Pomona

• Population 320
• Distance from Mildura 50km
• Irrigation, horticulture and viticulture

Pomona is a small community located on the Darling River that is a thriving centre for growing wine grapes and new industries, including fish farming.

Residents have a strong sense of community spirit and local growers are proud of their pioneering irrigation history.

History

Pomona takes it name from the largest island of the Orkney Group, in the north of Scotland. Originally known as ‘Seven Mile Point', the district took its name from a farm holding in the area owned by former Wentworth Mayor, John Dunn, whose wife was born on Pomona Island. John Dunn is also thought to be the area's first winemaker, making his first wine in the late 1880s.

Dunn selected land with rich, alluvial river soils and experimented with orchard and vine irrigation, drawing his water from the Darling River and following the example of the Canadian Chaffey Brothers in Mildura.

The Darling River Irrigation Company purchased Pomona Farm in 1910, and started developing the first extensive irrigation. The company planted stone fruit and citrus orchards as well as vines. In 1919 the 500-hectare Pomona property was subdivided into smaller 20-hectare blocks for sale, and over the following decades the area grew quickly.

Facilities

Pomona has no shops. Facilities include a community hall.