This item belonged to Mrs. Eliza Reardon, great grandmother of Mrs. Jean Raper.This item is from Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper. A rectangular black lacquered jewellery box. The lid in decorated with an image of 3 Chinese women, a man and a child in traditional clothing. They are looking at an open box on the floor which has mice coming out of it.decorative items, jewellery, lacquerware

This gilt bronze medal was issued to school children to commemorate the opening of the first Australian Federal Parliament which opened in Melbourne on 9 May, 1901. This item was used to commemorate an important Australian historical event.A gilt bronze medal in a shield shape with a crown at the top. On on the obverse side are images of Queen Victoria and Edward VII and an inscription. On the reverse side are images of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York and an inscription.Obverse side at top: "AUST. COMMONWEALTH/EST. 1 JAN. 1901/63D of VICTORIA, R.I". Below the images "FIRST PARLIAMENT OPENED/MAY 1902/1ST of EDWARD VII. Along the bottom rim: WA TAS NSW VIC SA QLD. Reverse side at the top:" OPENING OF THE FIRST /FEDERAL PARLIAMENT". Below the images: "T.R.H/ THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF CORNWALL/AND , MAY 1904"medallion, australian federal parliament opening, federal parliament melbourne

This item belonged to Mrs. Alice Dinsmore, grandmother of Mrs. Jean Raper.This item is from Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper. An ornate silver scabbard shaped spectacles case and lady's gold rimmed spectacles. The case is decorated with a leaf design and has the initials "FM" inscribed on it. There is a velvet lining and also has a chain and clasp attached. This allowed the case to be attached to a belt. On front "FM"decorative items, jewellery, spectacles

The fireplace was the main heating source for small houses before 1900, so a bellows to coax a flame from a dying fire was important. They would also be used to keep the fire going in a woodfire oven for cooking. In later cooking ranges, domestic water supply was also heated through the cooking range so bellows helped to maintaing a supply of hot water. These bellows were handcrafted by Mr James Ripper, a great uncle of Mrs. Jean Raper. An item of signifance throughout Australia, bellows were used in homes to coax a domestic fire into flame for heating and cooking purposes. It was probably used in late 19th to early 20th century homes.A set of hand carved wooden bellows. Each side of the bellows was crafted from one piece of timber. The bellows were joined with leather, brass studs and a metal nozzle.bellows, handcragted items, domestic items

These small Chinese-influenced ornaments were popular in Australia in the early 1900s.This item is from Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper. 2 small metal containers with with embossed designs. The rectangular container has a leaf design whilst the rectangular container has dragon-like creatures on each side.decorative items, jewellery, lacquerware

Smiths patented moving coil clocks incorporating transistors, but did not put any models on the market until 1962 when they announced the Sectronic, which had a moving coil movement. This movement had three hairsprings which served to carry current to the coils. These were one of the first battery operated clocks created. This clock is representative of 1960s timepieces. These were the first battery clocks.A small round clock with Roman numerals and gold circular design around the centre. The clock was produced by Smiths Industries Ltd. in England. It is battery powered and features the Smith Sectronic battery which was first introduced in 1962. In centre of clock face "SMITHS/SECTRONIC BATTERY/MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN" clocks, smith sectronic

Lorgnette were a pair of spectacles with a handle, used to hold them in place, rather than fitting over the ears or nose. The name derives from the French lorgner, meaning to take a sidelong look. The lens were often just magnifiers although they later evolved to include prescription lenses. They became widely used in the 19th century and were popular in the Victorian Era.This item is from Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper. A lorgnette or pair of hand-held brass-rimmed spectacles.lorgnette, women's spectacles

