Community art project: Express your organisation’s interest

Our region’s irrigation legacy runs deep, nourishing the land and weaving stories through generations. Now, we’re breathing new life into the remnants of that history—the dethridge wheel! These iconic symbols, retired yet resilient, are ready for their encore.

This is your moment to! Gather your organisation, rally your creative spirits, and opt in to this extraordinary program. Decorate and display a dethridge wheel at your site. Let your imagination flow like the Murray River itself – bold, boundless, and beautiful.

How will the wheels be designed?

Unleash Your Creativity! Imagine the possibilities as each organisation takes the reins in designing their wheel, transforming it into a captivating masterpiece that reflects their unique identity. Empowered with the freedom to decide, the wheels will become the canvas for an exclusive artistic statement, tailor-made for your organisation. Get ready to witness the extraordinary unfold as creativity knows no bounds in this journey of transformation!

Who can take part?

Open invitation! Sunraysia community organisations, this your chance to express you interest and join the excitement. Lower Murray Water is here to collaborate with you, exploring the feasibility of showcasing a wheel at your site. This project would be particularly suited to:

• Schools
• Community groups
• Local service providers
• Historic organisations
• Private business with space to display a large art feature

Costs & materials

Participating partner organisations will receive wheels for free to own and decorate. These organisations will be in charge of securing materials and assembling a team to bring their concept to life. – with Lower Murray Water staff supporting installation of the decorated wheel at the location of the partner organisation’s choosing.

A great Australian Invention: The Dethridge wheel

The Dethridge wheel is an irrigation metering tool that was invented in 1910 by John Stewart Dethridge – an Australian engineer from Victoria. Due to Australia’s vulnerability to drought and loss of water, the dethridge wheel was instrumental in ensuring efficient use of water. The wheels removed from Sunraysia have been protecting our community from drought and servicing our farmers since the mid 1950s.

Express you interest

To express your interest or to simply find out more about the project, you’re invited to attend our community workshop at 5.30pm on Thursday 8 February 2024 at the Powerhouse (122 Hugh King Drive, Mildura 3500). RSVP’s appreciated.

Please let us know if you can make it by emailing swep@lmw.vic.gov.au or by phoning 1800 808 830.