Mallee Stretching

Directed by Richard Tuohy

'The Mallee' is the name given to the arid north west corner of Victoria. Ironically, given it is the most arid part of the state, 'The Mallee' is also a major food bowl in Australia due to massive irrigation schemes, the dry climate and well draining sandy soil. It has long been an area of big government projects and schemes: it has a history of being environmentally stretched. There are also, however, a number of large national parks in the Mallee, mostly in areas of ancient sand dunes that wouldn't pay development. These arrid parks with there 'mallee-formed' multi trunked stunted Eucalypts, gnarled native cyprus tree and other scrub species have a beauty and fascination that is quite unique.