European settlement of the area dates back to 1847 when both Kulkyne Station, and Carwarp Station were taken up. Early settlers in this district were isolated by distance from the seaports and capital cities and the slow and inefficient transport available to them. A bullock wagon would take at least three months to make the round trip to Melbourne, taking wool and other produce down to the market, and returning with stores and supplies for the Station.

Edmond Morey of Euston Station and one of his nearby neighbours approached the South Australian Governor with ideas of putting paddle steamers on the Murray River to bring in the stores and supplies and to take away their produce. Previous to this, Captain Charles Sturt in 1830 and Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836, both wrote in their diaries about the probability of the Murray becoming a great highway.

It wasn't until Governor Henry Fox Young came to power in S.A. that anything positive was done. Governor Young came to Wentworth on horseback, and in a whaleboat with aboriginal rowers, set off downstream to look at the probabilities of the river becoming a highway. He convinced his government that it was indeed the case and in 1851, two prizes of 2000 pounds each became available to the first two iron steamers, built on the riverbank, being not more than 2' in draught and having at least 40 horse power steam engines, to travel to the junction of the Darling and the Murray Rivers (Wentworth). 

It wasn't until 1853 that the first two paddle steamers ventured up the river. The first, the Mary Ann was built at Noa No and had its trial run in February 1853. In March 1853 the "Mary Ann" set off downriver to Goolwa for custom's clearance on the goods she was carrying for sale. At Goolwa she was met by the Governor and about 300 local people who had gathered to see the first paddle steamer on the Murray River. A 16-gun salute was fired, and Governor Young promised William Randell, the proud owner and builder of the vessel, a prize of 300 pounds for being the pioneer navigator of the river. William's vessel did not qualify for the Government prize of 2000 pounds.

The "Mary Ann" measured 55' X 9'. She had no deck housing and the crew was obliged to sleep ashore each night. She had an oblong boiler which swelled when steam pressure rose inside. She had a mast at each end and in favourable reaches of the river could raise sail to assist with her passage. She had rounded paddle boxes and side paddle wheels.

The "Mary Ann" set off up the river on March 25th, but at Penn's Reach, about 100 miles from Noa No, a sandbar impeded progress and she had to return to await a favourable river height. She set out again on August 15th 1853, on a much higher river, reaching as far upstream as Maiden's Punt (Moama), 1067 miles from the Murray mouth.

 Meanwhile, an enterprising and Entreprenurial Scottish sea captain was also looking at the Murray. Captain Francis Cadell disembarked his ship at Melbourne, hired two horses and purchased a variety of materials which he loaded onto one of the horses. He rode to Swan Hill, hiring some out-of-luck gold miners at Bendigo to accompany him. At Tyntynder homestead, just north of Swan Hill, Cadell fashioned a crude craft. 21' X 3' and named it the "Forerunner". The craft was virtually a canoe. Its frame was of barrel staves and mallee limbs and the covering was of canvas which he had brought from Melbourne. In this somewhat ungainly and flimsy craft, Cadell set off down the Murray, to assess its navigability and to chat with any landowners he might meet along the way. The voyage was successful, the vessel only holing once on a snag, the rent being repaired with stitching and plastered over with mutton fat.

Cadell then did two things;

1. He ordered a paddle steamer to be built at Sydney.

2. He approached the S.A. Government and eventually had them agree to a completely different set of criteria for rewarding his enterprise. 500 pounds to bring his vessel in through the Murray Mouth, a tricky and treacherous stretch of water plus 1000 pounds upon reaching the Darling and Murray junction and a further 250 pounds per quarter that he successfully carried out trading voyages on the river.

Upon its launch, Cadell's new vessel was christened Lady Augusta, after the S.A. Governor's wife. The vessel was suitably rigged and brought around by sea to Port Elliot and then in through the Murray mouth and up to Goolwa arriving on August 16th, just one day after the "Mary Ann" set off from Noa No on her second attempt to navigate the river.

