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This is an excellent book that catalogues the irrigation schemes along the river Murray in South Australia. It is most interesting in the description of the machinery used in the construction and operation of these schemes. There are many photos of the large steam, and later diesel plants used to drive the pumps, and of special interest is one of the more unusual pumping stations at Cobdogla that employed several Humphrey pumps. The Humphrey pump was an interesting internal combustion engine that used and integral pump/motor arrangement. The engine had around 6 feet diameter bore, and a variable stroke.

The Chapters are:

• PREHISTORIC IRRIGATION In Australia, the Middle East and North America
• THE IMMIGRANTS Explorers reports, climatic misconceptions, Goyder's line, disastrous extension of farming and closer settlement in South Australia
• EDWARD JOHN EYRE, THE EXPLORER 1833-1841 Arrives Sydney 1833, overlands cattle to South Australia December 1837 via Moorundi, and sheep October 1838. Native treatment. Explores north to Lake Torrens May 1839, returns to Moorundi and selects site for his house. Explores Eyre Peninsula and west coast, July 1839. Explores to Lake Eyre June-September 1840 and Nullarbor November l840-June 1841. Official recognition. Appointed Resident Magistrate and Protector of Aborigines at Moorundi October 1841.
• EDWARD JOHN EYRE, THE FIRST IRRIGATOR 1841-1844 Eyre buys land at Moorundi Sept. 1841, builds his home, creates Town of Sturt in late 1842 and sells lots. Government buildings erected mid 1843. Constructs first irrigation scheme in early 1843. Settlement grows to 43 plus about 400 natives. Accompanies Sturt to Rufus River and explores Lake Bonney and Lake Victoria Aug. 1844. Leaves Moorundi for England Nov. 1844. Big flood 1852 damages Moorundi. Aboriginal Station closes late l860s. The native people.
• THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE The prehistoric Murray River. The healthy river. The balance of nature. Charles Sturt explores the Murray 1829-30. The native people.
• ELEMENTARY PROJECTS 1856-1886 & PRIMITIVE EQUIPMENT Primitive pumping equipment and methods, early projects. First lower Murray swamp reclamation.
• THE CHAFFEYS 1881-1893 Their enterprises and methods, America, Mildura and Renmark. Their remarkable pumping machinery.
• IRRIGATION SCHEMES AND PROPOSALS 1885-1894 Some impractical schemes promoted and approved by Parliament.
• THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS ON THE MURRAY 1893-1909 The first Government sponsored settlements, the eleven communal villages and their problems and the inefficient primitive steam pumping plants.
  Including:
  • Gillen Village Settlement
  • Pyap Village Settlement
  • New Residence Village Settlement
  • Lyrup Village Settlement
  • Murtho Village Settlement
  • New Era Village Settlement
  • Waikerie and Ramco Village Settlements
  • Holder Village Settlement
  • Kingston Village Settlement
  • Moorook Village Settlement
  • Village Settlements-Conclusion
  • Pioneer Settlers Amenities
• GOVERNMENT PUMPING PLANTS OPERATING 1910 - 1960 The details of the remarkable types of gas and steam pumping plants used by the Government in the upper river areas.
  Including:
  • Chaffey Irrigation Area
  • Berri Irrigation Area
  • Cobdogla Irrigation Area
  • Moorook Irrigation Area
  • Kingston Irrigation Area
  • Waikerie Irrigation Area
  • Cadell Irrigation Area
• THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RECLAIMED AREAS ALONG THE LOWER MURRAY The reclamation of swamp lands downstream from Mannum, the methods and the unusual machinery used and pumping plants used to return drainage water from the pasture lands to the river and those used to irrigate highlands, also height of the embankments and flood heights in this area.
• SOME ASPECTS OF MANAGEMENT OF THE IRRIGATION AREAS 1908 - 1978
• THE DEGRADATION OF A PRISTINE RIVER The Murray River - Its problems and its future?

APPENDICES

• SUMMARY OF THE IRRIGATION AREAS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN THE 1970s
• SOME SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IRRIGATION AREAS
• AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE TO PARLIAMENT FOR ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION AREAS
• THE SUCCESSION OF DISTRICT OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN EACH IRRIGATION AREA
• PLACES NAMED IN HONOUR OF IRRIGATION STAFF
• THE KNOWN RIVER MURRAY FLOOD LEVELS IN S.A. (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER and IN ORDER OF SIZE)

Code No. 010699