Major droughts occurred over most of eastern Australia in 1937-38, 1940-41 (a strong El Niño year), and 1943-45. The drought severely affected northern Victoria: water sources dried up, winds blew the soil off the plains, and stock died.

This photo shows members of the Clee family of Wanurp in northern Victoria feeding lambs in 1939.

Like other Victorian rural areas, the rural population of the Patho Plains is decreasing. When landowners move out of the district, they take a wealth of historical knowledge and experience with them.

The Patho Plains Oral History Project was developed to capture the historical knowledge of farmers and landowners to better understand the changing landscape. These interviews and photographs form part of that project.