As a reconstruction of the first home built in the region,
Mildura Station Homestead tells the story of the Jamieson brothers and the Chaffey family.
In 1847, the Jamieson brothers established a pastoral lease and station approximately 100 metres upstream. Thousands of sheep grazed the run and they were rather successful in their endeavours.
Forty or so years later, George Chaffey was invited to Mildura by the Minister for Water Supply. The two parties signed an indenture giving birth to the Mildura Irrigation Colony. The Chaffey family lived at the homestead and used it as the headquarters of Chaffey Brothers Ltd.
Although not the original, the recreated homestead, outbuildings and woolshed were built to closely match those which existed before. There is also a rose garden and some implements and machinery on display around its grounds.
It was a fine sunny afternoon when we visited and a number of other people were sitting back relaxing, having a picnic and walking their dog. Was this the way life would have been like back in the 19th century? I pondered.
Mildura Station Homestead can be found along Cureton Avenue not far from the cemetery. It is part of the
Chaffey Trail which also includes
Lock 11 and Mildura Weir as well as other significant sites around town. The trail is worth doing if you have some time to spare.
