Hidden in History is a weekly column that unearths the quirky, curious and sometimes eyebrow-raising tales from Shepparton’s past. Provided by the Shepparton Heritage Centre, these articles are rooted in fact — but told with a wink and a sense of humour.
The Goulburn Valley’s reliance on road transport to shift fruit and milk to factories for processing is brought into focus whenever a wet season hits.
The main arterial roads, a victim of bad early irrigation planning when drains were not considered necessary, were frequently impossible to travel on directly between the main towns without making detours or risking becoming bogged.
The problem of the roads was aggravated by the rapid changeover to dairying and the increased number of heavy trucks using the same road, often taking the shortest possible route regardless of the damage wrought to the road.
In the post-war years, road-making equipment was scarce and skilled labour was difficult to find.
The Shepparton Heritage Centre is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested, contact the centre on 4831 8659.
