A rich history
For thousands of years Aboriginal tribes roamed the Murray Valley, attracted by its abundant food sources and permanent water supply. In 1836 the first Europeans to visit the region were led by the explorer Major Thomas Mitchell, who was seeking new areas for settlement. He named Swan Hill after a sleepless night camped on a rise near a flock of noisy swans. Following Major Mitchell's favourable reports, the first settlers soon arrived. They were pastoralists, establishing large sheep stations next to the lush Murray. Before long agricultural selectors followed and opened up the Mallee areas for grain production. Within a few years, the region's produce was being sent not only to larger Australian cities, but to markets around the world. By the end of the nineteenth century intensive irrigation development and other new agricultural endeavours were underway. The settlements throughout the area grew with the economy, eventually providing all the necessities of a regional community. These settlements include Swan Hill, Robinvale, Lake Boga, Nyah, Nyah West, Piangil, Woorinen, Ultima, Manangatang and Tresco.
The Swan Hill Region today
Today, Swan Hill is a thriving, modern city. Swan Hill and its irrigated hinterland are home to 16,000 people. An economic catchment stretching along the Murray Valley into the Mallee in Victoria and the Western Riverina in New South Wales, is also serviced by the city. Though still focused on primary production and supplying the needs of people and businesses in the area, Swan Hill has broadened its activities in commerce, manufacturing and tourism. The city today combines the relaxed lifestyle and community spirit of traditional rural life, with the facilities and conveniences of a much larger urban centre.
Swan Hill in the Future
Abundant water supplies have always been a driving factor in Swan Hill's development, this will become even more important in the future. As improved technology increases the productivity of water resources, the Swan Hill Region's opportunities can only expand as a major contributor to the growing and prosperous Murray Valley.
