Sir Samuel McCaughey was a pioneer demonstrating the viability of irrigation in the region that became the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.
Spending every penny he could raise, McCaughey began the mammoth task of deepening the intake of the Yanco from the Murrumbidgee. As water flooded into his creeks, he built a series of dams and wells.
With large sums of capital, McCaughey built the irrigation system on which the Government’s Murrumbidgee Scheme was founded. His main canal ran 30 miles. All this time, McCaughey was campaigning vigorously for a vast network of irrigation in Australia.
In 1899, Sir Samuel built the McCaughey Mansion at his 'North Yanko' property, now part of Yanco Agricultural High School, pictured above. This school has been made famous by McCaughey’s efforts in the development of agricultural life of Australia and continues to prosper.
For his charitable gifts and significant contributions to New South Wales, McCaughey was knighted in 1905.