THE 1917 floods were the second highest recorded in Albury-Wodonga. The gauge at the Union Bridge was 18 feet. All bridges between Albury and Wodonga were washed away and locals had to travel by train between the two towns. It was the only link between the centres for several weeks. The suspension bridge was a temporary fix to allow pedestrian traffic to travel between Wodonga and Albury. A report from The Argus on October 9, 1917 stated: “For the last three or four months the low-lying land between the border towns of Albury and Wodonga has been almost continuously under water, 150 points were registered here on Thursday and Friday and heavier falls were recorded higher up the river, causing all rivers to rise simultaneously. Residents of Bonegilla, Bethanga, Talgarno and the Murray Valley were cut off from railway facilities. In 2025 this location is now the Lincoln Causeway. This image is one of a collection of photos taken by Robert Prentice. The images are clearly identified as he inscribed in the glass a back-to-front capital R (Я) on to which was joined a capital P creating his mark ЯР.This image is significant because it captures a major flooding event in Wodonga and was taken by a recognised Wodonga photographer.A black and white photograph of people observing the flood damage at WodongaWodonga Floods 1917 ЯРfloods wodonga, natural resources, robert prentice

Joan Reuss was the eldest daughter of Bert Reuss and his wife Grace (nee Gray). Albert (Bert) Reuss was born in Albury in 1905. From 1920 until 1926, Bert worked at Mr Nat Gray’s dairy farm at “ Willow Bank” in South Albury. This included ferrying milk across the river from Gray’s Island. In 1927 he married Grace Gray and they moved to a property which they called “Park View” on the Wodonga flats. Here they established Park View Dairy. In the 1930s they ran two milk carts delivering milk twice a day (once on Sundays) to Albury and Wodonga. They also raised a family of eight children. They progressively cleared a few acres every year and raised cows, pigs and hens as well as growing watermelons and other vegetables. Deliveries extended to include milk, cream, eggs, dressed chickens and potatoes. At its peak the dairy had 500 regular customers. The dairy was bought out by Murray Goulburn in the 1970s and the Reuss children continued the property as a beef farm. Bert was active in the Wodonga Branch of the Dairy Farmers’ Association, President of the Albury Wodonga Milk Producers for 15 years and a member of the Albury Wodonga Flood Committee. He was also Head Steward of the Horticulture Pavilion at the Wodonga Show Society for over 30 years for which he was awarded a Life Membership. Bert Reuss died on 16th August 1998 in Albury. After more then 80 years in the Reuss Family, Park View was sold in 2010.This item is significant because it is connected to a well-known Wodonga business and community member.A black and white photo of a woman and two children on a two wheeled milk cart. On side of cart: B. REUSS REGISTERED DAIRYbert reuss wodonga, wodonga dairies, park view dairy

The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge was constructed by the Country Roads Board in 1939. The date was recorded on a small plaque attached to one of the trestles. The bridge is an important reminder of one of the industries Wodonga was built on — cattle. It was constructed to develop a new stock route between Albury and Wodonga which would direct cattle away from the main bitumen roads and traffic bridges to the Wodonga Saleyards, where thousands of sheep and cattle were sold each month. It is a moderately tall timber trestle road bridge consisting of nine spans, with a deck length of 76 metres and deck width of 4.5 metres, and a maximum span length of 8.5 metres. The substantial timber deck featured decking laid horizontally and longitudinal running planks laid on top of it. The bridge also has timber side safety rails to discourage livestock from straying over the side. The bridge also became the centre of summer social activity for the young people of Wodonga as the area became a gazetted swimming area before the Wodonga Swimming Pool was constructed in 1959. In 1980 the Wodonga Saleyards were relocated to Bandiana to the east of the city. This meant that Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge was no longer needed for its original purpose. Although listed as a significant site by the Victorian Heritage and National Heritage Trust on 3/08/1998, the bridge fell into disrepair and also suffered damage from several floods. A suspension Bridge was constructed beside the Stock Route Bridge in 2013 and the old bridge was closed to traffic. Major damage caused by several floods, including a major flood in 2022 has resulted in the bridge being unsafe and its future is uncertain. The model of the Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge in our Collection made by Mr John Wild, depicts its current condition.The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is significant for technical, historic and social reasons and has been registered at the State Heritage level. It is of technical significance as a nine span bridge with tall timber trestles. Large bridges of this type are now very rare in Victoria. It is of historic significance as a surviving structurally authentic bridge designed specifically for livestock and drover use, on a historic stock route. The Stock Bridge is of social significance for its location at a popular riverside leisure spot since its construction in 1939.A collection of photographic images depicting the Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge. It contains both black and white and coloured images taken at different times in the Stock Bridge's history. A model of the Bridge made for Our Society is also included.wodonga creek stock bridge, wodonga heritage

