There was an increase in settlers from the Eastern states and from the Goldfields in the Mallee districts, who were keen to develop new farms.
A visit by Mr G.L. Sutton, Commissioner for the Wheat Belt, resulted in an outline of an agricultural scheme of development that he submitted to parliament and which was subsequently adopted. The scheme provided for monetary advances to the settlers for the purpose of clearing, cropping, excavating dams, fencing and other improvements, as well as the purchase of seed wheat and manure for the first crop.