Cadell had also ordered another vessel to be built. A 105' barge, built at Goolwa by the Winsby Brothers. It was launched on August 17th, stuck in the mud and had to be towed off by the "Lady Augusta". It wasn't until the 25th of August that the "Lady Augusta" set off up the Murray, the "Eureka" barge lashed alongside and with an entourage of 45 persons, including the Governor of S.A., and his wife and daughter. There were also a couple of journalists and some very fine accounts of the voyage have survived for us to peruse. By all accounts, the passengers and officers on board Cadell's vessels had a very social and enjoyable outing as they "pioneered" navigation on the Murray River. Each night there was singing and dancing and a bonfire lit upon the bank. Swimming, canoeing, bushwalking, fine fare, all in all, a very good time was had by all.

14th September 1853 - Cadell probably had advice that the "Mary Ann was not far ahead as he steamed on well into the night, passing the other vessel at about 10pm as she lay against the bank and her crew were bedding down for the night. The crew of the "Mary Ann" were much surprised to hear another vessel coming up the river and to see her lights as she came up and steamed past. As soon as it was light, the "Mary Ann" was on her way, chasing to catch up with the "Lady Augusta". All through this day the two vessels engaged in a race, each alternatively taking the lead. When the junction of the Wakool and Murray River was reached, the "Lady Augusta" was ahead and steamed up the Wakool, probably by mistake. The "Mary Ann" followed her in, but on coming up to the next bend, found that the "Lady Augusta" was steaming back down at them. In endeavouring to turn quickly, the "Mary Ann" was carried into trees and sustained some damage. The "Lady Augusta" on re-entering the Murray and swinging her stem upstream, also encountered difficulties and was pushed into trees as well, also causing some minor damage. Towards sunset, the captains agreed to a truce and the race was called off.

Cadell left the "Eureka" barge at Tooley Landing to be loaded with wool from Poon Boon Station, and steamed on to Swan Hill, arriving on Saturday 17th September 1853, 4 hours ahead of the "Mary Ann". The arrival of the two vessels at the small inland township created much interest and excitement and on Sunday so many people turned up from the surrounding district, that the church service which was to have been held on board the "Lady Augusta" had to take place under the verandah of the Lower Murray Inn. The population of Swan Hill township at this time was 12. 10 men and two ladies. 15 aborigines camped down at the river, were not included in the population count.

Both vessels continued upstream on Monday, the "Lady Augusta" for a further 60 miles or so and the "Mary Ann" to Maiden's Punt (now Moama), about 1067 miles from the Murray Mouth, arriving on Saturday 24th September. The crew were received like royalty and given the hospitality of Maiden's Inn at no charge. He offered to pilot them further upstream, but William felt that this would not be to his advantage at that time, and the return journey was made from Maiden's Punt.

Meanwhile, after receiving much hospitality from the owners of Gooramadda Station, Cadell turned the stem of the "Lady Augusta" downstream and steamed back to Tooley Landing to collect the barge "Eureka". When he arrived, he found that the wool had not arrived from the shearing shed due to the fact that the station bullocks had strayed. Not to be undone, Cadell took the barge in tow and steamed down to the Wakool River and then up that river about 60 miles to where the station shearing shed was situated on the bank. The first inland wool to be borne by river transport was then loaded onto the "Eureka" barge, a momentous occasion which was toasted by the entourage.

During the return journey and whilst the "Lady Augusta" and "Eureka" were tied at Euston, two things happened. 1. The "Mary Ann" caught up and passed. 2. The "Eureka" barge tipped some of its wool bales into the river.

It is not really known why, but from this point in time onwards, Cadell and Randell became enemies and there was fierce competition between the two river captains.

Both Cadell and Randell went on to further enterprises on the river(s) and soon a thriving river trade was happening. This was the start of an era of growth and prosperity, and the development of the river trade was also quick. By the end of 1864 there were over 40 paddle steamers which had graced the waters of the Murray. Steamers and barges were being built along the river and elsewhere, to take advantage of the trade. Within two years Cadell had brought 2 Scottish-built steamers to the river and built barges near the junction of the Wakool and Murray. He brought out Scottish captains to command his vessels. Randell also built other vessels and established stores along the rivers at Wentworth and Bourke. Cadell obtained Government contracts and grants for snagging the rivers. He built the first snagging vessel, the "Grappler" at Echuca in 1865.

