Inspired by a visit to the USA in the early 1950s, Hoyts' Southern Division manager George Griffith Jnr, formed a syndicate to build Australia’s first Drive-in located in Burwood. Drive-ins soon spread throughout the country. One of the earliest Skyline Drive-ins in rural Victoria was built in Wodonga, opening in 1956. It was located on the southwest corner of Melrose Drive and Melbourne Road and had a capacity of 643 vehicles. Its first screening was "The Broken Lance" with Richard Widmark, Spencer and Robert Wagner. The first manager of Skyline was Jim Robinson. The original screen was made from timber but had to be replaced only 20 years later with an all steel structure. The Wodonga Skyline became part of the Hoyts Country Theatres circuit and was later joined by the Stargazer drive-in located in Albury. Unlike most drive-in theatres, the snack bar was located under the screen. This allowed it to operate during the day to cater to travellers passing on the Hume Highway. When Hoyts decided to sell most of the regional circuit, the Skyline was purchased by the operator of the Albury Cinema, Mr A. Smith in conjunction with Village Roadshow. The Skyline closed in 1984 and was demolished in 1987. Its former location in Wodonga is now a housing estate whose street names, such as Roadshow Drive, Universal Court and Paramount Court, reflect the area’s history.These photos are significant because they document a popular venue in Wodonga's past.A series of photographs depicting the Skyline Drive-in at Wodonga.skyline drive-in, entertainment wodonga, businesses wodonga

A commemorative plaque from the old Wodonga Golf House, built in 1946. The club house and the golf course were extended in 1956 to the area of Belvoir Park. It was demolished in 1987 to make room for the new Hume Highway. This plaque was salvaged from the club house building before demolition. This item has a strong link to the local and sporting history of Wodonga.A wooden plaque with engraved metal plate depicting a male golfer attached. gold, sport, leisure, entertainment, wodonga, wodonga golf club

1987 Cooking school's competition - Catholic College Wodonga Team at the cooking bench, Table set for 4 in forefront. Location Unknown. B33 on the back.Kodakevent, entertainment, school's cooking competition

1987 Cooking school's competition - Catholic College Wodonga team standing in front of table prepared with candles and food. Location Unknown. A15 on the back.Kodakevent, entertainment, school's cooking competition

1987 Cooking school's competition - Table set for 4, 3 plates of food in the middle, 2 candles and a menu. Location not described but possibly Catholic College Wodonga. . A7 on the back.Kodakevent, entertainment, school's cooking competition

In the late 1960s the area in Wodonga between Hovell and Havelock Streets was zoned for civic purposes. By 1969 Melbourne architect Bruce Marshall had designed the civic centre which included a library, theatre and senior citizens' rooms. The main hall had a seating capacity of 1,000 people but could be divided by a sliding door. into smaller areas. It also included meeting rooms and kitchen facilities. The Civic Centre was officially opened by the Honorable Sir Henry Bolte, K.C.M.P., M.P., Premier of Victoria who was accompanied by the Honorable R. J. Hamer E.D., Minister for Local Government. The Shire President was Cr. James A. Terrill, J.P. In 1973, the Council engaged Bruce Marshall to design new offices beside the Civic Centre. Jennings Industries were contracted to complete the offices. The Governor, Sir Henry Winneke, laid the foundation stone of the new offices on 10 March 1976. The Civic Centre was demolished in 2011 to make may for a new $10 million community and entertainment centre which opened in August 2012.This image records an important stage in the development of local government and civic buildings in Wodonga, Victoria.A large framed image of Wodonga Civic Centre after it was upgraded in 1981wodonga history, wodonga civic centre, wodonga civic and government buildings

