ROCLA was founded by two friends, Walter Robertson and Heaton Clarke, who combined the first letters of their surnames to create the brand name in 1922. The company first came to the Albury – Wodonga area in late 1927 when tenders were called for the construction of their works and office in Kiewa Street, Albury. They were a popular provider of concrete pipe culverts and reinforced concrete troughs for farm use. In 1949 ROCLA began operations at Bandiana. Initially this was to produce pipes for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme which officially began construction on 17 October 1949. They also provided pipes for the Kiewa Hydro Scheme. Another early major contract for ROCLA was with the Victorian State Rivers and Water Supply Commission for the provision of pipes for the new sewerage system in the new town of Tallangatta, relocated due to the enlargement of the Hume Weir. This contract called for the supply of 21,000 six inch pipes and 7,000 nine inch pipes. At this time ROCLA employed 15 men and this job required about 80 bags of cement per day. By 1964 ROCLA Concrete Pipes was Wodonga’s largest secondary industry. A new concrete pole manufacturing plant was established in the early 1980s. ROCLA poles also dot the landscape in several Australian States. ROCLA poles also hold up many of the Hume Freeway bridge and support the Union Bridge which crosses the Murray River at Albury. After various changes in management, ROCLA was taken over by New Zealand's Fletcher Building group in 2005. In September 2021 ROCLA became part of the Civilmart Group. These images are significant because they record the history of a major manufacturing industry in Wodonga.A collection of photographs and advertisements representing the ROCLA, Wodonga company.manufacturing industries wodonga, rocla wodonga, wodonga industries

Hall's Bakery was established in Wodonga in 1930. In 1960, Bob Hall and Albury bakers Wynne and Thiel joined Bunge's Albury Flour Mills in forming a new company, Southern Border Bakeries. The three bakeries continued to operate separately, but in 1972 Southern Border built the Sunicrust Bakery in Kendall St. A strange anomaly in interstate trade regulations in the 1970s required some innovative thinking. In Victoria, it was illegal to transport bread over 75km, so to get around this, Sunicrust rented a shed in South Albury known as Southern Border Bakeries. Bread from Wodonga was transported to Albury in semi-trailer loads of 10,000 units. It was unloaded and placed in the shed. A docket was written out and the bread was reloaded and was free to be sent back over the border and sent to Melbourne if need be. This manoeuvre complied with Section 92 of the Australian Constitution allowing free trade between States. By 1997, the Sunicrust bakery employed 100 people and produced 200,000 units a week. Goodman Fielder acquired the Sunicrust brand when they purchased Bunge Australia's baking and milling assets in late 1998. Gradually employment fell and Goodman Fielder decided that Wodonga was a small plant and it was no longer economically viable to keep it going. Baking ceased in 2007 with the loss of 44 jobs. Goodman Fielder retained a distribution depot on site.These photos are significant because they document an important manufacturing industry based in Wodonga from the 1970s to 2007,Two photographs of the Sunicrust Bakery in Wodonga. In the coloured photo it has been renamed as Goodman Fielder.wodonga industries, 1970s wodonga, manufacturing industries wodonga

A publication of 38 pages including coloured photographs, illustrations and text. non-fictionThe world-wide Mars Group built its first Australian manufacturing plant, Uncle Bens of Australia in Wodonga. From humble beginnings in a small house in Hovell Street Wodonga construction began in 1965 with production starting in March 1967. It was led by the vision of Dr Henry Nowik, a passionate believer in the need for decentralisation of Australian industry. The plant launched with a production run of 1,000 cans of pet food daily and an initial workforce of approximately 200 employees. By 1991, the site was producing 2 million cans of pet food daily. By its 30th anniversary in 1997, annual sales reached $700 million, with 30% consisting of exports. When the company celebrated its 30th year of production in 1997, it employed 530 people in manufacturing and 230 in support services and the national office. Now know as Mars Petcare Australia, the Wodonga plant has undergone a major expansion in 2025 to implement new production lines and advances in technology. This will enable it to become the first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site in Australia to deploy a 100% renewable energy solution for its operation. uncle bens wodonga, manufacturing industries wodonga

