Next morning, I stand on Bourke's reconstructed old wharf and look down at the olive-green Darling River.

ECONOMIST: A land of drought

More than four-fifths of the river water taken from the Murray-Darling basin is used for agriculture.

ECONOMIST: Australia's water war

The Murray Darling Basin Authority, a new body charged with saving Australia's biggest river system from expiring, has its work cut out.

ECONOMIST: To turn a drought into wine

Its colour comes not from pollution but from mud and sunlight as the Darling slowly wends its way between narrow, steep banks to meet the Murray River and then the ocean 2, 400km south.

ECONOMIST: A land of drought