Wodonga Shire was created in 1876 when the colonial government agreed to ratepayers' petitions to have their part of the local government district severed from the Yackandandah Shire to form a new municipality. After meeting for 14 years in rented remises, in the Prince of Wales Hall, Wodonga Council built its first Shire Hall on the corner of High and Elgin Streets in 1890. The date on the façade of the building, 1876, represents the date of the formation of the Shire. In 1957 the second Shire Office was built in Woodland Grove by A.B. and M. A. Chick. These offices were considered more than adequate for future needs. The façade featured floor to ceiling windows and several different meeting rooms in addition to the council chamber, which featured an impressive “horse shoe” table. It also included a kitchen equipped with modern fittings and a President’s room. In the late 1960s the area between Hovell and Havelock Streets as far as Jack Hore Place was zoned for civic purposes. In 1969 plans for a civic centre providing a library, theatre and senior citizens’ rooms. It was opened on 22 April 1971. In 1973, the Council engaged Bruce Marshall to design new offices beside the Civic Centre. Jennings Industries were contracted to complete the offices. The Governor, Sir Henry Winneke, laid the foundation stone of the new offices on 10 March 1976. The Civic Centre was demolished in 2011 to make may for a new $10 million community and entertainment centre which opened in August 2012.These photos are significant because they depict the different buildings which have housed the centre of local government in Wodonga since its inception as an independent shire in 1876.A series of photographs depicting the different buildings used to house the Wodonga Council and Civic buildings over time.wodonga civic buildings, wodonga council, shire of wodonga, rural city of wodonga

The Bell & Howell Ringmaster slide projector was capable of projecting 35mm mounted slides onto an internal screen and then played them much like a television set. Different settings allowed the slides to be projected onto a larger screen if desired. The RingMaster included cassette tape player/recorder that was able to synchronize the playing of sound with the projection of slides. It was compatible with 80 and 140 count Kodak Carousel slide trays which were mounted on the top. A carry handle was attached for the top of the machine for easy transport, Accessories with the projector included an external microphone and cassette tapes. Donald J. Bell and Albert S. Howell founded Bell & Howell Incorporated with a capitalization of $5,000 in February 1907. This projector was used by the Country Fire Authority Training Wing to conduct training and information sessions for its members.This item is significant because it is representative of development in home entertainment in the late 1970s. It was donated by a local organisation in Wodonga.A large cube-shaped projector with a slide carousal which was placed on the top. It included a built-in cassette recorder and an external microphone jack. The front featured a screen allowing slides to be viewed on this screen or projected onto an external screen.On front: Bell & Howell Metal Plate on back: Serial Number 9005079 and Patent informationbell & howell, home entertainment

In the 1800s, the stereoscope was the only way to view with world in 3-D. A viewer would look through the lenses of the stereoscope's eyepiece to a card called a stereograph. On the stereograph, two of the same image were printed side by side, which when viewed through the stereograph transformed the one dimensional images into relatively life-like representations. A popular form of entertainment among the middle classes in Europe and America, people could use a stereoscope to view images of real faraway places, or fantastical magic scenes. The first patented stereo viewer was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838, and remained a favoured leisure activity until the advent of cinema in the 1930s. This object contributes to our understanding of social life, leisure and entertainment in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A wooden stereoscope with a cardboard 'view' of a streetscape.stereoscope, stereographs, entertainment, fun, leisure

In the 1800s, the stereoscope was the only way to view with world in 3-D. A viewer would look through the lenses of the stereoscope's eyepiece to a card called a stereograph. On the stereograph, two of the same image were printed side by side, which when viewed through the stereograph transformed the one dimensional images into relatively life-like representations. A popular form of entertainment among the middle classes in Europe and America, people could use a stereoscope to view images of real faraway places, or fantastical magic scenes. The first patented stereo viewer was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838, and remained a favoured leisure activity until the advent of cinema in the 1930s. This object contributes to our understanding of social life, leisure and entertainment in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history. A cardboard box full of stereoscope cards showing street views and landscape scenery. stereoscope, stereographs, entertainment, fun, leisure

