This bottle was used as a form of advertising for the Wodonga Business of Samuel Mason. Samuel Mason was born at Bethnal Green, a suburb of London in 1824. He came to Australia via California, landing in Sydney in 1847. After a return to the California goldfields Samuel returned to Australia, arriving in Albury, NSW in 1855. He opened a bakery in Albury, and also commenced the manufacture of ginger beer for which he gained a reputation across Australia. Mr Mason continued in business in Albury for some time, but he established himself in Wodonga c1857, continuing a branch business in Albury. Twice a month in the early days Mr Mason walked to Beechworth for the purpose of transacting business. Occasionally he was summoned to attend the Beechworth courts as a juror. In 1901 Mr Mason retired from business, handing over the reins to his only son, Mr Samuel Mason Jr. who continued the aerated water business for some years. In about 1920 the business changed hands, being take over by E. Bartel. Samuel Mason Sr. died on 6 April 1908 and is buried in Wodonga. Mr. Mason Jr. was a prominent townsman. For some years he was a councillor of the Town Riding of the Wodonga Shire Council. He was also the first chairman of the Wodonga Water Trust in 1908. Samuel Mason Jr. moved to Melbourne in March 1920, primarily due to failing health. He died on 6 February 1929 and was interred in Melbourne.This bottle has strong local significance as it is representative of one of the earliest businesses established in Wodonga in the 1850s which operated until c1920. The business continued after 1920 under different ownership and names.2 earthenware pottery bottles manufactured by Bendigo Pottery and imprinted with the business brand of S. Mason, Wodonga. One bottle still contains a marble as part of the Codd sealing system to prevent gas from the ginger beer seeping out and the drink going flat. The bottles Within two elliptical circles are painted (in freehand) "S. MASON" in the top half and "WODONGA" in the bottom half. These are separated by an asterisk on both sides. A large "S" overlaid by a similarly large "M" is within the inner circle. 2nd bottle also includes "BREWED GINGER BEER" above the brand. At bottom of bottle 1 "PINNACLE BRAND" At bottom of bottle 2 in an oval shape: "THE BENDIGO POTTERY CO./ EPSOM/BENDIGO"s. mason wodonga, aerated drinks, bendigo pottery

Stephens Bros. of Wodonga were established c1938, having taken over the aerated water and drinks business previously operated by Messrs. E. Bartel and E. Clark. Bartel and Clark had purchased S. Mason Cordial Company from Samuel Mason Jr. in 1920. Samuel Mason Sr. began a bakery and aerated water company c1857. Stephens Brothers was operated by Lindsay, Donald and William Stephens. In 1947 they manufactured their own cement bricks to build a new factory in High Street, Wodonga. Over time they operated under various names including the Wodonga Cordial Company and Belvoir Wodonga Cordial Company. In 1938 their output of aerated waters was 100 dozen bottles a day but by 1948 that had doubled. In 1949 they also established a wood yard at their High Street premises to provide additional income during the slower winter months. In 1966 the company was purchased by the Tarax Ale Brewing Co. with Lindsay Stephens staying on as Company Manager.These artefacts has local significance as they are representative of a well-known Wodonga manufacturing business.2 bottles for beverages produced by Stephens Bros., Wodonga. One is a taller brown bottle bearing the label of Stephen Bros Old Style Hop Beer. The second clear glass bottle is smaller and has the brand name embossed into the bottle.Label on brown bottle : "STEPHENS BROS/ WODONGA :: PHONE 39 /OLD STYLE / HOP BEER/ PRESERVATIVE ADDED" Embossed on clear glass bottle : On side: STEPHENS BROS WODONGA Around base of clear bottle: "THIS BOTTLE ALWAYS REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF STEPHENS BROS. WODONGA"stephens bros wodonga, wodonga cordial company, cordial companies wodonga, belvoir drinks wodonga, aerated drinks, hop beer

