subject: Mildura – Mediterranean in the Outback [print this page] Mildura, in Victoria's north-west corner, is known for its location alongside the mighty Murray River as well as its Mediterranean climate and local produce. The early riverboat trade as well as good seasons and good wool prices made the early European settlement days of the 1840s and 1850s a boom time. In 1887 the Chaffey brothers came from California to set up an irrigation colony, which would be the foundation of modern-day Mildura, at the site the original station which had failed during droughts. There is a self-drive tour called the Chaffey Trail, where you can visit the historical landmarks and learn about the story of Mildura starting off at the Mildura Visitor Information & Booking Centre with a short film. The trail includes stops at The Old Mildura Homestead, which is a reconstruction of the first Mildura station of 1847; W.B. Chaffey's 1890 home Rio Vista House, with its wide verandahs and ornate decoration; Mildura Grand Hotel; and landmarks that bring the irrigation system to life - Lock 11, the Mildura Weir, and the Psyche Pumps.
The food of Mildura will give you a true sense of the region and its people. You would be hard pressed to miss the orchards, market gardens, cellar doors and markets that abound in Mildura. The region produces a huge array of produce including citrus, mushrooms, melons, asparagus, pistachios, olives, salt and Mallee lamb. You can sample and buy at the Sunraysia Farmers Market every second weekend at the Australian Inland Botanical Gardens. Spring, when the orange blossoms are in bloom is the perfect time to visit Orange World where you can taste and tour the citrus orchards. Meet the winemakers and taste their wines at any number of welcoming cellar doors in the area. The town streets, restaurants, riverboats and wineries join in every November to celebrate all things food, wine and music at the Jazz and Wine Festival. For dining options all year round head to Langtree Avenue, better known as Feast Street.
A worthy diversion if your trip to Mildura permits is to visit the amazing Mungo National Park, 110 kilometres north-east. The Great Wall of China is the name given to the spectacular 40 kilometre stretch of sand dunes that have been eroded into beautiful colours and shapes and lie next to the ancient lake bed. There is a self-drive 70 kilometre loop track that takes you past the lake, the sand dunes and into Mallee country.
No matter what time of year you visit, Mildura's calendar is fully booked with festivals and events. For 10 days in September/October the Mildura Country Music Festival showcases over 100 independent country musicians. Mildura hosts the Writer's festival and Golf Week in July, the finish line to the 8-day cycling event the Tour of the Murray in September and the Mildura 100 Ski Race on the Murray River at Easter. With paddleboat cruises of the Murray River, walking tours of the art deco buildings in town and train trips on the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway there are so many ways to explore the area throughout the year.
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