The Chaffey Trail Home 1. The Old Mildura Station Homestead 2. Mildura Homestead Cemetery 3. Rio Vista Historic House 4. Lock 11 & Mildura Weir 5. Mildura Wharf 6. Mildura Grand Hotel 7. Psyche Bend Pump Station 8. Chateau Mildura 9. Merbein 10. Further Links of the Chaffey Story 11. The Chaffey Trail Map

Rio Vista Historic House

Magnificent Rio Vista was first occupied by WB Chaffey and his family in 1892. The Spanish name Rio Vista, which means 'River View', reflects the Californian experiences of William Benjamin Chaffey, known to all as 'WB', and his brother George.

Rio Vista was designed as a large family home in domestic Queen Anne style and stayed a family home until the 1950s. The house was built during the height of the Chaffeys' success but the Chaffey Brothers Ltd Company went into liquidation in December 1895 and the brothers suffered financial ruin, causing Rio Vista to fall into a state of disrepair. WB Chaffey commented later:

'I've got this house because I couldn't sell it. It was offered for a little over ï½£1000, but nobody wanted it.'

WB Chaffey moved into Rio Vista with his second wife Heather (Hattie) Sexton Chaffey and lived here until his death in 1926. Hattie Chaffey lived in the house until her death in 1950 at which time the house was purchased by the Mildura City Council for conversion into an art gallery.

Did you know?

• WB Chaffey was a key figure in Mildura's history. In 1903 he was elected president of the Shire of Mildura and became its first mayor
• WB Chaffey was also President of the Australian Dried Fruits Association and in 1924 was made a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Photos: MurrayRiverPhotos.com.au

What is here today!

Rio Vista House was designed for William Benjamin Chaffey by architects Sharland and Edmonds and built by Adelaide builder John Williams. Williams completed the construction of Rio Vista in 1891.

Rio Vista was built using a variety of local and imported materials. The bricks were from local kilns while the Murray Pine and Red Gum woodwork came from Risbey's Sawmills. All the floors were made from Western Australian Jarrah with the hallway featuring Italian tiles. Wall panelling features local Murray Pine panelling and imported wallpaper. The main staircase is of Cedar and Blackwood and the servant's staircase of Blackwood. The fireplaces were made from Italian marble.

The fabric of the building clearly shows the expertise of the contributing artisans. The joinery was made locally, while most of the cabinet work inside the house was created by W Kells from California. The painted and stained windows were made in Melbourne.

Outside the house itself, the beautiful grounds were landscaped by local firm, Hughan and Glasson. The gardener's cottage at the rear of the main house is typical North American architecture and was probably built in 1889-90.

The fountain outside the main entrance of Rio Vista House is a replica of the original fountain that is now located in the centre plantation on Deakin Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets.

The use of the building has changed dramatically since the death of Hattie Chaffey. The rear section of the ground floor of the cottage was once stables and the basement of the house was originally a cellar and storage area, later a ballroom and then a cinema. It is now an art gallery, sometimes called the Bolte Gallery after Victoria's premier at the time.

Entry: Free. Tours are available. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. 199 Cureton Avenue, Mildura.
Telephone 03 5018 8330 • (GPS Co-ordinates X=606,790 Y=6,217,569)
More information on Rio Vista or Visit Mildura Art Centre for tours information

1. The Old Mildura Station Homestead ♦ 2. Mildura Homestead Cemetery ♦ 3. Rio Vista Historic House
4. Lock 11 & Mildura Weir ♦ 5. Mildura Wharf ♦ 6. Mildura Grand Hotel ♦ 7. Psyche Bend Pump Station ♦ 8. Chateau Mildura ♦ 9. Merbein
10. Further Links of the Chaffey Story ♦ The Chaffey Trail ♦ The Chaffey Trail Map