — struggling with prices below production costs.
🍊 A Family That Endured
- The Routley family’s resilience stood out. Ivan’s father chose to plant citrus in the five-acre discretionary plot, eventually expanding to 25 acres. This decision provided a steady income and kept the family rooted in the region.
- Today, there is renewed interest in fruit growing from corporate investors around Katunga. As Ivan noted, the future remains uncertain — but the legacy of the Soldier Settlement Scheme and the determination of families like the Routleys continue to shape the region’s agricultural story.
