The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. The ephemeral edition of 'Australian Bush Songs' visible inside the case was published in 1937 in Melbourne by Allan & Co. It contains children's songs drawing on Australian themes which were popular and well-known in the 1930s. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A brown vinyl suitcase containing song books, periodicals and magazines c. 1920s - 1930s.hamilton-smith, ellwood, hamilton-smith collection, wodgona, books, reading, songs, song, singing, children, child

The music and lyrics for the “Wodonga” song were written in 1923 by Jack Lumsdaine, specifically to be performed by touring stage and Vaudeville star, Ada Reeves. John Sinclair (Jack) Lumsdaine was an Australian songwriter, vaudeville artist, entertainer and radio announcer born in 1895 in Casino, New South Wales. After serving in World War I, Jack Lumsdaine worked for music publishers, Allan & Co. Pty Ltd of Melbourne and later J. Albert & Son of Sydney, advising them on what overseas sheet music to publish. Albert & Son were the publishers of “Wodonga”. Tours of Australian and New Zealand theatres, with Lumsdaine performing before the main film, promoted this music as well as his own. He composed hundreds of songs, some of which he recorded. Many of them celebrated famous Australians such as Don Bradman or towns and cities in Australia. He had a record run of 11 weeks at Sydney's Tivoli Theatre. In 1923 he ventured into radio which he continued until his death on 28th August 1948. Ada Reeve (born Adelaide Mary Reeves) was an English actress of both stage and film. She made her first stage appearance at the age of four years old in 1878. This was the beginning of a long and successful stage career. In later years she undertook international tours including Australia in 1914 and 1916 and an extended tour of Australia from 1922 to 1924, a shorter tour in 1926, and another extended tour from 1929, playing mainly in vaudeville. Both of Reeve's daughters, Bessie and Goody, settled in Australia. She returned to England in 1935 and resumed her stage career before starring in the first of 11 films. Her final film before retirement was produced in 1957 at the age of 83 years old. Ada Reeve died in 1966 at the age of 92. This song “Wodonga” was written for her tour of Australia in 1923.This item is significant because it was specially written to be performed by a touring star at the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney to recognise Wodonga.Sheet music booklet of four pages. The cover sheet is primarily orange and white with blue text. It features a portrait of Miss Ada Reeve."wodonga" song, ada reeve, jack lumsdaine, popular music -- australia -- 1921-1930

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A blue cloth covered hymn book with black text printed on front cover. hymn, singing, book, song, songs, hamilton-smith collection, hamilton-smith, ellwood, wodonga

In the 1830’s, European pastoralists started moving south from NSW into the Alps. In 1836, cattle grazing began around Omeo and the runs spread out into the foothills. The higher country was used for summer grazing and huts were built for shelter and storage during stock mustering. The lure of gold brought many people to the Alps from around 1850 to 1900. Bushfires destroyed the forests around Melbourne in 1939 and the boom in house-building after World War II ked to increased demand for timber from the Alps. This resulted in the building of a network of roads which helped open up access to the Alps. The early 1940’s brought the first of many workers to the Alps for the planning and construction of the Hydro-Electric Scheme. These were the pioneers and early settlers of the Kiewa Valley and provided a wealth of characters and a tapestry of stories and adventures to be handed down to future generations.These 3 posters, which were most likely produced for promotional purposes provide a glimpse into the early lives of the pioneer families of the Kiewa Valley through pictures and verse. They show their lifestyle and outline the hardships they had to endure in living and working in the Alpine region. They also highlight the early arguments regarding grazing in the high country which would ultimately lead to the end of the long traditions of the high country cattle men. Set of 3 A4 size posters with black and white photographs and text and colour background depicting various parts of the history of the Kiewa Valley. 1. Titled - ‘Life wasn’t meant to be easy’ Describes early life for Kiewa Hydro workers. 2. Titled - ‘Cattlemen of the High Plains’ Describes a brief history of life of the cattlemen of the high plains 3. Titled – ‘There are Places I’ll remember’ Depicts early photographs of residents of the Kiewa Valley, also includes the words from a John Lennon song as per poster title. Printed on each poster – Poster designed by Dyanne Photography - Wodonga 1. Printed at bottom of poster – Sources: G Napier and G Easdown “The Kiewa Story” 1993. Southern Hydro Archives, N Hetherington and R Hollands. G Gardner “The Kiewa Kids” 1998. 2. Printed at bottom of poster – Sources: D Purland. Handwritten at top of poster- Poster 4 3. Printed at bottom of poster – Sources: B Roper, W Davies, D Higginson, H Ryder. Handwritten at top of poster- Poster 3 kiewa valley; tourism; lifestyles

The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history, social history, and military history. A booklet of war songs printed during the Great War (c.1914) titled "A Soldier's Greeting: A Happy Christmas". The cover features an illustration of a soldier on a horse. He is blowing into a brass instrument. ww1, world war one, the great war, military history

The 1920's brought many changes to social life in Australia after the austerity of the war years. This was reflected in many cultural activities including music and dance. In the latter years of the decade ,this was evident in the new dance craze of the "Yale Blues" and the "Heebie Jeebie". Young people were eager to learn the latest music and dance steps. Everything needed to support these new trends could be purchased from "Blake's Busy Bazaar and Music Shop in Dean Street, Albury. Peter Wesley Blake, born in Ontario, Canada in 1860, immigrated to Australia in 1881. He moved to Albury in 1896 after purchasing the news agency and stationery business of Messrs. TF Hughes & Co. Described as ‘enterprising’, his store named Blake’s Busy Book Bazaar, stocked “everything required in books, newspapers, stationery, leather and fancy goods, music, musical instruments etc”. Blake sold the store in 1912 to Arthur Hewish who retained the name of the store. It operated with a variety of different owners until 1941.This item is unique and has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our knowledge of social activities of the post-war period, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A small paper booklet printed featuring a picture of a crowded ball room, and a list of song titles.1920's dance, blake's busy bazaar and music store, social life 1920's