Hidden in History is a weekly column that unearths the quirky, curious and sometimes eyebrow-raising tales from Shepparton’s past. Provided by the Shepparton Heritage Centre, these articles are rooted in fact — but told with a wink and a sense of humour.
While irrigation was the pride of the valley in the 1950s, its advances highlighted that insufficient thought had been given to the environment.
High and rising water tables created increased salinity levels in the root zone of its prized orchards and crops, and posed a major threat to the economic and environmental viability of the region.
As the water table rose due to irrigation, it carried salt and other minerals to the surface.
To counteract the negative effects of the accompanying salinity, the water authorities tapped into the water tables and pumped water back to the Goulburn Valley rivers system, ultimately into the Murray River and out to sea.
Eventually the problem was regarded in subsequent decades to have been managed well (although the science is deemed in some quarters not to be absolute), but as the water table has naturally lowered due to prolonged drought, the salinity problem has abated for now.
The Shepparton Heritage Centre is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested, contact the centre on 4831 8659.