The world-wide Mars Group built its first Australian manufacturing plant, Uncle Bens of Australia in Wodonga. From humble beginnings in a small house in Hovell Street Wodonga construction began in 1965 with production starting in March 1967. It was led by the vision of Dr Henry Nowik, a passionate believer in the need for decentralisation of Australian industry. The plant launched with a production run of 1,000 cans of pet food daily and an initial workforce of approximately 200 employees. By 1991, the site was producing 2 million cans of pet food daily. By its 30th anniversary in 1997, annual sales reached $700 million, with 30% consisting of exports. When the company celebrated its 30th year of production in 1997, it employed 530 people in manufacturing and 230 in support services and the national office. This DVD was created in 2007 to celebrate 40 years of the company it Wodonga. It looks back at people instrumental in the company's development over that period. 2007 was also a time of celebration with the opening of a new, more extensive manufacturing plant officially opened on 6th February 2007 by The Honourable John Brumby, Treasurer of Victoria and Linda Mars.This item is significant because it was to produce to record and celebrate 40 years of a major manufacturing industry in Wodonga.A DVD containing two short videos 1. "Reflections - 40 Years of Leadership and 2. "Celebrations - 40 Years of Success". It was produced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mars Petcare in Wodonga in 2007. The DVD is accompanied by a letter from David Ansell, Vice President - Petcare at Wodonga.MARS PETCARE AUSTRALIA 40 Years 2007 Enhancing the MAGIC of pet ownershipmars petcare wodonga, uncle bens wodonga, manufacturing industries wodonga

The Wodonga Brewery was established in Hume Street (now Church Street) Although relatively short lived the brewery had many changes of ownership. D. Hallahan commenced brewing in 1888. On the Friday 4 January 1889 the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel announced that the Wodonga Brewery had been taken over by D. Clark of Melbourne. By Friday 27 Sep 1889 the proprietor was advertised as W. D. Busch. However, the Wodonga Brewery was sold at auction on Busch’s behalf on 25 January 1890. The entire property was knocked down to Mr Louis Wenkelmann, of Jindera, for £500. The brewery was again sold to Patrick Flanagan in 1891. In 1895 Flanagan rented the brewery to the partnership of J. R. Martin and A. Wilcox. When the partnership was dissolved in January 1896, Patrick Flanagan continued to operate the brewery. In September 1905 the Fresh Food and Frozen Storage Company of Melbourne announced that they had secured the old Brewery Buildings in Hume Street, Wodonga to establish a cream receiving depot. In November 1922 tenders were called for the removal of the Old Brewery buildings.This poster is of local significance because it advertises an early business in Wodonga.A coloured poster advertising Wodonga Brewery printed in black, red and white. It has a wood print background and has been mounted on board to protect it.Around the central name: "WODONGA BREWERY/ WODONGA" In the red section: "PALE / W.D. BUSCH/ALE" On either side inside circle: "WDB"wodonga brewery, w. d. busch, manufacturing industries wodonga

A bound volume of 365 pages outlining the development of the Wilson Transformer company, including illustrations, plans and photos. This book gives an in-depth history of the development of the Wilsons Transformer Company Pty. Ltd. from its inception in 1933 until 1983. In this period over 74,000 transformers have been produced from wilson electric transformer company - history, manufacturing industries wodonga, manufacturing australia

Bradford Kendall was established in 1922 by Lesley Bradford and Jim Kendall, investing their winnings on a race horse. They both previously worked at the BHP Steel Works. They gained contracts with the railways and mining industry. During World War II they also manufactured armaments. During the boom of the 1950s they established several foundries in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. Bradford Kendall Ltd Wodonga foundry was established in 1954. It melted down old railway wheels, rails and redundant machinery to produce a range of low-alloy steel products, especially for earth-moving vehicles, railways, oil rigs and sugar factories. Wodonga was ideally placed as a change point between the different rail gauges of Victoria and New South Wales, close to the Hume Highway and the Snowy Mountain Scheme. The first sod for the site was turned on 2nd June 1954 and the first melt and pour of molten metal at Wodonga took place on 7th July 1954. Bradford Kendall Plant No.5 in Wodonga became one of the most profitable foundries in the Bradford Kendall group. Bill Black became the first plant Manager, a position he held for 30 years. Another long term employee was Pat Gooding who began work at a 15 year old and retired for the position of Bradken foundry Manufacturing Manager 51 years later. In the early 1980s, Australian National Industries Ltd bought Bradford Kendall and other heavy engineering companies. The Wodonga foundry with its (then) 170 or so staff became part of Bradken Consolidated along with nine other foundries in Australia and New Zealand. In 1989, Kerry Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings Ltd took control of ANI. In January 1999, Smorgon Steel Group acquired ANI, which included the Bradken business. The company changed hands again in 2001 when Smorgon Steel Group sold Bradken to Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners (CHAMP). In 2016 negotiations began for Bradken to be taken over by Hitachi Construction for A$689 million. In April 2017 Bradken became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Limited.A collection of black and white images and advertising for Bradford Kendall (Bradken) Wodonga.bradford kendall, wodonga industries, wodonga businesses

