Irrigation expands

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Following World War II, construction was undertaken simultaneously on the Deniboota Scheme south west of Deniliquin and on the newly approved Denimein Scheme, to the north west.

The development of the irrigation network continued until the last channels were completed in 1964. The total length of the supply network is almost 3000 kilometres.

The primary focus of irrigation in the Southern Riverina was pasture for sheep, beef and dairy cattle, and winter cereals.

Intensive horticulture, viticulture, orchards and rice growing were originally prohibited to protect markets already being supplied by the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

Water was provided to each property’s boundary and landholders were then responsible for the development of their own farm channels and layout.

Horse teams were often used to make smaller supply channels and farm channels, until tractors became more widely available in the late 1940s.

Early irrigation was often crude and labour intensive, relying on the natural contours of the land to direct water. Many district graziers depended on farm workers or sharefarmers from the Murrumbidgee or Victoria who had irrigation experience to teach them new farming techniques

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