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

A spiral bound volume of 122 pages including maps, photographs and illustrations prepared as a travel guide to the Old Hume Highway. It includes a Foreword by Peter FitzSimons.The Hume Highway was officially named in 1928, when both the New South Wales and Victorian governments agreed to give the unified inland route between Sydney and Melbourne the name, honouring explorer Hamilton Hume who, with William Hovell, first found the overland path in 1824. Much of the original highway followed their overland route wherever the landscape allowed. The road connected many small communities and rural properties, although in many parts was narrow and unsurfaced. Over the following years alterations and some deviations occurred with changing transport needs and heavier traffic loads. One of these deviations was completed in 1933 at Table Top north of Albury between Ettamogah and Mullengandra due to the construction of the Hume Weir which flooded the existing highway. Gradually sections of the road were converted to a dual carriageway. In 1961 the first modern freeway-standard, four-lane section was completed in Victoria at Craigieburn. The Hume Highway was also rerouted in Albury to avoid the town centre. Many major bypasses and duplications in New South Wales were completed throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1994 the last section of the Hume Highway in Victoria was duplicated with the completion of the Wangaratta bypass. The Albury-Wodonga bypass was opened in 2007 and in 2013 the final section, the Holbrook Bypass in NSW, was opened to traffic on August 7, completing the full Sydney-Melbourne dual carriageway link. In the course of this gigantic engineering achievement, many small, historic towns throughout Victoria and New South Wales were bypassed and often forgotten by passing commuters in a rush to reach their destination. This publication includes maps and information about the sites and landmarks in these towns. It encourages travellers to venture of the modern highway and rediscover the Old Hume Highway and the stories it holds about out past.old hume highway, hume highway, travel guide hume highway, \

The dairy farm of Eric Lemke and family was located on the Wodonga flats on the Murray River flood plain, west of the Union Bridge. The property was named "Waterford". They ran a large dairy herd (250 cows) and ran five milk carts to Albury to service their customers. The family bought a second property at Wodonga West, on Felltimber Creek, where herds could be rested before calving, and also as an emergency location for milking during times of flood, which sometimes lasted for several weeks at a time. At other times when the cows finished their lactation period at "Waterford" they would be walked to the Lemke property at Wodonga West, for a rest before calving. When the calves were drafted it was a matter of gathering the cows and calves and walking them back home which was an all day job. During the Depression Mr. Lemke took milk to the out-of-work men who slept under the bridges on the causeway and Mrs Lemke would make bread for them. The men would often work on the farm without wages in return for the Lemke's kindness. The Lemke Family are ranked amongst the top early settlers of the district for their perseverance during the hardships of the early days and during the Great Depression. Lemke Road on Gateway Island, Wodonga is named in their honour.This item has local significance because it came from a prominent Wodonga family business.A small metal tag used to label dairy cans on the property of Eric Lemke.E. LEMKE WODONGAe. lemke wodonga, lemke family, wodonga dairy industry, ernie lemke

A flash flood caused by the cloudburst upstream catches them all in the river and Keiran is drowned.The album and images are significant because they document literature written by a prominent member of the Wodonga community. The presentation of this precis was supported by several significant district families and individuals.Ringer's River Album Coloured photo Plate 29des martin, many a mile, ringer's river, northeast victoria stories

This wood was cut from a 6000 year old Murray River red gum retrieved from the Wodonga gravel pits on the flood plain. The Museum of Victoria displayed this wood in the base on which Phar Lap stands. It was made by Kevin Barton of the Kiewa Valley to the order of Dr. James Bowler, the geologist who dated the ancient gravel pit red gums. This specimen is historically significant and unique in local, national, and international context. It is unique, of scientific and research value, and exceptionally rare due to its age. 6000 year old wood from a Murray River red gum. geology, geological, murray river, red gym, murray river red gum, kiewa, wodonga, history