The first transistor radio (the Regency TR-1) was produced by Regency Electronics in cooperation with Texas Instruments in 1954. Transistor 4 , the AWA transistor radio was manufactured by Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited (AWA), Australia's largest and most prominent twentieth century producer of radios, televisions, audio and telecommunications equipment. Transistor radios went on to become the most popular electronic communication device of the 1960s and 1970s. Billions of transistor radios are estimated to have been sold worldwide between the 1950s and 2012. They were exceptionally popular amongst young people in Australia due to their portability, allowing them to be taken wherever you wanted to gather with friends or, due to the headphone attachment, without disturbing those around you. These pocket radios are representative of technological developments which had a vast influence on social life and activities throughout Australia.4 pocket transistor radios of various brands. No. 1 orange Sanyo RP 1280 manufactured in 1979/1980. No2. is white bakelite No. 2 K--181 pocket transistor made by the Kmart Corporation c1975 and No. 3 is a Nation Brand AM Portable Receiver made in Hong Kong c1980. No. 4 Is an AWA Radiola B121 Solid State pocket transistor. All of them include a socket to plug in an ear piece.No. 1 on the front "SANYO RP 1280 and tuning dial. On the back: "SANYO MODEL RP 1280/ DC 3 V 2 x "AA" BATTERY/ SANYO ELECTRIC CO. LTD." No. 2 on the front "K-181" and tuning dial. On the back "Code 600-857/ AM POCKET RADIO/DC-3VC (UM-3x2)/ART 181. HONG KONG" No. 3 AM Portable Receiver Nation Brand on front No 4. on the front: below dial - AWA Radiola B121 ad at bottom "SOLID STATE" On the back: AWA Thorn Consumer Products Pty. Ltd./Model No. B121/Batteries 2 x UM-3 OR AA Cells/AM 520 -1620KHz/ Serial No. 75686/ Made in Hong Kong"radio communications, transistor radio

This image is one from a series of portraits taken by Rob Elliott to record the character of the Border District through the faces if its identities. This photo shows Charles Henry “Mick” Morris in the Morris cellar at Mia Mia near Rutherglen, Victoria. Charles Henry “Mick” Morris was born in Rutherglen, Victoria on 1st July 1928, son of Charles Tempest George Morris and Daisy Chambers. The Morris winery was started by Mick’s great grandfather, George Francis Morris who arrived in Australia in 1852. He immediately set off for the goldfields but found more profit from selling supplies to the goldfields. He purchased land in Rutherglen in 1859. By 1894 he had the biggest cellars in Australia. Mick Morris is a 4th generation wine maker. He was educated at Gooramadda Primary School, then at Rutherglen Higher Elementary School before attending Scotch College in Melbourne. He became the first member of his family to gain a university education, gaining a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Melbourne in 1950 before completing an Oenology Course at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia. Mick returned to Mia Mia in 1952 where his first role was working in the vineyard. By the end of 1953 he had become the “semi-official” winemaker at Mia Mia. From that time his career as a widely recognised winemaker went from strength to strength, winning many prestigious awards. Mick is recognised as a pioneer of the Durif grape variety. In 1993 Mick’s son, David became a 5th generation winemaker. Morris is famous for producing some of the world’s finest fortified wines. Away from the wine industry Mick has a strong interest in sport, particularly football. Since 1933, the Morris Medal for the Best and Fairest Player in the Ovens and Murray League has been awarded annually. This award was instigated by Charles Hughes Morris, Mick’s grandfather. Mick also played in the league. Morris Wines of Rutherglen were purchased by Casella Family Brands in 2016. This image depicts a renowned winemaker of Rutherglen who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the Australian wine industry. He was also involved in his community and his family is recognised in the annual award of the Best and Fairest medal for the Ovens and Murray Football League.A black and white photograph of Charles Henry "Mick" Morris in the cellar at Mia Mia near Rutherglen, Victoria. The photo is in a metal frame.On barrel in foreground: "FILTERED/ 4 OCT '93/ MIA FINO / 4 Hhds"morris wines, northeast victorian wineries, mick morris, winemakers of rutherglen

This image is one from a series of portraits taken by Rob Elliott to record the character of the Border District through the faces if its identities. Ronald Joseph Hoban was born in 1930. In 1951, Mr Hoban, or "Hobie" as he became known, opened his hairdresser and tobacconist business in Corryong. This was at the height of the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme and business was thriving. As the tobacco industry slowed down, Mr. Hoban branched out to selling sporting equipment with a focus on fishing tackle and even selling guns and ammunition when it was legal to do so. He was an active and much-loved member of the Corryong community until his death in November 2014. This portrait is significant as it depicts a person who made a significant contribution to community of Corryong and district. The business he established still operates as Hobie’s Sports Store.A black and white photo of a man standing behind a barber's chair, scissors in hand. He has glasses pushed up on his forehead. Tobacco products are stored on the shelves in the background.ron hoban, corryong barber, people of the border

