Chaffey Brothers Irrigation Works

Two brothers from Canada advanced irrigation in arid lands, first in California, later in Australia. This landmark honors the pioneering work they did near the border between South Australia and Victoria in the late 19th century.

The Chaffey Brothers Irrigation Works brought the concept of large-scale irrigation in semi-arid lands to the lower basin of the Murray River in southeast Australia, which still contributes significantly to agricultural output of the region. Originally set up as irrigation colonies with centers at Mildura in Victoria and Renmark in South Australia, the project established principles for other large irrigation projects in Australia.    

George and William Chaffey were Canadian brothers, both born in Brockville, Ontario: George in 1848 and William in 1856. George was an irrigation pioneer, engineer and inventor, who began working in his father’s shipyard and soon became a licensed master and marine engineer operating tugs on the Great Lakes. William was an agriculturalist and irrigation planner. Both men possessed a strong entrepreneurial drive.

In 1878 their father moved to Riverside, California, where the brothers became investors in successful irrigation settlements which were land areas and water rights purchased by the duo then sold to individual settlers with a common irrigation company providing water on a non-profit basis.

A third key figure in the Australian project was Alfred Deakin, a government minister who travelled to California in 1885 to inspect irrigations systems which might serve as models for similar projects in Australia. He met the Chaffey Brothers and encouraged them to travel to Australia and work on irrigation projects. George arrived first and was impressed by opportunities for agricultural development in the Murray River Basin. Premiers of the states of Victoria and South Australia set aside a combined 500,000 acres for development.

The combined skills of the Chaffey Brothers led to the early success of the project. George’s mechanical and civil engineering skills contributed to the design and application of marine type engines used in the pumping stations, possibly a first, and to the design and construction of the extensive network of distribution canals. William introduced the dried fruit and winemaking industries at Mildura, both of which continue at the present time.