The waterwheel that shaped a town

WELCOME... Visitors to Tatura are greeted by the Dethridge waterwheel, an innovation in irrigation which has largely contributed to the town’s prosperity. Photo: Deanne Jeffers

One of Tatura’s most iconic landmarks is the Dethridge waterwheel, which greets visitors at the town’s entrance. Originally developed to control water flow along the irrigation channels, the waterwheel symbolises the town’s success, much of which can be attributed to an extensive irrigation system. This infrastructure, combined with the area’s fertile soil, has created ideal conditions for thriving dairy farms, cereal crops, fruit and vegetable production, as well as sheep and cattle farming. 

WELCOME… Visitors to Tatura are greeted by the Dethridge waterwheel, an innovation in irrigation which has largely contributed to the town’s prosperity. Photo: Deanne Jeffers

These agricultural activities have in turn supported the growth of key local industries, including a tomato processing facility, a dairy production plant, and an abattoir. Tatura’s prominence as a hub of agricultural innovation is further highlighted by its role as Victoria’s leading centre for research into irrigation management, and as the headquarters of Goulburn-Murray Water, the regional authority overseeing water resources.