Graham Wells Middleton was born in Corryong in Northeast Victoria in 1935. He was the first person to swim the length of the Murray River. He began on November 30th 1991 at Bringenbong, near Corryong. After completing a distance of 2366 kilometres over 138 consecutive days, Graham finished his marathon swim in Lake Alexandrina, South Australia on April 14th 1992. This feat was recognised in The Guiness Book of Records and was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Corryong. His motivation was to raise money to help children with cancer. In the process he raised $100,000 for cancer research which made Graham Middleton the first individual in Australia to raise $100,000 for the cause. In the weeks and months after his swim ended, donations continued to be made, with the final total exceeding $200,000. The proceeds raised by the swim were donated to " Kids 'n' Cancer" and the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. Graham Middleton died on October 27, 1995This photo is significant as Graham Middleton was a resident of Northeast Victoria who made an outstanding contribution to the community and to supporting medical research as a result as the Murray River swim depicted in this image.A black and white photo of Graham Middleton, a marathon swimmer who swam the Murray River. The photo has been mounted in a metal frame.graham middleton, murray river, murray river swim

Bethanga was established as a result of the discovery of gold. Gold was first reported in the Bethanga area in 1852. Before 1876 gold mining in the Bethanga district occurred to the north of the town and was known as the 'Talgarno diggings'. Reports of alluvial gold date back to 1852. Early gold fields were worked at Ruby Creek, Gold Creek and Jarvis Creek. The opening of the Bethanga goldfields began with the discovery of a gold-bearing quartz reef on New Year’s Day 1876. The 'Gift' mine site is located southeast of Kurrajong Gap lookout to the west of Bethanga township. The Great Eastern Copper Smelting Works was opened in 1878. Due to the nature of the gold-bearing quartz reef, the gold was difficult to extract, and the discovery of copper led to a change in focus. It was not until the early 1890s that an efficient technique for extracting the gold from the ore was discovered, and once again gold became the focus, with copper as a by-product. Bethanga was removed from the official list of goldfields in 1912, however some mining activity has taken place since.This image reflects an important time in the development of Bethanga and Northeast Victoria.A large mounted and framed image of horse teams and their owners hauling a large boiler to the gold mine near Bethanga, Victoria. On label beneath image: "North-eastern "Gold Days"/ Combined teams hauling a boiler to Bethanga Mines, 1900. Teamsters - Mr. G. Pearce, W. Chapple, G, Bannon." Donated by Ron Saunders and Barbara Cadman"bethanga, gold mining northeast victoria, gold mining bethanga, bethanga history

A publication of 186 pages featuring black and white photographs and an anthology of poetry.This book is an anthology of poetry written by over 80 migrants who settled in the North East of Victoria. It is a moving evocation of the migrant experience. Many of these migrants had been housed at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre near Wodonga which began receiving migrants in 1947, Bonegilla became the largest and longest operating reception centre in the post-war era. More than 300,000 migrants passed through its doors between 1947 and 1971. Most of these migrants came from non-English speaking European families escaping their war-torn homelands. Their world had been turned upside down. Many were confused, unsure of where they were going or what the future held for them. These poems reflect their experiences in adjusting to their new country and environment.immigrants' writings, immigrants in north east victoria, immigrants -- poetry, bonegilla migrant reception centre

A facsimile of The History of Albury 1824 - 1895 which was originally produced in 1912. This edition of 94 pages plus an index not included in the original publication. It also includes a map showing the track taken by early explorers and early photos.non-fictionThe original edition of "The History of Albury 1824 - 1895" was published in 1912. Dr. Andrews took information freely from local newspapers such as the "Albury Banner" and also some early pioneers and contacts. The Albury & District Historical Society produced this facsimile edition included an expanded index and 20 illustrations not in the original version. It was a limited edition of 1000 copies completed as a bicentennial project. This book is number 0538. Dr. Arthur Andrews practised medicine in Albury for 45 years from 1874 to 1919. For 43 years he served as the Government Medical Officer. As was common at that time, his surgery was established in his home. He was actively involved in community life and served on many public offices in the Albury. In his leisure time, Dr. Andrews was engaged in a wide range of historical interests and research of the history of the district. He moved to Sydney in 1919 and died in Cremorne in 1925.albury history, dr. arthur andrews

