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. As more and more government money was poured into the scheme over many years, taxpayers became discontented and landowners, particularly, felt aggrieved that they had worked for their land and these settlers just had land handed to them. There were claims that the Kingston government had rushed the legislation through parliament and then did not follow the guidelines set, most significantly by spending far more money on the scheme that was originally allowed by the legislation.

This newspaper article is a cynical look at the amount of South Australian government money has been spent on the village settlement scheme. It claims that the portrayal of the settlements by official parties has been inaccurate.

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