 Home to Aboriginal groups for over 40 @,@ 000 years , the Riverina was originally settled by Europeans in the mid @-@ 19th century as a pastoral region providing beef and wool to markets in Australia and beyond . In the 20th century , the development of major irrigation areas in the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys has led to the introduction of crops such as rice and wine grapes . The Riverina has strong cultural ties to Victoria , and the region was the source of much of the impetus behind the federation of Australian colonies . 
