Irrigation Record

Masthead of Irrigation Record, 1913-1917.

The Irrigation Record was a fortnightly newspaper published in Leeton, New South Wales, Australia from 15 February 1913 to 15 June 1917 by the NSW Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission.[1] Its purpose was to educate new settlers of the fledgling Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), about agricultural methods, irrigation techniques, crops, stock and machinery.[2]

History

The first issue of the Irrigation Record for the dissemination of practical information among the farmers of the irrigation areas, has a significance of unusual interest to this State. It marks an epoch in the producing power of the country. It is an evidence that a large territory of highly fertile land is being rescued for the agriculturist and orchardist from the uncertainty of production always associated with a dependence on the ordinary rainfall.

J G Youll, editor of Irrigation Record, in the first issue of the newspaper on 15 February 1913[2]

Leeton was the first town to be planned under the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area scheme.[3] The Irrigation Record commenced publication in 1913 and its stated aim was to educate the local residents about irrigation and farming.[2]

Articles covered developments in the area such as the establishment of the town including churches,[4] schools,[5] police stations[6] and the agricultural industry.[7] The editor of the Irrigation Record was Mr J G (John Gibson) Youll, later a Councillor of the Shire of Wade. Feature articles by Walter Burley Griffin about the planning of Leeton and Griffith were published in May and June 1915.[8][9]

The last issue of the Irrigation Record was published on 15 June 1917. The economic constraints of World War I were cited in the penultimate edition as one reason for its closure, along with the belief that the journal had served its purpose to educate new settlers.[10]

Availability

The Irrigation Record was microfilmed by W. & F. Pascoe onto 1 reel of 35mm microfilm. The microfilm can be viewed at the State Library of New South Wales,[1] and the National Library of Australia.[11]

The project to digitise the Irrigation Record 1913-1917 was jointly funded by Griffith City Council, McWilliam's Wines and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited.[12] The newspaper is part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program of the National Library of Australia.[13][14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Irrigation Record". State Library of NSW catalogue. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Irrigation Record". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 15 February 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Our history". Leeton Shire Council. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Laying Foundation Stone Anglican Church.". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 2 June 1913. p. 13. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "MIRROOL SCHOOL.". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 1 July 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "A POLICE COURT AT LEETON.". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 2 August 1915. p. 3. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Instructional Notes.". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 January 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "The Town Plan of Leeton.". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 1 May 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "The City Plan of Griffith.". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 1 June 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  10. ↑ ""Irrigation Record".". Irrigation Record. Leeton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 1 June 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Irrigation record [microform]". W. & F. Pascoe. 1989
  12. ↑ "Minutes of the Griffith Library Support Management Committee on 18 June 2012 (pdf)". Griffith Library Support Management Committee. Griffith City Council. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Newspaper Titles". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Newspaper Digitisation Program". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
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