'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.