There are many side stories, and this story could go on, but the above will have to suffice as an introduction to the development of the river trade on the Murray/Darling River system.

 (With thanks to Frank Tucker for collating this information) 

The Nangiloc/Colignan area was part of Carwarp Station, which had several owners until the lease expired in 1911. The area was then subdivided and leased to soldiers returning from the First World War. With closer settlement came the need for schools and several were established in the area. In fact, there were twelve small primary schools in the immediate district. Now there is one. In 1994, Colignan and Nangiloc Primary Schools, the two surviving schools, were merged onto the former Nangiloc site.

Schools

1. 3903 Yatpool School: (Southwest corner of Yatpool Town Reserve)

1915 - Commenced in September 1915 in Mr McGibbon's house, rented by the Education Department. Later the school transferred into a marquee supplied by the Education Department

1921 - Moved into the new school building (now at Red Cliffs Central School). Parents built a room in the school grounds for the teacher.

1933 - A schoolhouse was built

1939 - closed. Part went to Werrimul and part to Red Cliffs, the residence to Irymple.

 2. Carwarp State School - 3965 Carwarp School: (Calder Highway, Carwarp)

Mrs Josch held classes in her home at Carwarp

1917 - October - The settlers provided a hall

4/2/1918 - School opened for 17 pupils (grades 1 to 8) in a hall built by the settlers

1924 - The new school was built

Was situated at Carwarp, on the west side of the highway, due west of the silo.

 3. 3989 Ginquam School: (Mr Wood's block on reserve near Robinson's Tank)

1919 - Classes held in front room of Mrs J. Woods' house

1922 - School building built (a prefabricated building which was costly to erect)

1938 - School closed and building sold to Karadoc North School Trustees

 4. 4106 Ginquam South School: (Reserve opposite Bill Scott's Block 4 miles west of Carwarp)

1922 - built from prefabricated sections (Costly).

1937 - closed for a while

1945 - closed and building moved to Mildura South School. A piano owned by the school community was sold for 75 pounds and the money donated to the Mildura Hospital.

 5. Iraak State School - 4191 Iraak School: (Corner Carwarp & Mildura Roads, Iraak)

1924 - August - built later Moved to Johns'. Moved to Ryder's House Paddock. Moved back to its original site.

1964 - burnt down

2nd February 1965 - New school opened on same site

 6. 4184 Nangiloc School: (Police Bend, Kulkyne Way, Nangiloc)

13th January 1924 - Opened with 15 pupils in current location

1963 - Additional classroom

1964 - School residence

1969 - Swimming pool

1993 - Merged with Colignan Primary School

 7. Boonoonar State School

4258 Boonoonar School: (Boonoonar Reserve, Calder Highway)

1925 - opened in a school building moved there from elsewhere.

1942 - closed and the building was moved to Colignan

Was situated on the east side of the Murray Valley Highway, about a kilometre north of the junction of Boonoonar Road with the highway.

 8. Colignan State School- 4340 Colignan School (Kulkyne Way, Colignan)

12/5/1927 - School was first held in a hall. Closed 12 months later.

1932 - Re-opened in an abandoned house, which the Education Department rented 3 miles from the river on Colignan Road

9/1/1947 - Boonoonar School Building was moved to the Colignan Reserve site.

1968 - Old Boonoonar school building demolished

22/7/1968 - New school building erected.

 9. Nowingie State School- 4409 Nowingi School

1928 - a portable school was erected in a space cleared by the residents

1929 - Mr McGibbon of Yatpool built a new school building which was opened in May a dance being held on May 17th The school was only open for a couple of years

Was situated at Nowingie, on the east side of the Murray Valley Highway, almost opposite the Nowingie iron-clad tank.