The company which was to become the manufacturer of the iconic Australian Akubra hat was founded in Tasmania in 1876 by Benjamin Dunkerley at his Kensington Hat Mills in Hobart. In 1906 he relocated to a small workshop in Surrey Hills, New South Wales. He was joined by British hatmaker in 1904. In 1911 Dunkerley Hat Mills is registered with seven shareholders and in 1912 Akubra brand was registered. In 1918 Benjamin Dunkerley died and Stephen Keir became the patriarch of the company which was to remain in the hands of the Keir family for five generations. In 2023 Akubra is acquired by Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s private investment group Tattarang to ensure it remained as an Australian company. During its long history Akubra has produced a wide range of styles as well as having a contract for the manufacture of the Australian Military slouch hat. The Akubra “Clubman” first appeared in 1953. Fayrefield Hats were manufactured by the United Felt Hat Company Pty Ltd. in Abbotsford, Victoria from about 1920. The Company operated in a factory formally owned by Denton Hats. They relocated to Eltham, Victoria sometime in the 1940s. The Australian hat manufacturing industry received a major boost in the late 1920s with the introduction of tariffs on imported hats. As well as selling a wide range of men’s hats, Fayrefield also manufactured Australian military hats in the 1960s. Both of these hats were sold by Ewart Bros. Menswear in High Street, Wodonga. Clarrie and Jeff Ewart opened their business, Ewart Bros. Menswear in High Street, Wodonga in 1954. After 45 years of service to the Wodonga community Ewart Bros. closed their doors on Friday 3rd April 1998.These hats are significant because they were manufactured by two iconic Australian companies and sold by an important, long-serving Wodonga business.Two men's hats sold by Ewart Brothers of Wodonga. Hat One is an Akubra Clubman featuring a feather in the brim. Hat Two is a fedora style hat manufactured by Fayrefield of Melbourne. Branding and logos on both hatsaustralian hat makufacturers, akubra, fayrefield, ewart bros. menswear

The world-wide Mars Group built its first Australian manufacturing plant, Uncle Bens of Australia in Wodonga. From humble beginnings in a small house in Hovell Street Wodonga construction began in 1965 with production starting in March 1967. It was led by the vision of Dr Henry Nowik, a passionate believer in the need for decentralisation of Australian industry. The plant launched with a production run of 1,000 cans of pet food daily and an initial workforce of approximately 200 employees. By 1991, the site was producing 2 million cans of pet food daily. By its 30th anniversary in 1997, annual sales reached $700 million, with 30% consisting of exports. When the company celebrated its 30th year of production in 1997, it employed 530 people in manufacturing and 230 in support services and the national office. Now know as Mars Petcare Australia, the Wodonga plant has undergone a major expansion in 2025 to implement new production lines and advances in technology. This will enable it to become the first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site in Australia to deploy a 100% renewable energy solution for its operation.This photo is signifivant because it captures the early stages of the development of Uncle Bens Wodonga, a major manufacturer in Wodonga from the late 1960s until the present.A large coloured aerial photograph of the Uncle Bens of Australia site in Wodonga. The photograph has a wooden frame and is behind glass.uncle bens wodonga, wodonga industries

