J.D. Thomas – Taylor & Outfitter. 3 photos of Building Cellarstawell

736 pages, illustrated.

82 pages, illustrated.

This cigarette case was owned by Kenneth Darnton Watson and carried into battle during World War I. Kenneth Darnton Watson was born at Bendigo on 24 May 1893 to George Darnton Watson and Adelaide Nora Holmes. He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, being selected as School Captain in 1913 and a member of the Head of the River rowing team. After finishing school, he worked as a jackaroo on Wanganella Station and later at Mt. Widderin, Skipton, Victoria. When WWI was declared, Kenneth enlisted and after initial training at Maribyrnong, Victoria he left Australia as 2nd Lieutenant with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, to disembark at Plymouth on July 10, 1916. He took part in the Battles of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele Ridge in 1917. For his efforts in Passchendaele Ridge on 17th December he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." In 1918 he took part in the Battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel and Amiens. He returned to Australia in November 1919 and was discharged on 20th January 1920. In 1922, Kenneth Darnton Watson came to Wodonga where he purchased de Kerilleau, consisting of 2,500 acres, from Mr George Gordon. The two storey brick homestead had been built by William Huon in 1870. On 30th May 1924, he married Phyllis Emily Lenore Austin and they had four children, Ian Darnton 1925, Robert Darnton 1926 Rosemary McPherson 1929 and Faith Holmes 1931. On the land he worked hard, building fences, cattle, sheep and horse yards, and farmed Corriedale sheep, Shorthorn cattle and horses. Mr Watson was an innovative farmer, introducing modern methods of top dressing at de Kerilleau by means of an aircraft. He was also a dedicated community man. He was a member of both Albury and Wodonga Show Committees, Murray Valley Development League, No.1 Region, Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina, Albury Legacy Club, Wodonga RSL, and Wodonga Turf Club including terms as President on several of these organisations. Kenneth was also a Warden of St. Luke's Church of England, Wodonga. Kenneth served as Wodonga Shire President from 1929 to 1931, and was again elected to Council from 1943 to 1945. A most respected and valued member of the local community, Kenneth Darnton Watson died on the 4th of October 1951, aged 58. Lenore Watson lived at de Kerilleau until her death on 15th June 1984. Both are buried in Wodonga.This item is significant because it was owned by a decorated Australian serviceman and prominent member of the Wodonga community.A silver cigarette case owned by Kenneth Darnton Watson of Wodonga. The inside contains straps to hold the cigarettes in place. Both the front and back have been engraved.On front: KDW On back: 1919kenneth darnton watson, watson family wodonga, wodonga community members

H.D. Lee (Aust) was established in 1973 as a joint venture between Yakka Pty Ltd and Vanity Fair. In 1973 it decided to move to Albury-Wodonga, encouraged by government decentralisation assistance, lower overheads and the central location of the region. H.D. Lee opened a temporary pilot factory with 12 staff in Kiewa Street, Albury, in January 1974 while a new 50,000 sq. ft. factory for 400 staff was built on council land in West Wodonga. This was erected by local builders Zauner Construction, completed in late 1974 and began operations in April 1975. The factory became Australia’s second largest jeans manufacturer and employment in Wodonga at times exceeded 400 staff. In 1991 Yakka, which already owned 50 per cent of the H.D. Lee shares, bought out the rest. It quickly moved to reduce staff and transferred the administration to Broadmeadows. By 1997, the workforce had fallen to 110, and production of Lee and Faberge jeans, jackets and shorts gave way mostly to industrial wear.These coasters represent an industry which was a major employer in Wodonga. The establishment of H. D. Lee (Aust) was a direct result of Australian government's policy of decentralisation in the 1970s. A blue box containing 6 coasters to commemorate 10 years of H.D. Lee operations in Australia. Coasters are gold and include the Lee company logo. The box also includes information regarding the background of the manufacturer, Paul-Stephen Daly.On top half of coaster "H.D. LEE (AUST) PTY LTD /10 YEARS/ 1973-1983" Between lines of stars "Lee the ultimate jean"h.d. lee, wodonga, decentralisation, paul-stephen daly