\When the railway reached Wodonga from Melbourne on 19th November 1873 the first station building, which included a refreshment room and dining room, was a temporary structure. It was 300 ft. long and was removed and taken to Beechworth when the new station was built in 1874 by contractor J. Richardson. The Goods shed was 100 feet long and was built by Frew & Hill in 1873. One year later it was extended an additional 150 feet by James Nation. The date of the construction of the Locomotive shed is not known but predates 1883. It was a galvanised iron clad building which housed 4 engines on 2 tracks; in 1910 it was extended to 250 feet in length to house six more engines. The location of the railway tracks and station were a constant cause of congestion in the centre of Wodonga as the tracks crossed over Sydney Road (later named High Street). Lines of traffic were frequently banked up as the gates were closed to allow trains to cross. The Wodonga Rail Bypass project moved Wodonga station from the original central location to a position on a new line on the northern edge of the town. Not only did this release land in the middle of the city for commercial and public use, but also eliminated 10 level crossings. The project actually commenced in 2008 with the last passenger train passing through Wodonga on 8 November 2008. On 23 July 2010, the new rail bypass was opened, the original line through Wodonga closed and the station fell quiet. The area has now been redeveloped as Junction Place and the old buildings now house a restaurant, cafe and the Goods Shed Craft Beer Cafe.These images are of local, state and national significance as the Wodonga Railway complex formed a vital link in the Victorian state, interstate and national railway system.A collection of colour photos of the buildings at the former Wodonga Railway Stationwodonga railways, railway station wodonga, junction place wodonga

Several German families arrived in Wodonga, usually via South Australia, in the late 1850 and 1860s. Some of the earliest settlers to arrive were the Haeusler, Schlink, Trudewind, Pfeiffer and Klinge families. Many of them had left from Prussia and Bavaria to escape religious persecution. They all became actively involved in the community and made outstanding and lasting contributions to the development of the town. In the years 1868-69 more settlers arrived from South Australia and other parts of Victoria. Among the names were Heckendorf, Mueller, Zeinert and Schubert. These families were instrumental in lobbying for the establishment of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Wodonga, the foundation stone being laid in 1874. By the 1890s to the early 1900s many other Germany names were added to the local community including Muller, Lange, Pumpa, Greschke, Lobbe, Posselt, Kreuger, Schuster, Pertzel, Star, Draper, Mueller, Semmler, Thiele, Terlich, Wegener, Schreiber and Draper. Germans continued to arrive in the area until 1914. In the great post-war migration that started through Bonegilla in December 1947, Germans were among the tens of thousands who arrived. Most of the migrants who settled in Wodonga at this time were born in Germany. According to the 2016 Census, Wodonga still has a larger percentage of people with German ancestry than most other rural communities in Victoria. The German Austrian Australian Club, Wodonga was originally formed in 1960 by immigrants to Australia, to provide a meeting place for refugees and immigrants from Europe. Oktoberfest has become a world-wide occasion for all people to share in the celebration of Bavarian traditions. The Wodonga Hospital approached the Club and asked for their involvement in holding an Oktoberfest to raise funds for the Hospital. These Fests took 11 months to organize and ended up raising over $27,000.00 for the Hospital. A large number of families of German origin have arrived in the Wodonga area from as early as the 1850s. They have made valuable and lasting contributions to the area in a range of fields including agriculture, local government, businesses, retail and medical services. Their contributions are recognised in several street names in Wodonga. A white china beer stein bearing the blue logo of the Wodonga 1979 Oktoberfest. Logo includes an image of a woman in German national costume.Above the image "WODONGA" Underneath the image "OKTOBERFEST 1979"wodonga, oktoberfest, german immigrants

Owners had to provide service of alcohol in order to retain their licence. Locals referred to site as 'The Porta Pub'Colour photograph of tables and umbrellas for beer garden, next to portable building on site of what was the Club Hotel, after the fire had destroyed the original building. Lakes Entrance Victoriarecreation, disasters, business