Rural City of Mildura

The Rural City of Mildura is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the north-western part of the state. It covers an area of 22,083 square kilometres (8,526 sq mi) being the largest LGA in the state. In August 2021 the area had a population of 56,972.[1] It includes the city of Mildura and the towns of Merbein, Red Cliffs, Irymple, Ouyen, Werrimull, Murrayville, Walpeup and Hattah. It was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the City of Mildura, Shire of Mildura and Shire of Walpeup.[2]

Rural City of Mildura Victoria
Location in Victoria
Civic Buildings, 2009
Coordinates	34°47′50″S 141°45′40″E
Population	56,972 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	2.57990/km2 (6.68192/sq mi)
Established	1995
Gazetted	20 January 1995[2]
Area	22,083 km2 (8,526.3 sq mi)
Mayor	Cr Liam Wood
Council seat	Mildura
Region	Loddon Mallee
State electorate(s)	Mildura
Federal division(s)	Mallee
Website	Rural City of Mildura
LGAs around Rural City of Mildura: Renmark Paringa (SA) Wentworth (NSW) Wentworth (NSW) Loxton Waikerie (SA) Rural City of Mildura Swan Hill West Wimmera Southern Mallee (SA) Hindmarsh Yarriambiack Buloke

The Rural City is governed and administered by the Mildura Rural City Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Mildura, it also has service centres located in Ouyen and a couple of other locations within Mildura. The Rural City is named after the main urban settlement lying in the north of the LGA, that is Mildura, which is also the LGA's most populous urban centre with a population of 30,647.[3]

The Rural City of Mildura covers most of the Mallee region of Victoria. Before the less infertile soils were fertilised and developed for the production of wheat and barley the whole region was covered in a dense mallee scrub of deep-rooting eucalypts that regenerated after the frequent bushfires in the region. Many of the soils are so sandy that clearing is impractical, and Murray-Sunset National Park covers almost a third of the area of the LGA. Other protected areas include Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and Murray-Kulkyne Park on the Murray River.

The climate of the region is the driest in Victoria, and Neds Corner in the remote northwest has the lowest average annual rainfall in the state at 240 millimetres (9.4 in). In the south at Ouyen the average is 335 mm (13.2 in). In all the areas of the LGA there can be considerable variation in annual rainfall: the range historically has been from 110 mm (4.3 in) in 1967 to 605 mm (23.8 in) in 1973. Temperatures in the LGA are the hottest in Victoria and the average summer maximum is 32 °C (90 °F), but it often exceed 40 °C (104 °F). Winter can be very pleasant with a maximum of 16 °C (61 °F), but frosts are common in the morning and can sometimes be severe.

The southeast of the LGA is used primarily for grain growing; however yield are erratic and often poor due to drought. In the north irrigated fruit growing (primarily oranges and grapes) is highly productive and supports Mildura and nearby towns; however, salinity in the Murray River is a major threat to the long-term sustainability of these activities, as is competition from overseas citrus growers.

In 2006 the Rural City of Mildura had a population of 49,815, most of which was located in Mildura (30,016) and adjacent areas (that is Victorian Sunraysia). Many of the small towns in the region have practically disappeared as more efficient farming methods reduce the quantity of human labour required.