In the 1800s, the stereoscope was the only way to view with world in 3-D. A viewer would look through the lenses of the stereoscope's eyepiece to a card called a stereograph. On the stereograph, two of the same image were printed side by side, which when viewed through the stereograph transformed the one dimensional images into relatively life-like representations. A popular form of entertainment among the middle classes in Europe and America, people could use a stereoscope to view images of real faraway places, or fantastical magic scenes. The first patented stereo viewer was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838, and remained a favoured leisure activity until the advent of cinema in the 1930s. This object contributes to our understanding of social life, leisure and entertainment in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history. A wooden stereoscope with a cardboard 'view' of a streetscape.stereoscope, stereographs, entertainment, fun, leisure

In the 1800s, the stereoscope was the only way to view with world in 3-D. A viewer would look through the lenses of the stereoscope's eyepiece to a card called a stereograph. On the stereograph, two of the same image were printed side by side, which when viewed through the stereograph transformed the one dimensional images into relatively life-like representations. A popular form of entertainment among the middle classes in Europe and America, people could use a stereoscope to view images of real faraway places, or fantastical magic scenes. The first patented stereo viewer was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838, and remained a favoured leisure activity until the advent of cinema in the 1930s. This object contributes to our understanding of social life, leisure and entertainment in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A wooden stereoscope with a cardboard 'view' of a streetscape.stereoscope, stereographs, entertainment, fun, leisure

This digital image was produced from one of the glass negatives that form part of the collection, probably taken by Louis Haeusler (b.1887) with the photographic equipment in the Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection. Merry-Go-Rounds or Carousels were a popular entertainment accompanying many celebrations and events in Albury and Wodonga from as early as the mid 1870s. They featured at events such as Empire Day and Arbor Day celebrations as well as the Wodonga Racing Club meetings, Wodonga Agricultural Shows and Victory Day celebrations at the end of World War 11. They were operated by a variety of travelling showmen and entrepreneurs. Early merry-go-rounds were steam powered. The merry-go-round in this negative was owned by Anton Weniger of Melbourne. From 1909, Mr Weniger operated a shooting gallery and Steam Riding Gallery on the Lower Esplanade, St. Kilda on land he had leased in 1909 from the St. Kilda Foreshore Trust. Weniger also took his carousels by train to many rural areas, including several visits to Albury, Yarrawonga and Benalla. His largest carousel was designed and built in Melbourne by Herbert Thomson in 1915. It has now been restored and has been on show as the Civic Carousel in Canberra, ACT since 1974. Anton Weniger’s steam merry-go-round was definitely in the Albury- Wodonga area in September 1912. As reported in the Border Morning Mail on Saturday 2 November 1912, Mr. Weniger was the victim of a robbery which included some money and his gold watch and chain, stolen from a railway truck in the Wodonga railway yards. The riding gallery and other belongings had been placed on the truck in Albury after the Albury show and sent on to Wodonga in transit to Wangaratta. Whilst in the Wodonga yards the truck was broken into and the goods stolen. Two of Weniger’s former employees, Herbert Backhouse and Edmund Pressard were subsequently charged with the robbery and sentenced to respective sentences of 3 and 9 months imprisonment, both with hard labour. In January 1916, Weniger’s Steam Riding Gallery was attacked by a group of rioting soldiers as a result of rising anti-German sentiment with the onset of World War 1. As a result, Anton Weniger terminated his interest and lease of the Steam Riding Gallery to his partner, William George Kelly. Although he had lived in Victoria for over 25 years and had been a naturalised Australian for 20 years, Anton Weniger was interned for the duration of World War 1 as an enemy alien. Anton Johannes Matthias Weniger died on 14 August 1923 and is buried in the Brighton General Cemetery, Melbourne, Victoria.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 understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.Digital image created from the Haeusler Glass negative collection. A large group of people standing around a Merry-Go-Round.At top left of Merry-Go-Round "A.WENIGER./MELBOURNE"wodonga pioneers, haeusler family, glass negatives, dry plate photography, carousel, anton weniger