Italian land settlement in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas, 1915-1972

Abstract

This study focuses on expansion of Italian landholding in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas ('M.I.A.', incorporating the Mirrool and the Yanco Irrigation Areas) of the New South Wales Riverina from 1975 until 1972 and on the neighbouring irrigated areas in the post-1950 period. After World War I Italian settlement expanded in the context of a declining official scheme of soldier settlement. In place of planned soldier settlement and the early image of the M.I.A. as an agricultural oasis for British-Australians, Italian settlers gradually assumed the dominant role through hard work, combined with their skilful use of family labour and intra-group co-operation. By 1972 Italians dominated 80 percent of the horticultural land in Mirrool and 50 percent of the horticultural land in Yanco. In addition, they controlled 10 percent of the 'large area' land (used mainly for cereal production, pastures and livestock) in the M.I.A and adjoining irrigation areas in 1972. Show more