Olivewood Homestead Renmark

The orchards of the Riverland are a multi-million dollar industry for South Australia. This industry wasn't started by Australians but by a family of Canadians called the Chaffeys. The Chaffey brothers had successfully created irrigation systems in the United States. One person who was impressed with their work in California was the Victorian Politician Alfred Deakin. He asked the Canadians if they would consider coming to Australia and starting a similar project at the town now known as Mildura. The Chaffeys agreed but there was a delay as the Victorian Parliament debated the idea. That was when the South Australian Premier Downer stepped in and offered them a site in the neighbouring colony.

In April 1888 Charles Chaffey (the youngest of the three boys) arrived in South Australia and established the Renmark Irrigation Colony. This was the beginning of an industry that thrives today, using Murray River water to irrigate the arid lands along it's banks. Charles was keen to settle in Renmark and so brought out his wife Ella and the first of what would be a family of six children. After a stay at Paringa, they chose a 64 hectare plot of land in Renmark.

Charles planted groves of citrus and olives, put in grape vines and stone fruit trees. He added windbreaks of native trees and planted wheat and lucerne for his dairy stock. He also had a house built in the style of a Canadian log-cabin. The walls were made of Murray pine logs and the interiors sealed using plaster and lath. The Chaffey family moved into "Olivewood" in 1889. In 1904 they left to visit Canada and while away the Riverland suffered a poor harvest. The bank foreclosed on Charles Chaffey and "Olivewood" was reclaimed and the furniture sold. "Olivewood" is now run by the National Trust and although the grounds are nowhere near as grand as in Chaffey's time, orchards and groves still exist. Restoration work has been carried out on the house and some of the furniture that was sold has been donated by locals interested in preserving history. The old olive house has been converted into a small museum about the history of the region and the old packing shed contains horse drawn equipment.

Charles Chaffey wasn't the only one who is long remembered from the period of Renmark's history. His wife Ella wrote children's books including one published in 1896 called "The Youngsters of Murray Home". It dealt with the lives being lived at Olivewood by her six children. At the time the book was compared to that of Ethel Turner. "Olivewood" is available for special occasions or can be visited every day except for Wednesdays. It is on the corner of 21st street and Renmark Ave (Sturt Highway).

For more details phone 08 8586 6175 or email info@postcards-sa.com.au