A book of 72 pages including plates, maps and illustrations. The cover is blue with white text and an illustration of a sailing sloop. It includes a bibliography.The full title of this publication is "The first tourist: commemorating the bicentenary of Matthew Flinders' voyage in the sloop Norfolk to Bribie Island and Moreton Bay, 1799-1999". It was sponsored by Pacific Harbour, Bribie Island with the assistance of the Regional Arts Development Fund. Although Flinders documented his voyage to Australia in his major work "Voyage to Terra Australia", little mention is made of his voyage to Bribie Island. However this publication claims Matthew Flinders as the first official tourist to Bribie Island. It was published to celebrate the bicentenary of his voyage.matthew flinders, flinders bicentenary, australia - exploration and settlement

A publication of 156 pages including text, illustrations, facsimiles and portraits. It also includes bibliographical references and an index.This publication tells the story of the men and women from Albury and district who served in the Great War of 1914 to 1919. It tells of those who served on the battlefield, but also those who supported and sustained them from home whilst maintaining the community of Albury. As indicated on the back cover, the author Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Hunter had a long military service and connection with Albury Wodonga. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009 for services to military history. The book was based on research carried out with the assistance of members of the Albury and DIstrict Historical Society. It included a forward by Councillor Kevin Mack, Mayor of the City of Albury (2015).impact of world war 1 albury, soldiers ww1 albury, ww1 participation albury

A publication of 64 pages which delves into the people that influenced the development of the city of Albury. This book is part of a series of books compiled to document the development of communities around Australia. According to the author Albury is a great city and it has become a great city because of the calibre of the people who live in it. The publication is set out as a detailed timeline of events and the people that influenced the development of Albury up until 1985. It includes an index of past and present citizens of merit, Albury and district parliamentary representatives as well as aldermen and mayors from 1959 to 1974. James McClelland was born in Campsie, NSW in 1927. Throughout his lifetime he was an ardent genealogist and historian. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1988 for service to Australian genealogical and historical research. He died on 18th August, 1994.pioneers albury, history albury, timeline albury

A bound volume of 96 pages featuring an image of an Australian soldier carrying an injured child on the cover. This publication includes 11 maps in colour as well as black and white and colour illustrations.A revised short history of the Australian Army beginning with Aboriginal resistance to settlement; through an examination of the service of colonial forces in the Sudan and Boer Wars; both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan. It contains a detailed section explaining the history and traditions of the Australian Army including patches, badges, the slouch hat and the Rising Sun badge.australian military, military history

A publication created for the centenary celebration of the Albury Football Club in 1995. It contains a detailed timeline, player profiles, lists of life members, premiership wins and Best & Fairest winners. It also lists players from the Albury Football Club who progresses to play senior games in the Victorian Football League / Australian Football League.The Albury Football Club - the Albury Tigers, is a football club with a long history. In 1895 to 1902 the club was a member of the Ovens and Murray Football League. Between 1895 and World War 1, Albury won three premierships and was runner-up six times. For a period of time the Albury Football club was in recess, then was included at different times in the Rutherglen & District Football Association and the Albury and Border Football Association. In 1924, after playing under s variety of names the Albury Football Club re-entered the Ovens and Murray Football League and has played with that league until the present, apart from 1941 to 1945 when it went into recess as a result of World War 11.albury football club, albury tigers, albury-wodonga sport

