Arthur Hill Griffith a teacher, politician and patent attorney is the reason Griffith is what it is today, according to local man Peter Knox.

“He was a man with a vision,” Mr Knox said.

“In 1912 the MIA was opened at Yanco by Arthur Griffith who was the very first NSW Minister for Public Works.

“He wanted what was then called the Barren Jack Dam and the Murrumbidgee canals to develop a public enterprise.

“Back then the government was too timid – and that’s the kind on man he was, with the vision to see what could be done,” Mr Knox said. 

He began the dams, including Burrinjuck Dam, and he had the foresight for the irrigation channels for the MIA more than 100 years ago. “History shows he had the fortitude to push on with the above when other politicians were reluctant to do so,” Mr Knox said.

“He was a pretty tough sort of a fellow, born in Ireland he was a boxer and he ended up being the first chairman of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust back in 1911.

“Without Arthur Hill Griffith, the point is that there wouldn’t be Griffith today or a centenary,” Mr Knox said.

Mr Knox said it was a common misconception Griffith’s designer Walter Burley Griffin was the source of the city’s name place. 

He said this was disppointing.

“I think it’s just the similarity of the name but people get a real shock when I tell them the truth,” Mr Knox said.

“Arthur Hill Griffith was a great man, when they were building Burrinjuck Dam they corrupted the name and changed to Barren Jack and he saw it changed back to its native name. 

“He is definitely important and his vision and his action made us what we are.”

In recognition of Mr Griffith’s contribution to making the city what it is today Mr Knox is eager to have a monument erected in his honour. 

“The year’s nearly over and we haven’t been successful to get a plaque, but just something permanent for people now in a prominent place so we acknowledge our history,” Mr Knox said.

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