Bill Dolence speaks via Zoom from Australia at the Cooper Museum about the Chaffey Legacy on Thursday, May 21, 6:30 PM.

From Saltbush to Vineyards: The Chaffey Legacy in Australia

Join us for an enlightening presentation by Bill Dolence, esteemed author and historian, as he explores the remarkable international chapter of the Chaffey family legacy.

While George and William Chaffey are local icons for founding the "Model Colony" of Ontario and Upland, their visionary engineering didn't stop at the foothills of the San Gabriels. Dolence will delve into the brothers' 1886 journey to the Murray River Valley in Australia,where they applied the very same irrigation techniques perfected here in California to transform the arid "Sunraysia" bush into a thriving agricultural oasis. This session offers a unique opportunity to understand how a local vision for water and community planning became a global blueprint for innovation, forever linking the history of the Inland Empire to the development of the Australian frontier. Come learn why Cucamonga wine remains a vital part of our regional identity.

Event Details:

• When: Thursday, May 21

• Time: 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

• Where: Meet in person at the Cooper Museum, Downtown Upland

• Speaker: Bill Dolence

• Admission:

  • Members: FREE

  • Seniors (55+) and Youth (Under 18): FREE

  • General Admission: $10