Leeton is a 25 km drive up the Irrigation Way from Narrandera, so it is not an arduous task to get there before lunch. Which we did. A record almost for the travelling duo. It took a little while to decide the van park, a lot of driving around comparing sites. Finally settled on one, just off the road through the town. We had thought of staying for 2 or 3 nights in Leeton but the weather was not great, chilly with heavy overcast skies. The van park was also a bit empty, hardly anyone there. Made you wonder why! There was a mob in residence down the back in several small tents under the cover of a big big tarp, they were relatively quiet. Bit of a sing along now and then but all ok.

Leeton is the rice capital of Australia and Sunrice has its headquarters here. The rice harvest has finished for the year and most of the fields have been ploughed in and are being readied for the planting of the next crop in a few months time. As well as the rice fields there are endless cotton fields. These are currently being picked, fluffy stuff all along the roadside!

After settling in we set off on a drive around town and then out to the Whitton Malt House. A new establishment that showcases the malting process. This is the blending and mashing of grains for use in such things as whisky, beer and gin. The Malthouse has a big market here in Australia for their malt but also does some exports. The location is also a touristy set up with villas, eat at the in house cafe for breakfast, then lunch and dinner. Local produce, including Murray Cod.

Allthego enjoyed a whisky flight, they don’t craft the whisky but showcase whiskies from around Aus that use their malt. Interesting stop.

Back then to Leeton via the Gogeldrie Weir, this one is a ‘new’ 1960ish weir, it diverts water to the south of the Murrumbidgee.

Leeton was home for a short period of time from 1916 to 1917 for Henry Lawson, he wrote some 30 or so poems during this period. It was to be the last creative period of his life, he moved back to Sydney where he died in 1922.

His cottage has been restored on a small block, a residual of the previous acreage on which it stood. It has also been modified somewhat from the original design.

South of Leeton is the small town of Yanco , famous for its Agricultural College. It was in this area that the ‘father’ of irrigation Sir Samuel McCaughey established his irrigated farm network in the 1880s and 90s. It was to be the forerunner of the MIA.

He built a mansion not far back from the Murrumbidgee that is now the Admin Block of the Yanco Agricultural College. A very impressive building set in beautiful surroundings.

We now head a little further north to Griffith.