Irrigation Settlement. Some Historic Aspects in South Australia on the River Murray, 1838-1978

Berri: Cobdogla Irrigation and Steam Museum, and The Cobdogla Steam Friends Society, 2003. First Edition. Paperback. Fine. Berri, Cobdogla Irrigation and Steam Museum, and The Cobdogla Steam Friends Society, 2003. Quarto, [vi], iv, 389 pages with numerous maps and plans and hundreds of illustrations (8 in colour) - mainly from vintage photographs - plus 3 large folding charts. Laminated colour pictorial card covers with illustrations on all surfaces; a fine copy. An invaluable record, over 40 years in the making, dealing 'solely with historic aspects of the development of irrigation and settlement along the Murray Valley of South Australia'. The author spent most of his working life 'in the Government irrigation settlements as an Inspector, then District Officer then Superintendent, administering and managing those areas for the Department of Lands.... Reference material cannot be widely quoted because very little is in published form. Also, much of this history ... has been compiled over the years starting in the 1950s, from my personal notes, writings and knowledge and other private sources'. The illustrations, sourced in the main from the author's personal collection (now dispersed), are a significant contribution to the history of the Murray, not least the riverboat trade.