Griffith is a large service centre located in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The area was first discovered by the explorer John Oxley in 1871, and proclaimed a city in 1987. During the later part of the 19th century there was a westward movement of settlers who established large sheep stations on the plains. The Griffith district formed part of the Cuba (now Kooba) and Benerambah Stations. In the 1890s Sir Samuel McCaughey proved irrigation was viable and diversification of agricultural products could be sustained economically. The New South Wales Government realised the possibilities, and in 1906 brought down the "Barren Jack and Murrumbidgee Canals Construction Act" - Barren Jack, now Burrinjuck, Dam was commenced in 1907, and thousands of acres of land were resumed for what was to become the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

Large numbers of workers came in to the area to construct the canals, many with the vision of securing their own irrigation farms. The first farms were made available in 1912 with many hopeful farmers travelling long distances in response to the Governments intensive advertising campaign. Many Italian migrants responded as they saw the land as similar to their own homeland farms.

At the end of World War I the population again grew with the influx of returned soldiers settling on farms under Government sponsorship, and by 1923 the soldier settlers represented about half of the total farmers in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

Griffith, proclaimed in 1916, was named after Arthur Griffith who was the New South Wales Minister for Public Works from 1910-1915. The town was designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the architect famous for the design of Canberra. The design was similar to that for Canberra with its radial pattern of wide tree-lined streets, ring roads and parks, focused on a grand circle, the centre hills. Unfortunately Burley Griffin's plan was not fully adhered to as the anticipated population of 30,000 was not reached and early settlers in the town showed a marked preference for building blocks close to the railway station.

Griffith is famous for its wine and is the second largest regional wine producer in Australia. McWilliams, established in 1915 is the oldest winery. Wineries are popular with tourists and vary in size from the larger producers to the small boutique types; almost all offer wine tasting.

Agriculture is Griffith's major industry with grapes for wine production and rice being the two major crops. Additional important crops include citrus fruit, rockmelons, onions, carrots and parsnips. Gherkins are grown for Macdonald's hamburgers, and large range of other agricultural products including tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, pumpkins, sweet corn, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, garlic, watermelon and stone fruit are also produced.

Griffith is a major town of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in the Riverina Region of southern New South Wales. Surveyor and colonial explorer John Oxley, described the region in 1817 as "a country which for bareness and desolation has no equal". However due to the success of irrigation technique introduced in the early twentieth century the Griffith region has been transformed into the richest food producing centre of Australia. Indeed the township of Griffith was simultaneously conceived with the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Designed by Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin, Griffith is known as "food and wine country".

At the time of Oxley's survey of the Riverina in 1817, the Narrungdera clan of the Wiradjuri people inhabited the region. Nearby Narrandera is an apparent corruption of the clan's name. Squatters seeking unclaimed land for the grazing of cattle and sheep followed hard upon Oxley's heels. By the early 1830s disparate European settlement had emerged in the region. The Robertson Land Act of 1861 encouraged closer settlement again, and crop cultivation was attempted. However the Riverina's isolation and extreme seasonal conditions deterred many settlers from remaining permanently.

By far the greatest barrier to development of the region was drought; problem so extensive that between 1884 and 1887 a Royal Commission on Water Conservation and Irrigation was conducted. The Commission studied many proposals including the irrigation scheme of Hugh Griffin McKinney. From the late 1870s, McKinney posited an irrigation program utilising the waters of the Murrumbidgee, based upon sound engineering principles. Although he was to petition parliament for almost thirty years, his innovative scheme was largely ignored.

It was rather the wool lord and parliamentary member, Sir Samuel McCaughey, who was to be credited as the instigator of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. No doubt aware of the imminent introduction of an irrigation program, McCaughey strategically purchased 100,000 acres of the Riverina property North Yanco in 1899, consolidating his total holdings at over 3 million acres. Upon this property McCaughey initiated a private irrigation system, employing 200 miles of canals. Hence he successfully irrigated 40,000 acres of previously barren land. This resulted in the State Government purchasing 68,000 acres of McCaughey's land in 1911. Official proclamation of the Yanco Irrigation Area occurred on 1 May 1912. By the month' close an initial 146 farms were gazetted. The Minister for Works, Mr Arthur Griffith officially opened the scheme on July 15, 1912.

