The Chaffey Brothers

George Chaffey and his brother William Benjamin arrived in Mildura in 1886 where they established the first irrigation scheme in Australia. Following great success with irrigation in California, the Chaffey brothers, originally from Canada, had been approached by Victorian Premier Alfred Deakin who was under pressure to open up more land for farming and settlement.

The Chaffey families established themselves at the Old Mildura Homestead. Following the success of early irrigation development work William began construction of Rio Vista in 1889. The Spanish name Rio Vista (River View) reflects the Californian influences found in the house.

In 1889 William’s wife Hattie tragically died of pneumonia shortly after the birth of their sixth child. The baby died soon afterwards and was buried, with his mother, close to the homestead. Whilst William continued on his many business trips to California, the rest of the family moved into the then completed Rio Vista, with William’s mother and sister left in charge of the children. On William’s last visit to America, he married his first wife’s niece Hattie and brought her back to live at Rio Vista. Six more children were subsequently born to William and his second wife Hattie.

Although the Mildura scheme was a remarkable achievement, the Chaffey brothers encountered financial difficulties and never realised the dream of prosperity that Rio Vista symbolised. George Chaffey returned to America in 1897. William died in 1926 and Hattie remained living in the house for twenty-four years until her death in 1950.

In 1950 Rio Vista was purchased for £18,000.00 and converted into an art gallery. Back in 1944 a valuable art collection had been bequeathed to the Mildura City Council by Senator R D Elliott, owner of the Elliott Newspaper Group, The bequest was on the condition that a suitable place be found to house the collection. Several rooms in Rio Vista including the conservatory were converted for display purposes and many of the original surfaces were painted over. Conversion into the Mildura Art Gallery saved the house from probable demolition and subdivision of the surrounding grounds. In more recent times the focus has been narrowed to exploring the history of the Chaffey family and to the restoration of Rio Vista to the splendour of its earlier years.

Sir Henry Bolte opened the Mildura Regional Arts Centre on 22 November 1966. Additional works bequeathed by Mrs Hilda Elliott in 1970, supplemented the initial Elliott collection along with many works from other sources. A continuous program of exhibitions by Murray Darling artists and touring exhibitions complimenting chosen works from the permanent collection provides interest for all.