This book consists of 275 pages including photos and a map, as well as an extensive bibliography. The cover depicts a soldier and his family and a country town streetscape on the back.This publication covers common issues of life in Australia during World War 1, such as recruitment, fundraising, conscription, homecomings and the construction of memorials. However it is unique in that these aspects of war are examined through a focus on rural communities in North Eastern Victoria. The first chapter describes the region and its towns at the outbreak of war, then discusses the fracturing impact of war on different groups within these communities. It paints an interesting social history at a critical time in Australia's development. John Quilton is a native of North Eastern Victoria, having been born in Yackandandah and educated in Tangambalanga and Wodonga. He was a senior member of the Bicentennial History Project at the University of New South Wales, and head of the History and Politics Program at the University of Wollongong.world war 1, rural conditions australia 1914, world war 1 social conditions australia, tangambalanga world war 1

A paperback volume of 268 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of photos, illustrations and maps. The covers feature photos of John Monash.Who was the most innovative general of WW1? In this publication, Tim Fischer declares this to be John Monash, a man who according to Fischer, for all the recognition he received in his lifetime and after, was never given his proper due. It provides a synopsis of Sir John Monash's life and achievements. The book also included an argument to posthumously promote Sir John Monash to the rank of Field Marshal. The author, Timothy Andrew Fischer AC was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as leader of the National Party from 1990 to 1999. He was Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 to 1999. Fischer was born in Lockhart, New South Wales. He served with the Australian Army in the Vietnam War. Tim Fischer was born on 3 May 1946 in Lockhart, NSW and died in Albury on 22 August 2019.sir john monash, australia military history, world war 1 campaigns, tim fischer

A children's story book with large font text and colourful illustrations telling the story of a new dollar coin. It consists of 30 pages.fictionThis book was produced by the WAW Credit Union with the aim of educating children about money and how it can take different forms as it is used throughout the community. It gives a message about how banking with a Credit Union impacts on the entire community. WAW Credit Union has been operating in various forms since 1956. The WAW stands for Wangaratta, Albury, Wodonga, reflecting its area and names of former credit unions from which it merged.banks and banking - juvenile literature, waw credit union, credit union wodonga

This book documents the development of manufactured goods available in Australia over the period 1880 to 1940. This was the period between the end of the gold rushes and the Second World War. It consists of 224 pages including explanatory text, illustrations and a bibliography.Manufactured goods available in Australia over the period 1880 to 1940 underwent massive change. Australia moved from long skirts to shorter styles, from kerosene lamps to electric lights, from horse drawn vehicles to cars and aeroplanes. This collection reflects these changes in many aspects of people's life styles.manufactured goods australia 1880 - 1940, social life and customs, australian shopping directories

A 62 page book outlining the loss of the Beaufort Bomber and the search to locate it. The book includes maps, illustrations and a bibliography. The cover features a map of the search area for the bomber.This book tracks the crash of the RAAF Beaufort, A9-228 which crashed in the mountains near Eskdale, Victoria and the search to locate the wreckage. On the night of 4 June 1945, just weeks before the end of World War 1, a Beaufort Bomber went missing whilst conducting a navigational exercise between Mount Gambier in South Australia and Sale in Victoria.The aircraft was meant to head east, but instead it headed north east due to a series of navigational errors. It flew over Albury, circled and then headed towards the Victorian Alps. It flew over the town of Eskdale in Northeast Victoria and crashed into the side of Mount Tawonga. All crew on board perished. Those lost were Flight Officer Don Flavel (pilot), Flight Officer Robert Clayton (navigator), Flight Officer Fred Wallis and Flight Sergeant L. J. Sims (radio operator). At the time of the crash, many members of the Eskdale community were in the public hall just beginning to watch a screening of the Bing Crosby movie, "Going My Way". This accounts for the title of the publication.beaufort bomber crash 1945, beaufort bomber eskdale, aircraft accidents victoria

A small buff coloured publication containing an anthology of poetry by local writers.This booklet is an anthology of poetry written by local writers of the Albury-Wodonga border district and its communities. It contains 47 pages and comments on key local identities and events.albury-wodonga district, borderline writers

This microscope was made in the mid 1960s as an introductory microscope for students. As indicated by the brand plate on the front, it could be set to 3 different magnification settings of 75x, 300x or 600x. When originally produced these microscopes came as part of a kit including microscope slides and testing samples.This item is representative of a range of scientific tools available to engage young people in scientific discovery in the 1960s.Small green and silver metal microscope with adjustable focus dial. It includes a mirror and clamp arms to hold slides and plastic knobs to adjust focus.On metal plate: "tasco/ 75x - 300x - 600x/ 600x/ REG-NO-GE 6'00" Underneath rubber base:"PAT. PEND. NO. 026004/ JAPANtasco, student microscope, microscope

