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. The village settlements were to work on communalistic principles and the concept of share and share alike was foremost.

An excerpt from this newspaper article claims that the communistic ideals of the village settlements have been a failure.

Early years of the South Australian village settlements: Kingston-on-Murray, Pyap, Moorook, New Residence, from 1894,[Loxton, SA: N. Schulz?], 1994. (Berri, SA: JC Irving)

Glenie, Pat and Brian. Murtho village settlement, 1894-1900: new Australia on the Murray, Renmark, SA: [P & B Glenie, 1994]

Jones, Alan. Lyrup village: a century of association 1894-1994, Lyrup, SA: Lyrup Village Centenary Committee, 1994

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]

Nunn, Jean. History of Waikerie: gateway to the Riverland, [Waikerie, SA]: Waikerie Historical Society, 1994

Wachtel, Joan. Moorook: bend in the river, [Hawthorndene] SA: Investigator Press, 1982

Woods, Richard Vynne. The Birks Murtho letters 1894-1900: hardship and happiness for two families on the River Murray, [Kangarilla, SA: RV Woods, 1994]

Flinders Ranges Research: Village Settlement