Chiltern is situated on the Black Dog Creek was originally known as the Black Dog township. It was officially gazetted as a town in 185. During 1853-54 the name was changed to Chiltern due to the resemblance of the countryside to Chiltern Hills in England. The first township lots were sold in June 1854. After the goldrushes Chiltern remained a prosperous community with a thriving economy based on agriculture, timber, and small enterprises. Born in Wodonga, after his marriage Thomas Peter Bonsema operated his photography business in Chiltern. Our Collection includes several photographs signed BONSEMA WODONGA or sometimes simply TBW. Thomas Peter John Bonsema was born in Wodonga in 1876 to Peter John Bonsema and Mary Ann nee Nash. His name first appears on the Electoral Roll for Wodonga in 1909 and on the Electoral Roll in 1912 he is listed as a photographer. His photographs capture many scenes and events around Wodonga and surrounding areas. Thomas Bonsema married Minna Louisa Jones in 1912. By 1914 he had moved to Chiltern, Victoria where he established Bonsema’s Photographic Studio. From this time onward many of his works bore the signature “BONSEMA CHILTERN”. As well as continuing to photograph landscapes and important buildings, Mr Bonsema was often the official photographer at school and community celebrations. He also sold many framed photographs and postcards from his premises at 68 -70 Conness Street, Chiltern. By 1943 Thomas John Bonsema had relocated to New South Wales and died in Beecroft, NSW on 14th July 1944. Some of his photographs are held in the Victorian State Library and Mitchell Library Sydney Collections.These images are significant because they are the work of a recognised photographer Thomas Bonsema who was born in Wodonga in 1876. Three black and white images of Chiltern under flood waters on 27th December 1919. The building on the left in photo number 1 is the business premises of T. Bonsema, Photographer.CONNESS ST IN FLOOD 27 12 19, TBbonsema photography, thomas peter john bonsema, chiltern floods

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Collection of photographs showing early evolution of an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces as it progressed from WWII equipment and uniforms to post-war equipment and uniforms. Silver regimental hat badges are worn in place of Rising Sun badge.Black and white photograph of Staghound Armoured Car wheel-hub deep in flood water' 1956 Staghound Armoured Car settling. Exercise in Chiltern/ Rutherglen area. "