The Government launched a propaganda campaign to lure settlers to the newly irrigated region. These inducements, including fruit trees, farm houses and sheds appealed to a mixture of unemployed itinerant workers and southern European immigrants. By 1914, 622 farms were worked in a region of 9,700 hectares. In an effort to induce more people, Henry Lawson was employed in 1916 to compose a complimentary verse about the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, to be published in major city journals.

However, many fundamental problems ensued. Although engineering experts abounded, agricultural ones were scarce. Inexperienced farmers received misinformation and little advice from authorities. Canal seepage and waterlogging marred early crop success. The government cannery established in 1914 could not process the quantity of initial yields. Then the soldier resettlement scheme resulted in 369 mostly inexperienced returned servicemen acquiring lots. As one resident recollected:

"Henry Lawson was in Leeton at that time: I think he had some sort of government position. The poor man always seemed to be drunk, and the way things were then, I can't say I blame him".

Indeed the government was exposed for manufacturing propaganda concerning returns, and in 1920 around 200 early settlers were compensated.

The site for the township of Griffith was chosen and Walter Burley Griffin commenced work on its design in November 1913. Despite this, Griffin did not actually visit the area until 1915. Design proposals were finalised in May 1916, and the township of Griffith was gazetted in the August. However, auctions of town allotments held from September 1916 realised poor results, and this lack of interest was sustained with only gradual development of the town. It was the influx of returned servicemen to the region that established the infant town, with most blocks sold by 1921. Albeit as sites along the present day main street of Banna Avenue were cheaper and closer to the rail line than those in Griffin's quintessential Grand Circle, the latter failed to function as the focus of the community from which all life would radiate.

Despite this lethargic beginning, Griffith enjoyed major services from its earliest days. The Griffith Post Office commenced operation as early as June 1912. The Australian Bank of Commerce operated from 1918, followed by the "Wales" from 1920. In December 1923 the Government Savings Bank of New South Wales expressed confidence in the region through the opening of a branch. Indeed, it was around this time that good fortune began to shine on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The first successful yield of rice eventuated in 1924, consolidating as the staple and profitable regional harvest for many years. Regardless of the increasing working population of the Griffith surrounds, the erection of a public drinking house was greatly delayed due to the efforts of an influential temperance movement. The older Riverina towns of Narrandera, Darlington Point and Whitton were frequented by Griffith locals before the licensing of the Hotel Griffith in 1925. The Victoria Hotel was erected the next year, followed by the Area Hotel in 1937.

Griffith was proclaimed a city in 1987.

Overview

Griffith was declared a town in 1916 and is named after Sir Arthur Griffith, the minister for Public Works at the time. It is a major agricultural centre and boasts award winning wines, rice production for the whole country, large scale citrus fruit production and poultry production. It is deserving of its name of "Wine and Food Country".

Natural Attractions

Hermits Cave was once the abode of a reclusive known as Valerio Recitti. On entering the cave, visitors will find tracts of floral painted rock and concreted walkways. Sir Dudley de Chair Lookout provides stunning views of the area. Cocoparra National Park has several types of scenery to delight the visitor. Forested valleys, rugged cliffs, parrots, kangaroos, honeyeaters and geckos to list but a few attractions. Lake Wyngan is a picturesque location for a picnic or more energetic watersports. Children can play in the wading pool, playground and visit the animal enclosures. Willandra National Park is also close by and worth visiting.

Other Attractions

Griffith is famous for its wines, and ten of the fifteen wineries open their doors to the public for wine tasting and sales of award winning wines such as DeBortoli Botrytis Semillon and McWilliams Hanwood Port. The annual Wine Festival each Easter attracts wine lovers from all over the country. The Griffith Regional Theatre is the major cultural focal point of the region and has a varied program of live performances. The Pioneer Park Museum is home to 40 historic buildings which trace the development of Griffith and displays of historic local memorabilia and farm machinery dating to the late 1800s. Cantina Fruit Salad Farm provides a chance to learn about the types and methods of crop growing in Griffith. Sports clubs and restaurants are plentiful in Griffith.

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