The Mildura Mini-Muster, held on the 8th, 9th and 10th of March,at Mildura, a gracious regional city on the Murray River in north-west Victoria.

The base for the event was the Cottonwood Motel. As usual, registration started on Friday late afternoonr which was combined with a BYO meal.

On Saturday, the attrations started with the visit the historic Rio Vista House. George and William Benjamin Chaffey arrived in Mildura district in 1886 at the invitation of the Victorian Government. They established the first large scale irrigation scheme in Australia. Following their great success with irrigation in California, the Chaffey brothers, originally from Canada, established themselves in what is now the city of Mildura. After the early success of their irrigation scheme, they began construction of Rio Vista House in 1889. The Spanish style name Rio Vista (River View) reflects the Californian influences found in the Queen Ann style house. In 1950 Rio Vista was purchased by the Mildura City Council for 18,000 pounds. It now serves as an art gallery and is home to the Mildura Arts Centre. We then had the chance to inspect Rio Vista and the art works exhibited therein.

Next stop was the nearby Murray River to board the paddle wheeler PW Rothbury for a two hour cruise. The Paddle Vessel Rothbury was built in 1881 at Gunbower, Victoria on the Murray River. It was built as a large and powerful ‘tow boat’ and was employed in towing barges for the wool and logging trade. She was well known even then, as one of the fastest tow boats.

Paddle Vessel Rothbury

Lock 11

Our cruise first involved negotiating Lock 11 to gain access to the river downstream of the Mildura weir.

After the river cruise, lunch at Woodsies Gem Shop was on the agenda including the viewing of the large display of gemstones and jewellery.

On Sunday  Wentworth was the place to be. Wentworth is where the Darling River joins the Murray River the Murray Darling Confluence.

Cars at The Confluence

The Confluence and Viewing Tower

From ‘The Confluence’, we drove the short distance to visit the historic Wentworth gaol. After that it was on to the Mildura Holden Motor Museum and then to the Gol Gol Hotel for a late lunch.
The final MM event was a very convivial dinner at the Mildura Working Man’s Club.

There were thirty eight people in attendance, which is good for a Mini-Muster. Cars participating included nine 4CVs, our Dauphine, one Caravelle, Rob & Rhonda Ringe’s Fuego, one Koleos, one RS Clio 172, Graham and Maureen Nordling’s Captur plus a number of ‘non-Renault moderns’.