Corporate Body

Commonwealth Research Station, Merbein Victoria - CSIR/O (1920 - 1962)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

From: 1920
Merbein, Victoria, Australia
To: 30 November 1962
Functions: Agricultural industry, Industrial or scientific research and Plant science
Reference No: CA 7740
Legal Status: Agency of the Commonwealth of Australia
Location: Merbein, Victoria

Summary

The Commonwealth Research Station, Merbein Victoria, in the Murray River irrigation area of north-west of Victoria, was established in 1920 by the Mildura Vineyards Protection Board with the aid of a subsidy from the Advisory Council of Science and Industry (1916-1920). From 1920 until 1926, the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry (1920-1926) maintained an interest in the research station. In November 1927 the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) assumed control. On 30 November 1962, the Station was renamed the Horticultural Research Section and a Headquarters Laboratory was opened in Adelaide in 1964.

Details

From "CSIRO research for Australia" (1962) pdf pages 22-23:
"C.S.I.R.O. has two irrigation research stations, one at Merbein (Victoria) in the Murray Irrigation area, and the other at Griffith (N.S.W.) in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area. Both were established before C.S.I.R. came into being.

The establishment of the Merbein station in 1919 [?} was a result of the initiative of local viticulturists who raised funds for its support, impelled by drainage problems and the ravages of fungal diseases such as black spot. The station became associated with the Bureau of Science and Industry [? Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry], and became a part of C.S.I.R. when the Council was formed.

In the early days work was concentrated on a study of the growth phases ofvines, their irrigation, nutrition and protection from disease, and on combating waterlogging and the build up of excessive salinity in irrigation soils. In more recent times the station's investigations have broadened to cover the entire process of sultana production, from vine propagation to the finished, packaged product. Although the needs of the dried fruit industry have been kept in the foregound, other irrigation crops including citrus and stone fruits, vegetables, focerne, tannin and drug plants,
tobacco and cotton have been studied.

Over the years much has been achieved. A means of forecasting probable sultana yields ten months in advance has resulted from microscopic studies of vine buds. Study of the irrigation soils has produced a better understanding of drainage requirements. Research has led to more effective vine pruning techniques and improved methods of drying the crop. Plant breeders have produced new varieties of disease resistant tomatoes, well adapted to irrigation conditions. The effects of the eelworm, an important plant parasite in irrigation areas, have been minimized."

Timeline

isPartOf

Related Corporate Bodies

Related People

Antcliffe, Allan James (1923 - 1985)
Research scientist 1947 - 1962
Penman, Frank (1905 - 1973)
Officer-in-Charge 1950 - 1961
Possingham, John Victor (1929 - 2023)
Officer-in-Charge 1962

Published resources

Books

CSIRO, CSIRO research for Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Canberra: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, 1962), 64 pp, https://www.eoas.info/bib-pdf/ASBS15940.pdf. pdf pages 22-23. Details
Schedvin, C.B; Trace, K., Historical Directory of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 1926-1976 (Canberra: CSIRO, 1978), 101 pp. https://csiropedia.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/csiro_historical_directory_1926_1976.pdf. Details

Reports

Dickson, B.T., The work of the Division of Economic Botany for the year 1928-29 (Melbourne: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia), 1929), 32 pp. https://doi.org/10.25919/jzrg-yf83. Details
Tillyard, R.J., The work of the Division of Economic Entomology for the year 1928-29 (Melbourne: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia), 1929), 19 pp. https://doi.org/10.25919/2k6y-h875. Details

Resources

Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476723. Details

Resource Sections

'Primary description of agency CA 7740: CSIR/ (from 1949) CSIRO, Division of Horticulture, Merbein Laboratory, Victoria. Registration of entity: 17 June 1993', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%207740. Details

Ailie Smith

Created: 6 October 2000, Last modified: 28 February 2025

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