RIVERINA, an important district occupying the central south portion of New South Wales, Australia, bounded on the south by the River Murray, on the north by the Lachlan–Mur from about Hillston down to the Murray confluence. eastern boundary is less easy to draw. That of the admin istrative district runs from the Lachlan (3o miles above Hillston) in a sinuous line curving eastwards and then westwards to the Murray at Corowa, but the lower slopes of the southern table land—the administrative "South Western Slopes"—is perhaps to be included in the natural Riverina region. Except for these east ern and north-eastern parts, where lie the fairly open upper middle basins of the Murrumbidgee and Murray systems, the whole area is flat. The fall of the rivers varies from I o in. per mile in the east to 4-5 in. in the west of the area, and they meander across vast alluvial plains, periodically flooding and forming distributaries and lagoons (anabranches, billabongs) and sometimes even flowing up-stream. Higher up they are stronger, more definite, and more constant in flow and their valleys offer also sites for dams. The soil is prevailingly rich ; the climate is generally mild and warm but the summers are hot and dusty and the rain, which falls in winter, is variable. (Av. ann. temps. : 75°– F, with extremes: 117°-20° F; ay. ann. rainfall: from 12 in. in the north-west to 25 in. in the south-east.) The eastern valleys have yielded considerable quantities of gold, both alluvial and reef, and some alluvial dredging still continues (Adelong and Gundagai districts). In 1915 a deposit of soft black (Permian) sub-bituminous coal was discovered near Oaklands (area : 5 miles by 3 miles, with seams 8 ft. 6 in. to 36 ft.). It is important be cause of its position near the overland (Sydney–Melbourne) rail way line in an otherwise fuelless area of growing population and because of the valuable kaolin deposits which overlie it.
The greater part of the western plains, which normally provide good natural fodder (including salt-bush), is used for sheep graz ing, and these are still the home of the large "squatter." But improvements in wheat-growing (seed-selection, dry-farming) have enabled considerable areas to be put to the plough and by 1922 wheat was being grown as far north-west as Hillston, and, in the south, as far west as Balranald (9.12 in. and 7.89 in. winter, April–Oct., rainfall respectively). The Riverina, indeed, ranks second amongst the wheat-growing districts of New South Wales and has also a relatively high average yield (12.3-17.8 bu. per ac.). Along the south-eastern slopes, with their cooler tempera tures and more reliable rain, a good deal of arable farming and dairying is carried on, and fruits, including vines, are grown, the wines of the Albury district having an established reputation. Further west mixed wheat and sheep farming is increasingly prac tised. But perhaps the greatest potential wealth of the Riverina lies in its irrigation agriculture. The development of this branch is in its infancy but it is already important. Of the total 83,800 ac. under irrigated crops in New South Wales in 1925-26, c. 61,200
were included in the Murrumbidgee and Hay (Riverina) areas. The Murrumbidgee Irrigation area, supplied from the Burrin juck reservoir below Yass, had (1926) nearly 2,000 occupied hold ings (1-25o ac. each, average 15-25 ac.) occupying 112,000 ac. or of the total projected area (561 sq. miles). The principal settlements are Leeton, Yanco and Griffith. Fruit (sub-tropical and temperate climate types) is grown, dairying and pig-raising, with butter and cheese making, bacon-curing and fruit-canning carried on largely by cooperative methods. Electricity and water supplies are provided and education and experimental research are well cared for. In Hay the area is smaller (1926, c. I,000 ac. occupied for irrigation and 2,900 ac. non-irrigated) and is devoted mainly to dairying and pig-raising. The Murray River develop ment scheme, with the great Hume dam above Albury as head works, will provide further facilities. The economic and financial aspects of the irrigation projects have presented difficulties and these may still be regarded as expensive if promising experiments. A recent development is rice-growing, the hope being that Aus tralia's needs can be satisfied from this source. Of similar impor tance is the great Wyangala Dam project, on the upper Lachlan river near Corowa, now (1929) being inaugurated. One million acres will be made available along the Lachlan for wheat growing and mixed (wheat and sheep) farming for 700 families at a cost of about £2,000,000. Though not an irrigation project some irri gation blocks will be provided for fodder (lucerne, etc.) growing, and the railway from Hillston will be extended to Roto.
The area of the Riverina Administrative Division (see above) is 26,600 sq. miles, its population 70,92o (2.7 per sq. mile). (Mur rumbidgee Irrigation area alone: 561 sq. miles; pop. 12,36o= 22•0 per sq. mile). The chief towns are : Albury (q.v., pop. Wagga Wagga (11,631), Junee (4,213) and Narrandera in the east, important as business centres for wheat-farming, fruit-growing, and grazing districts and also as railway junctions and river-cross ing (bridge) towns with small industries; Leeton, and other irri gation centres with butter, cheese and bacon factories, electricity supply and machine-repairing works; Jerilderie, Deniliquin, pas toral and agricultural centres with good road or rail connections; Hay, Hillston, Balranald, also pastoral centres (Hay has irrigation settlement also) and both river and rail-head importance. The rivers are still used, when seasons permit, mainly for wool trans port, but railway and motor transport are increasingly opening up and serving the "back blocks." Interesting and significant is the way in which the southern borderlands—by agreement between the Victorian and New South Wales Governments—are increas ingly tapped by Victorian lines, and, yielding to geographical necessity, are being drawn within the economic sphere (hinter land) of Melbourne.
Production: (1925-26) : Riverina (administrative division) : wool: 58,500,000 lb.; wheat : 9,800,00o bu.; butter: 1,85o,000 lb.; minerals : £46,000 ; manufactures : £392,000.