 10. 4408 Carwarp West School: (In O. Scott's paddock on a small reserve)

1928 - became a fulltime school District dances raised funds for the school

1929 - officially opened

1937 - school closed

1938 - The school building was removed

 11. 4586 Karadoc North School: (F. Johns' property at Karadoc)

1938 - Locals purchased Ginquam school and moved it to Karadoc. The Education Department rented it from them. 13 or 14 children attended at first

12. Nangiloc Colignan & District Primary School - 5402 Nangiloc/Colignan & District Primary School (Police Bend, Kulkyne Way, Nangiloc)

1993 - Formed by the merger of Nangiloc Primary School and Colignan Primary School. A Class 5 portable and the Colignan Primary School building were moved to the Nangiloc site and architecturally incorporated into a new school. A new brick toilet block and swimming pool upgrade plus a complete face-lift for the combined buildings were part of the merger deal.

The area did not come to rely on irrigation until the 1920's when river frontages were opened up for lease and used primarily for vegetable growing. Demand for fresh vegetables after the Second World War led to an expansion of the vegetable growing enterprises. Irrigation methods improved and more efficient pumps and spray irrigation led to growth in this industry. It has grown steadily ever since, recent large developments further enhancing the prosperity of the district.

Information from SRWA Webpage (www.srwa.org.au)

In the early 1880's, a Royal Commission, chaired by Alfred Deakin (later to become Prime Minister of Australia), made the decision to examine the potential for irrigation in Australia. Deakin travelled to the United States of America and met with George and Ben Chaffey, who had earlier established irrigation in Canada. The Chaffey's agreed to come to Australia and established the first irrigation region near Mildura in 1887.

The "Colony" was successful as far as irrigation and fruit were concerned - but a financial disaster. After a second Royal Commission in 1895, the region was placed under the control of The First Mildura Irrigation Trust. Other potential sites for irrigation were investigated by the Victorian State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and in 1909 they opened up the area now know as Merbein, with 150 blocks, designed to encourage dairy farming ... but the new owners of the land soon turned to dried fruit. The area expanded dramatically between 1917 and 1921 to accommodate soldiers returning from the 1st World War.

In 1920, a second new area was established around Red Cliffs with some 700 new "blocks" being developed. The Robinvale Irrigation District came on stream as a full irrigation district in 1947 - this time to provide jobs and homes for soldiers returning from the 2nd World War.

Until 1957, the irrigated area remained less than 500 hectares. Then, the arrival of electricity allowed for electric pumps, improved irrigation methods and expansion away from the river. However, waterlogging and drainage problems increased. Tile drainage was installed, drainage water being returned to the river.

1969 - Concerns by the Rural Water Commission halted the increase of the above drainage practice. Properties with existing systems could continue to put their drainage water back into the river, but new schemes had to arrange their own drainage sites. The method most commonly used was to put the water into a drainage basin. Re-use on the farm and bores to the regional groundwater table were also methods used. The shortage of drainage sites, the general high cost of shifting drainage water and lack of planning and knowledge were all problems facing the irrigator in the Nangiloc/Colignan district.

The district grew rapidly because of the sunshine, the soil types and the drainage systems which combined to provide greater returns to growers than in other parts of Sunraysia.

Over the years, the Victorian State Rivers and Water Supply Commission changed its name and its structure. In 1994, the Sunraysia Rural Water Authority was formed as an independent corporate entity to manage all irrigation in the area, with all of its shares owned by the Government of Victoria.

Credit for assembling this information goes to Frank Tucker.

Carwarp was taken up in 1847 as well, by John Kidd and James Brown, and also comprised 64000 acres. Carwarp's northern boundary (somewhere near Iraak) was Mildura Station. Carwarp, or Kidds Station as it was known, was sold in 1850 to the McGrath Bros. In 1861 it was again sold, to John Crozier, who in turn sold it in 1864 to Hugh Jamieson who also owned Mildura Station at the time. In 1878, Jamieson sold Carwarp to Alexander McEdward who also purchased Mildura Station at that time. In 1883, McEdward took in a partner and the Station was now owned by William Dean and Alexander McEdward.  The Nangiloc/Colignan area was part of Carwarp Station, which had several owners until the lease expired in 1911. The area was then subdivided and leased to soldiers returning from the First World War.