A book bound in red leather-look fabric. The book features facsimiles of the addresses made to the Duke of Cornwall and York and the Governor-General, facsimile pages showing signatures of mayors, councillors and town clerks, views of municipal buildings, and the replies sent by the Duke and Governor-General.This book titled 'Addresses to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York and to His Excellency the Governor-General From The Municipalities of Victoria' was published by the Municipal Association of Victoria to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It was printed by McCarron, Bird & Co in Melbourne. It contains copies of messages from each of the municipalities of Victoria. The addresses were made on the occasion of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York's visit to Melbourne in May 1901. They were in the city for the opening of Federal Parliament which took place at the Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens on 9 May 1901. The image of the message representing the Shire of Wodonga is signed by Henry Beardmore (President), Councillors John Bassett, W McFarlane, Robert Morrison, Geo. Leighton, James Henry McGeoch, A. E. Muller, John Whan, Joseph Pollard and Secretary John Woodland.australian federation 1901, municipal governments victoria, duke of cornwall

This publication has a hard cover with blue boards and a pictorial dust jacket. It consists of 264 pages.This book contains contributions from 16 writers who have first-hand knowledge of the Murray River area. It provides a comprehensive picture of the river in all its aspects. It gives a fascinating look at one of Australia's most important geographical and historical features. Contributors and chapters in this book are: - 1. Past, Present and Future – G. V. Lawrence 2. The Structure of the Murray – Edmund D. Gill 3. Seeing the Murray – Graeme Kinross Smith 4. The Mountains at the Source – Elyne Mitchell 5. The Explorers – Leigh Betheras 6. The Irrigators – G. Arch Grosvenor 7. Murray Water Conservation – W. G. L. Harrison & K. E. Johnson 8. The Murray River Steamers – Ian Mudie 9. Pioneer Days: A Story of Seventy Years Ago – Dorothy Roysland 10. Birdlife of the Murray Valley – John Eckert 11 .Aborigines in the Murray Valley, How We Learned the Story – H. A. Lindsay, The Aboriginal Occupation – Norman B. Tindale 12. Fish of the Murray River – John S. Lake 13. Native Plants of the Murray Valley – J. H. Willis 14. Murray Wildlife – K. N. G. Simpsonmurray river, australian geography, settlement on the murray river, native plants, aborigines in the murray valley, murray valley flora and fauna

These stops were attached to both ends of the wagon as part of the coupling system and to absorb any impact between wagons or carriages,This item is significant as it was typical of systems on locomotives used on the New South Wales and Victorian passenger and freight trains which serviced the northeast region of Victoria.A large rigid metal Buffer stop from a NSW T class wagon. railways, buffer shock absorbers, vintage trains, new south wales trains

This publication has a hard cover with a dust jacket. It consists of 191 pages, including 85 black and white and 12 coloured images.This book includes biographies of 16 different airmen with whom the compiler has come in contact. They have had their own uniques experiences in aviation. 12 of them served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). One of the aviators featured in this publication is Joe Drage, Born on 10 July 1931 in Walwa, Joseph Gordon (Joe) Drage operated a timber mill and earthmoving business, but his great passion was aviation. After obtaining his pilot’s licence at the age of 19, Mr. Drage set about buying vintage aircraft that he feared would be sold overseas. He bought his first aircraft, a Tiger Moth in 1965. In 1972 he established Drage Historical Aircraft Museum on about 60 ha of land in Wodonga, with 5 planes. Over time this grew to 21 planes which Joe maintained so that they were all in flying order. His museum was the location for several air shows which included fly-ins by members of the Antique Aeroplane Association. The land occupied by the Museum was compulsorily acquired by the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation and Wangaratta council bought the aircraft collection for about $2 million. They opened Drage Airworld in 1984. The cost of maintaining the collection became too much for the council which closed it down in 2002. Joe Drage died on 9 August 2017.air pilots australia, aviation history, joe drage, joe drage airworld