Renmark Irrigation Trust: A Historical Overview
The Renmark Irrigation Trust is the first irrigation trust in South Australia and one of the oldest in Australia. It was established in 1893 and initially called Renmark Irrigation Trust No. 1 until 1936.
Origins and Early Development
Renmark was founded as an irrigation settlement by the Chaffey Brothers in 1887. An agreement was signed on 14 February 1887 between the South Australian government and the Chaffey Brothers, granting land to the brothers for every £4 they invested in building irrigation infrastructure within the Renmark concession.
On 23 December 1893, after the settlement faced significant difficulties, the South Australian government intervened and established the Renmark Irrigation Trust through an Act of Parliament to manage the irrigation supply.
In 1894, the Trust Board engaged Chaffey Brothers Ltd. to supply water to its members. This arrangement lasted until December 1895, when the Chaffey Brothers went bankrupt, and the Trust took over full control of the water supply.
Government Support and Expansion
Facing financial challenges, the Trust received assistance from the South Australian government after a Royal Commission into Renmark and the village settlements. The Trust secured loans to upgrade its irrigation pumps and channels. Initially hesitant, the Trust eventually accepted the role of District Council of the Renmark irrigation area from 3 October 1900 until 30 June 1960, managing local infrastructure, health, recreation, and plant and animal control. After 1960, the Corporation of the Town of Renmark became the sole local government authority in Renmark.
Electricity Supply and World War II
During the 1930s and 1940s, the Trust supplied electricity to nearby towns and camps, including Paringa, Lyrup, Berri, the Chaffey Irrigation Area, and the Loveday Internment Camp. During World War II, a diesel shortage forced the Trust to burn timber to generate power. Japanese internees at Woolenook Bend cut the timber, which was transported downstream to the power station by Captain Reed using paddle steamers and barges.
A model of a Broome pearling lugger named New Moon, crafted by the Japanese internees, was gifted to Captain Reed and later presented to the Trust by Trevor Reed, his son.
The Trust ceased power generation in 1954, purchasing electricity from ETSA instead. In 1973, it sold its power distribution network to ETSA.
Modernisation and Environmental Initiatives
The Trust is governed by a seven-member board elected for two-year terms. The first board was elected in January 1894. Since 2009, board members have been referred to as directors, and the elected leader is called the presiding member.
Today, the Trust manages over 140 km of piping infrastructure, which was modernised in 2015–16 with a $16.3 million grant from the Commonwealth Government’s Irrigation Industry Improvement Program (3IP). This upgrade included installing real-time water meter telemetry for efficient water supply.
The Trust also manages irrigation district drainage, addressing long-standing issues with high water tables and salinity, which became critical after the 1956 flood. You can read more about the water delivery system here, and more about Salinity Management here.
On 20 April 2016, the Renmark Irrigation Trust became the first irrigation body in Australia to partner with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to restore degraded floodplain environments. This involved collaboration with the Nature Foundation South Australia, Renmark Paringa Council, Renmark to the Border Local Action Plan, and local landholders.
On 12 April 2018, the Trust became the first irrigation body in the world to receive gold-level certification from the Alliance for Water Stewardship for excellence in water management, governance, and environmental restoration. You can read more about Water Stewardship here.
Celebrating History
The Trust celebrated its 125th anniversary on 23 December 2018. To mark the occasion, a history book by Geoff Bull was published. Read about the book and find out how to purchase it here.
We also have information from events which RIT has hosted, including the Trust’s role in the 1956 Flood, and the Channels to Pipes program (1968-1977). More information can be found here
Photographs which document the Trust’s history are here