The South Australian government established the provisions for the founding of communal settlements, known as village settlements, in a part of the Crown Lands Amendment Act in 1893. Amendments to the way in which the village settlements were administered were proposed in late 1895 and a Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry was established to investigate the condition of the settlements. The Committee travelled to all of the village settlements and took evidence from the settlers. It found that the settlements were in great need of expert advice in matters of irrigation.

Peter Paul Gillen, the Commissioner of Crown Lands after whom the village settlement Gillen was named, sent this letter to Samuel McIntosh informing him that he had been appointed to the position of inspector of village settlements. Gillen also outlines McIntosh's primary duties as inspector if village settlements.

McIntosh, Samuel. Papers of Samuel McIntosh, PRG 16

Mack, David. The village settlements on the River Murray in South Australia, 1894-1909: a chronicle of communal life and hardship, [Somerton, SA: DB Mack, 1994]

Mack, David. Irrigation settlement: some historic aspects in South Australia on the River Murray 1838-1978, [Cobdogla, SA: Cobdogla Steam Friends Society, [2003]