Griffith - Food Bowl of Australia!

I have had it on my "Bucket List" for many years to visit the rural town of Griffith in the Riverina. It was only a slight diversion on our way to the Murray River so we've spent the entire day here. What a revelation it has been. The town has an incredibly rich history and was designed by Walter Burly Griffin, Griffin also designed our national capital - Canberra.

The Australian Government originally granted 50, 50 acre allotments to returning servicemen after the first world war. Many of them found it too difficult to make a go of it and ultimately the challenge was taken up by Italian immigrants. Interesting to note that over 60% of the current population are of Italian origin.

It's astonishing to witness what has been achieved over the past 100 years and the success of the town has to be put down to the vision of Jack McWilliam who convinced the Australian Government that it would be a good idea to develop an irrigation system using the Murrumbidgee River. Legend has it that he believed that the quality of the soil was so great that if you "Buried a nail, in 12 months you will have grown a Crow Bar". Well thats the theory anyway.

The highlight of the day was a visit to the Catania "Fruit Salad Farm" where we were highly entertained and informed by Sharon and Joe who are the proud owners of Lot number 43, one of the first 50 original land parcels. The pair grow an incredible variety of fruit, non the least being prunes! How does the poem go, "There was movement at the station as the prunes were passed around".

As you will see in the Blip, even the family chook was enjoying the water from the irrigation that was evident this afternoon amongst the black muscatel vines. It has been a wonderful day, finished off with the most delightful meal at the famous "La Scala" Restaurant. I don't think they've changed the menu in 40 years (thank goodness)!!!