Merry Houghton
It was 19km of Broken River frontage that first attracted Merry Houghton to the Caniambo property she now calls home.
The property is narrow following the course of the river set on about 809 acres near Gowangardie Weir.
Mrs Houghton said the homestead was built between 1840-60 and strategically positioned on the highest point in the area to avoid flood.
She said it was believed there had once been an Aboriginal camp in the same place and that is how the original owners knew the safest place to build.
As a result, there is no levee bank and the house has never flooded.
Living near water has been a constant in Mrs Houghton’s life amidst oversees travel and interstate moves.
She and her husband Gary lived on a property on the Marra Creek in western NSW until eight years ago. They raised their children in NSW on the farm where they battled droughts and floods.
“There was either too much water or not enough,” Mrs Houghton said.
“Here, the river is a huge asset. We bought this place because of the river. We have dealt with the vagaries of living on a dry creek bed.
“To us the (Broken) River is everything, from irrigation to recreation.”
Nurturing the river has always been a high priority for the Houghton’s because without water, their livelihood would be affected.
“I realise the obligation we have, we want the river to be here for our children, our grandchildren,” she said.
About six years ago, the Houghton’s fenced most of their river frontage to keep stock off the banks and recently took part in a revegetation project. Both projects were in partnership with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority that offers grants to landowners keen to take-on works to improve river health.
They now grow summer crops, pasture, seeds, sheep and Angus cattle on the farm. There is rarely a dull moment in Mrs Houghton’s life who loves her work.
While she said farming was once a man’s world, there are now increasing numbers of women joining the workforce.
She said the animal life is tremendous around the river. She has seen countless birds, goannas and platypus over the years.
“It really is just amazing what you see driving behind a mob of sheep,” she said.
