Day 119 To Mildura

Today we drove to Mildura in Victoria. We first pasted through Crystal Brook this agricultural hub is the southern gateway to the Flinders Ranges. The Big Goanna monument stands at the entry of the town near the Royal Hotel which was established around 1881–1882 on the town's historic main thoroughfare. The first decade after settlement saw the erection of many stately buildings including the Bakehouse (1875), Crystal Brook Hotel (1875), Royal Hotel (1876) and Institute (1881), all of which are still standing today.







We stopped at the Silo Art in Farrell Flat created by talented artists Jarrod Soden and Matthew Knights of Perplswet Designs, whose vision and skill brought new life to these towering silos. The project unfolded over a period of two weeks in November 2020, they dedicated an astonishing 140 hours to meticulously painting the silos, ensuring that every stroke contributed to the overall narrative of Farrell Flat’s past. The artwork itself is nothing short of remarkable, soaring to an impressive height of 30 meters and covering an expansive surface area of 900 square meters, they utilized more than 150 litres of paint, carefully layering colours and textures to create a striking visual masterpiece. At its core, the artwork depicts the town’s final train passing through, a symbolic farewell to an era when the railway played a crucial role in shaping the community.

The Farrell Flat Hotel is a rustic stone pub licensed since 1871.




Burrra a historic mining town nestled between the lush vines of Clare Valley and the red dirt of the Outback. Monster Mine developed by the South Australian Mining Association as the Burra Burra Mine, it grew into the largest copper mine in Australia and one of the richest globally during the 19th century. The massive output of copper ore generated immense wealth and is widely credited with saving the early colony of South Australia from bankruptcy. The entire town was designated a State Heritage Area in 1993/1994, preserving over 70 individual 19th-century sites, stone buildings, and Cornish cottages.

Paxton Square Cottages built in 1849 by the South Australian Mining Association, these stone cottages in Thames Street represent some of the earliest company housing in Australia.

St Mary's Angical Church built in 1879, this prominent stone church features early South Australian stained glass windows by Edward Brooks and a rare 1905 J.E. Dodd pipe organ.

Barkers of Baldina Cottage Homes Inc. is a non-profit organization in Burra, South Australia, that provides affordable aged care accommodation established via a pastoral bequest.

Pearce's Building erected in 1914 by prominent local builder John Pearce. It replaced a series of older commercial structures on the site (including a general store and a saddlery) that had been destroyed by fire in 1900.

Visitors Centre Building originally constructed as the district offices for major stock and station firm Elder, Smith & Co. Ltd. in 1890.

The historic ANZ building in Burra, South Australia, originally opened in 1878 as the Bank of Australasia before later being occupied by its successor, the ANZ Bank. Built for £1,620 (equivalent to nearly $280,000 AUD today).

The Uniting Church the very first religious service in Burra was held in early 1846 in the home (likely a creek-bank dugout) of local preacher John Chapman. The growth of the local Methodist community was fueled by Cornish miners and their families who arrived to work the copper mines from 1845 onward.
Built under the direction of Rev. D.J. Draper, the first chapel opened on December 5, 1847, marking the first church structure in the Burra.

St Joseph's Catholic Church an early Gothic-style stone church opened on November 8, 1874, blessed by Bishop C. A. Reynolds. Because it had outstanding debt, it was not officially consecrated until exactly one century later on November 8, 1974. The original unstable spire was removed in 1968, but a replacement spire was privately funded and installed by Father Laurence Joseph Quinn in 2009.

Burra Regional Art Gallery is situated within the old Telegraph and Post Office building from which J McDouall Stuart sent his message in Dec 1862, to inform the SA authorities that he had successfully crossed Australia.

The Burra Town Hall on Market Street in Burra, South Australia, began as a modest one-room Mechanics' and Miners' Institute in 1857 before being significantly rebuilt and expanded into a vibrant community and civic hub.















We stopped at Weir 2 in Taylorville on the River Murray.



We had lunch at the pub in Waikerie and walked to the lookout over the river. The Waikerie Silos were the fifth silos to be completed in South Australia and are the 25th to be included in the Australian Silo Art Trail Collection. Titled ‘Healthy River Healthy Community’ the Waikerie Silos are the second in the Australian Silo Art Trail Collection to be painted on both sides, giving a land view and a river view as well. Two exceptional world-class artists were chosen for the project, Jimmy Dvate from Melbourne and Garry Duncan from Kanmantoo. Featuring on Jimmy’s silo is local native flora and fauna, including a giant Yabby and the endangered Regent Parrot. Jimmy has also included other endangered species such as the Murray Hardyhead and the Spiny Daisy.








We drove through Berri, a historic town in South Australia's Riverland region, situated on a wide bend of the Murray River. The land originally belonged to the Erawirunga people. The name "Berri" comes from the local Aboriginal term "bery bery", meaning a wide bend or wide expanse in the river. Charles Sturt first explored and navigated past the modern townsite during his 1830 expedition down the Murray River. Before town development, the site served as a refuelling stop for paddle steamers and was part of the expansive Cobdogla Station pastoral run.








The Paringa silos were painted by Jack Fran and Sam Brooks. Each of the 4 silos has a silhouette likeness of a local hero to the region.

Charles Francis Chaffey 1859-1938 The concept of irrigation was introduced to Australia in 1887 by Canadian brothers George and William Chaffey, following on from their successful irrigation venture in California USA. Charles Chaffey was summoned in 1888 by his older brothers to take charge of the new Renmark settlement.

Captain Pearl Wallace 1911-2005 Born in 1911 in Renmark. Her father William and brothers Norm and Bill were well-known shipwrights and captains. Her early years were on the steamer "Alpha" as the family traded their wares along the Darling. In the wheelhouse she had her first school lessons with her father, who also taught her about the river.

George Disher 1883-1953 Murray Pioneer editor Arch Grosvenor described George Disher as "not only a local identity. He was a local institution". So it was only fitting that in 1936 for Renmark's celebrations for the State Centenary, Renmark's popular indigenous local was chosen as the subject of a button struck to raise funds for the occasion. George was a good-natured favourite with locals and tourists for whom he would offer (for 2 shillings) to write and date a sentence backwards. This could then be read by holding the message in front of a mirror.

Sister Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy 1912-1942 born in 1912 in Renmark, one of five children of Harry L.S. Balfour-Ogilvy (veteran of the Boer War and WW1) and Jane Keyes, a teacher at Renmark Primary School prior to her marriage. After receiving her education in Renmark and Adelaide, Elaine began her nursing training in the Adelaide Children's Hospital and in 1940 enlisted in the A.I.F. as a Sister in the Australian Imperial Nursing Service. In 1941 she embarked for overseas service.







The iconic Big Dunlop Tyre landmark is located on the Sturt Highway in Yamba, South Australia, approximately 9 to 10 kilometers west of the South Australia and Victoria border. We then drove on to the confluence of the Murray and Darling rivers in Wentworth NSW as the sun was setting. Captain Charles Sturt first reached the confluence on January 23, 1830. Wentworth later grew into a major inland port during the paddle steamer era.