Mildura Station was also taken up in 1847 by E.J. Hogg, for Hugh & Bushby Jamieson, but registered in Hogg's name and comprised 150,000 acres. Mildura was initially called Stateman, by Francis Jenkins, then Yerre Yerre station, and then in 1858 after they took control, Hugh & Bushby Jamieson applied to change the name to Mildura. Mildura Station's northern border was Kulnine Station. Bushby Jamieson was drowned in the Murray River, but Hugh continued at Mildura for 20 years, selling to Alexander McEdward in 1878. Bushby was an imposing fellow and a Justice of the Peace, sitting on the bench at the Wentworth Court. In 1883, Frederick Grant became a partner with McEdward in the ownership of Mildura.

Francis Jenkins was the first to arrive at Mildura, March 1847, swimming his 900 head of cattle across the river and establishing a hut and camp. He then went off to Adelaide to register his claim on the land, thinking he was in South Australia. He found otherwise and then had to apply to Melbourne. By the time his application was processed, September, the land had already been registered to Hogg (for Hugh & Bushby Jamieson), and Armourer Forster was in occupation. Hugh Jamieson arrived at the Station in July with 6000 sheep. Jenkins had to pack up his camp and cattle and swim back across the river, where he established Gol Gol Station.

1859 - The Jamieson's applied for Pre-emptive Right to 320 acres of land around their Mildura Homestead.

Pre-emptive Right - A law had been enacted in 1847, allowing the purchase of the section of land on which homesteads, and other improvements had been made. Where river frontage was involved, the ownership ran right to the middle of the river. Station owners could now own their land, whereas previously they had only leased it.

Also, in 1847 - 18-year leases were granted to squatters in "unsettled" districts, the rent being proportional to the number of stocks on the station, the minimum number having to be 4000 sheep and 640 cattle.

Both of these laws made it more viable to make improvements to the land and to establish more permanent dwellings, buildings and farm improvements.

Kulnine Station was taken up in 1845 by John Hawdon and comprised 57,600 acres. In 1850 the Station was purchased by Crozier & Rutherford and then in 1857 it was divided into Kulnine Upper and Kulnine Lower with the boundary at Wentworth. The southern boundary of Kulnine Lower (Cowra) was near Merbein. It is interesting that the Station name was spelt Culnine.

In 1848 John Hawdon, fell from his horse. He was taken to his tent where he later died. He is buried in the cemetery at the northern end of the Old Mildura Homestead, among the saltbush and box trees that were his home. His grave is beside that of his bushman friend, Armourer Forster, who died in 1889.

All of these local stations suffered due to isolation and the slow and inefficient transport system available to them. Most stores and supplies were carried in by bullock wagons, which returned to the seaports with the station produce, mainly wool. A round trip by the station bullock team, to Melbourne and back, took in the vicinity of 3 months. All of this changed in 1853, when the first two paddle steamers ventured up the river.

Credit for assembling this information goes to Frank Tucker.

The name Colignan was that of an Aboriginal Chief.

1921 - 26 soldier settlement blocks were surveyed from Carwarp Station, from the Kulyne boundary to where Castle Crossing Road now runs. The land was mainly scrub and pine. There were no roads, only a track from Kulkyne to Mildura. The parcels of land given to each settler was one square mile, 640 acres, said to be sufficient to earn a decent living. Not all of the blocks were of equal quality. One block had a 300 acres salt pan. Another was seven miles from the river and a great deal of time was spent carting water for the animals and domestic purposes.

Water was lifted manually from the river, until the State Rivers put in three windmills along the Colignan stretch of river. There were 5 permanent fishermen on the river, two or three of them having horse and cart to take the fish to Nowingi, about two and a half hours away. They brought back any mail. The fish were packed into containers about the size of a clothes basket. They were covered with gum leaves, to protect them on their trip by train to Melbourne. One of the fishermen, Gus, faced with the death of his horse, pushed his six baskets of fish out to Nowingi to meet the train.