This model of knapsack sprayer was used for both agricultural and firefighting purposes throughout Australia. The manufacturer, A. Simpson & Son who had a long history as a prominent metals manufacturer in Adelaide, South Australia. Alfred Simpson arrived in South Australia in 1849 and by the mid 1950s had established himself as a tinsmith. His son, also Alfred, joined the business in 1864. By the time of Alfred senior's death in 1891, A. Simpson and Son had the largest metal manufacturing plant in Australia. The business was incorporated in 1910, with Alfred as chairman, and his sons Allen and Frederick as directors. During World War I the company also manufactured munitions as well as ordnance. In the 1920s the company expanded into the production of tools for use in agriculture and in the 1940s they began the manufacture of whitegoods. In 1963 A. Simpson and Son merged with Pope Industries to form Simpson Pope Holdings.This item is representative of agricultural equipment used throughout Australia by a major Australian manufacturer. They were used extensively in the Wodonga district. A Backpack Sprayer unit made from galvanised iron used for agricultural and fire-fighting purposes. It has a nozzle spray attachment and originally had leather straps.On side: SIMPSON PAT. 11?472 23/7/39fire equipment, a. simpson & son, agricultural tools

The Greatorex company came to Wodonga in August 1945 under the Cain Government decentralisation policy. It initially had premises in Beechworth Road, around the corner from Tallangatta Road (now Thomas Mitchell Drive). Due to expansion they later relocated to the corner of Tallangatta Road and Anne Street Wodonga in 1952. Greatorex had its main manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Victoria. At their peak Greatorex Pty Ltd. which also operated as Supreme Surgical Hosiery Co., manufactured brassieres, swimsuits, elastic thread, surgical hosiery and employed 90 staff in Wodonga. The company which was operated by Thomas Greatorex with Mr M. P. Brain as Manager, also owned Fulflex Yarns Pty. Ltd. Fulflex produced elastic yarns to be used in the manufacture of garments at Supreme Surgical Hosiery. In 1960, due to the increasing cost of freight charges for moving raw materials and manufactured goods to and from Melbourne, the company was forced to close down. Plant and machinery valued at over £30,000 was moved to Melbourne. Some personnel were given the opportunity to also transfer to the parent company. In 2024, the company still operates as Greatorex Textile Industries P/L in Moorabbin, Victoria.These images are significant because they document an industry which operated in Wodonga in the 1940s and 1950s.A collection of black and white photos of workers at the Greatorex / Supreme Surgical Hosiery Co. in Wodonga.Names listed beneath one of the images.greatorex industries, wodonga industries

The Border United Co-operative Breweries Limited was formed in 1911 by the amalgamation of The Albury Brewing and Malting Company Limited and The Anglo-Australian Brewery Company Proprietary Limited which operated breweries in Beechworth, Tallangatta and Yarrawonga. The Anglo-Australian Brewery was owned by the Billson family. By August the new plant was operating near the Union Bridge on the border of Victoria and NSW as shown in this photo. However the enterprise failed in August 1914 when not enough co-operative shares could be sold and also due to declining water quality. In December 1914 its spirit merchant’s license was transferred to the newly established Murray River Proprietary Company. In 1922, the brewery and 32 acres of land was sold to Mr E E Waite. Waite sold the buildings for removal.This image represents buildings related to early industries in the Albury-Wodonga region.Black and white image of brewery buildings. The image has been mounted on board.On building wall: "The BORDER INITED CO-OP BREWERIES LTD/LICENSED BREWERS"breweries northeast victoria, murray breweries, manufacturing history albury wodonga

J. Mann and Sons was first established as a farm produce store in 1921. The range of products was extended in the 1930s and included groceries and hardware, as well as the first petrol bowser in Wodonga outside the store. After WWII, the premises were extended and the range of products continued to increase. In the 1960s the Mann Family opened a new supermarket in Wodonga, in addition to the hardware business, providing steel, plumbing and industrial supplies, and they employed over 100 people at one stage. With changes in the retail industry, the Mann Family sold the main hardware business to Bunnings and the steel and rural produce business to the Kelly brothers in 2006. Bell Punch A/sia Ltd was a subsidiary of The Bell Punch Company, itself a part of (Cash) Control Systems. The Bell Punch Company was a British company manufacturing a variety of business machines, including several generations of public transport ticket machines and the world's first desktop electronic calculator The company was founded on 5 July 1878. By 1961 it employed a workforce of 2000 people. The circular mark on the back of the machine was adopted in the 1950s.On Back of machine: Supplied by BELL PUNCH LTD. A/SIA BPC CASH CONTOL SYSTEMS 160 CASTLEREAGH ST. SYDNEY, MA9337 427 LITTLE COLLINS ST. MELBOURNE. CENT. 2038 AGENTS AND SERVICE IN ALL STATES ADDING MACHINES TICKET REGISTERS CHANGE MACHINES TICKET PRINTERS GUM TAPE SEALING MACHINES, ETC.j. mann & sons, vintage adding machines, bell punch australasia

