Dr James Taverney set up practice in Wodonga on Monday 19th August 1946. His practice was initially located in rooms at the residence of Mr J. F. Turner in Beechworth Road. In the following years, Dr Taverney purchased a large part of the garden from the Turner family and built this two-storey building where he went into practice with Dr Schlink. The building contained the surgery and a residence. It has features of Art Deco architecture. The exterior consists of painted brick with a curved parapet that conceals the roof. The windows are metal framed and the door frames are timber. The verandahs feature wrought iron balustrading and posts. There is also an upper balcony. Dr Taverney - known to many as Dr Tav - was a loyal medical practitioner in Wodonga for 40 years, retiring in 1987. He was also a member of the committee which helped to establish the Wodonga District Hospital which opened with 60 beds in 1954. Other doctors who practised from this site included Dr Fitzpatrick, Dr Leberne and Dr Robinson. In about 1991 the building was purchased by a group of local businessmen led by Tom Christiansen who named it Gundowring House after his hometown. This photograph is significant because it depicts a building which was the location of two prominent doctors in Wodonga.A coloured photo of Gundowring House in Wodonga.gundowring house, dr taverney, dr schlink, wodonga district hospital

During World War 2 the State Emergency Council for Civil Defence (Victoria) sent out forms to Municipal Councils requesting a survey to be carried out regarding the suitability of householders to accommodate persons, especially children, in the more dangerous parts of Victoria. Also, surveying parents as to their wishes regarding the evacuation of their own children if necessary. The documents list householders living in the Kiewa Valley including Gundowring giving an insight into the families (size, age, religion, sex), the homes (size, number and type of rooms), Water supply, Conveyance (motor or horse drawn), distance from railway station and school. Papers created by the State Emergency Council for Civil Defence, Premier's Department 1941 requesting Municipal Councils to survey people in case of the billeting of persons who may be evacuated from the more dangerous parts of Victoria. The Accommodation Survey lists the householder, details of the house, how many people living there and how many could be accommodated.There are also forms asking householders if they wish their children to be evacuated if necessary.Forms filled out in ink. world war ii; evacuation plans; kiewa valley; gundowring