At this time, 1922, there were no women in Colignan. The first houses were built about 1924 and this is when the women started to appear. The men camped on their blocks, built at shelter and proceeded to clear the land with axes, rollers, bullock and horse teams. The scrub was rolled down, allowed to dry and then burnt.

The settlers cut pine posts to fence their holdings, and other posts were cut, stacked at the riverbank and taken to Red Cliffs or Mildura by steamer, for use in trellising on the fruit blocks. A valuable source of income to these early pioneers. There were also two or three timber cutters who cut timber for the steam-driven pumps in the irrigation areas.

1924 - a slaughter yard was set up by a Mr Thompson, on a corner block of the Colignan township. He supplied meat to the settlers from his travelling butcher's shop.

A day's outing at this time might go like this - an early morning start with horse and cart to Boonoonar, where the horse tethered, and the family boarded the train for Mildura. Some people booked a room at the Grand Hotel, which was used as their base for the day. In the evening, it was back on the train for the return trip to Boonoonar and then off to Colignan in the horse and cart, arriving well after dark.

1925 - Thompson built a store and post office at Boonoonar, which by then had a railway station. This store was later purchased by the Castle family.

Mail would arrive at Boonoonar twice a week, Tuesday and Saturday, and Mr Harold Brown bought a truck and carted mail, bread and other requirements to Colignan. Bread came from Mildura and meat from Melbourne.

1926 - There were sufficient people at Colignan to warrant the building of a hall. This was built on a township block at the corner of what is now Lewis Road. The hall was later used as the first Colignan school. Some of the pupils were fourteen years old and had not attended school before. They proved quite a handful for the first teacher who was only eighteen years old herself.

 A cricket club was formed and became a part of the Pioneer Association which also comprised teams from Boonoonar, Guinquaam, Carwarp, Yatpool and Karadoc. The Pioneer Association continued until the Red Cliffs Association was formed.

1929 - Saw the worst drought yet experienced by the new settlers and it became very difficult. Any wheat that had grown was required for feed. It was taken to Mildura, milled and brought back to feed the animals.

1933 - Two men from Myrtleford in Northeast Victoria, Johnson and Selser, leased an area of land from Irwin's, put a pump on the river and started the first irrigation in the district. They were tobacco farmers who could not grow tobacco seedlings at Myrtleford because of blue mould. The seedlings were grown at Colignan until they reached a size where they could be taken to Myrtleford and grown without danger from blue mould. This created many jobs for locals ... sowing, weeding and pulling plants when they were ready for transplanting. This tobacco enterprise continued for three years. The area where the seedlings were grown now belongs to Mr Graham Watts.

1933 - A school opened in a building on Moore's property. The school remained open until 1938.

1936 - Castle's commenced using channel irrigation, the first in the district. They grew crops of lettuce, carrots, peas and beans. When children were leaving school, and asked what they wanted to do, often the reply would be "work at Castles."

1936 - There was a passenger and parcel service, twice a week, to Mildura, in a covered truck which was able to carry seven or eight passengers. By this time some settlers had their own cars and others still relied on their faithful old horse and cart.

1937 - Only four of the original twenty-six original settler families remained ... Browns, Gibbs, Irwin's and McKenzie's.

1938 - Castles began carting their own produce to Melbourne by truck.

During WW2, all the blocks at Colignan were used as market gardens, to supply the army with food for the troops. When a shortage of quality seed for the required vegetables developed, the Colignan farmers became seed merchants. Carrots and lettuce were grown to seed, with a bag over each plant. Twice a week, for about a month, the plants would be shaken, and the seed collected.

The commercial market gardens gave Colignan a great financial boost.

1945 - after the war, application was made to the Government to open up Graces and Buxton's Bends, for returned servicemen. Six blocks were established in Graces Bend and eight blocks in Buxton's Bend. Orange trees were planted on these blocks, with vegetables being grown between the rows of trees.

1947 and 1948 - Castles and Irwin's blocks were cut up into smaller sections and planted with citrus.

1967 - saw the first plantings, in any quantity, of grapes.

Credit for assembling this information goes to Frank Tucker.