Part of the 'Mann' collection in the Wodonga Historical Society, used for accounting in the J. Mann & Sons General Store in High Street, Wodonga in 1934-35. J. Mann and Sons was first established as a farm produce store in 1921. The range of products was extended in the 1930s and included groceries and hardware, as well as the first petrol bowser in Wodonga outside the store. After WWII, the premises were extended and the range of products continued to increase. In the 1960s the Mann Family opened a new supermarket in Wodonga, in addition to the hardware business, providing steel, plumbing and industrial supplies, and they employed over 100 people at one stage. With changes in the retail industry, the Mann Family sold the main hardware business to Bunnings and the steel and rural produce business to the Kelly brothers in 2006.Local significance due to its use in the J. Mann & Sons General Store in High St, Wodonga and association with the prominent Mann family. National significance as kalamazoos were manufactured by an Australian company and used in the 1930s for accounting purposes by local businesses.Visible card book or kalamazoo used by the accounts department of J. Mann & Sons General Store, High Street, Wodonga, in 1934-35 for customers with surnames from K to P.Details for each customer provided on individual cards. "KALAMAZOO - ACME / Visible Card Equipment / THE "RAPID SIGHT" METHOD / Kalamazoo (AUST.) LTD. / SYDNEY - MELBOURNE - BRISBANE - ADELAIDE"mann, accounting, financial record, high street wodonga, wodonga, commerce, business, kalamazoo, general store, j. mann & sons

North east Victoria was a major dairy producing region in the late nineteenth century. The Wodonga Butter Factory Ltd was established in 1892. Many families living in the town or on farms also owned their own cow for family needs and produced their milk and butter. This churn is representative of the equipment they used to process their own dairy products at home. This churn was made by E. Cherry & Sons which was established in Gisborne, Victoria in 1858. Edward Cherry (1830-1910) arrived in Australia from Hertfordshire, England, in 1855. The business manufactured churns and in 1875 opened a larger factory. On his death, the business was taken over by his son and continued to operate until the 1970s.This item has strong links to the history of Wodonga and north east Victoria. It has interpretative potential in the areas of local agricultural history, and the social history of food and farming.A wooden butter churn with metal turning handle and removable lid. The wooden paddle inside is attached to the turning handle which rotates to churn the butter. The model number is T1. It was probably made by E Cherry & Sons of Gisborne although the brand is blurred.On one side in black: "T 1"butter churns, dairying industry, domestic appliances, e. cherry churns

Standard Telephones and Cables Pty Ltd was a telecommunications company that began as part of Western Electric, a telephone manufacturing company set up by Alexander Graham Bell. Following the First World War, Western Electric diversified to include electric generators and wireless receivers, all still imported. In 1925, Western Electric was sold to the International Telephone and Telegraph Company. In Australia, it became known as Standard Telephones and Cables (Australasia) They worked closely the Postmaster Generals department to set up telephone and radio networks throughout Australia. Its first factory was in Chippendale, New South Wales but ut developed to have branches in all stated of Australia. By the end of the Second World War STC was Australia's biggest manufacturer due to its critical role in producing telecommunications equipment, domestic radio receivers, telecom cables, military equipment and electron tubes. The company returned to peacetime manufacture. Rather than reduce staff it used its excess capacity to produce electric irons and other domestic appliances including vacuum cleaners and floor polishers. This model was produced at the beginning of the 1950s. It was once owned by Mr. Stiff from Stiff and Gannon, Wodonga.This item has local and national significance. It was used in a local Wodonga business and is representative of domestic appliances used in the 1950s. It also has national significance as it is an excellent example of good produced by the manufacturing industry in Australia during that period.Model 30 Airzone Vacuum Cleaner and accessories. Manufactured in AustraliaMetal logo for Airzone including engine specificationsdomestic appliances, standard telephones and cables pty ltd