Raising the Weir

As northern Victoria expanded as a farming area, demand for irrigation began soaring as well.

Straight after the Second World War, the Bonnie Doon branch of the Victorian Country Party set out to meet the irrigation demand by proposing to either raise the current weir a hundred feet or to have a chain of smaller storages built. The consequence of raising of the weir level meant the town of Bonnie Doon would be submerged.

So at the largest ever public meeting ever held in the area, 400 residents of the district formed a common voice which were in favor of subsidiary weirs, however, it was found that the cost of this alternative worked against the residents. The town was then divided into those who felt they had to relocate and rehabilitate, and those who wished to stay and rebuild, despite the new suburban sized allotments that were proposed by the Water Commission.