During World War One, to finance the war the Commonwealth Government had a series of war loans, and then peace loans. To recover the cost of the war and fund soldier pensions the government launched 'Peace Loan' campaigns after the war. The various Shires in each State were given quotas that they were expected to raise. The Central Peace Loan Committee endorsed the issue of a metal tablet to each district which secured its quota. The tablet was made of bronze, and it was to be fixed on the wall of the local municipal building. It bore the name of the town, borough or shire to which it was awarded, and the name of the mayor or president. The inscription explaining the object of the award appeared over the signatures of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth. In the case of districts which secured double their quota the tablet also included the Commonwealth coat-of-arms. This plaque was presented to the Shire of Wodonga for exceeding its allocated quota which had been set at £10,000. The Wodonga community subscribed more than £12,845 to the Peace Loans which was acknowledged with the presentation of the plaque.A bronze rectangular plaque with raised text and an border. A hole in each corner allowed the plaque to be secured to a wall. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / PEACE LOAN/ A.D. 1919/ TO COMMEMORATE THE OVERSUBSCRIPTION / OF THE ALLOTTED QUOTA OF THIS LOAN / BY/ THE SHIRE OF WODONGA/ W. TWOMEY PRESIDENT / W. A. WATT TREASURER/ W. M. HUGHES PRIME MINISTER"ww1, peace loans australia, shire of wodonga peace loans

During World War 1, to finance the war the Commonwealth Government had a series of war loans, and then peace loans. To recover the cost of the war and fund soldier pensions the government launched 'Peace Loan' campaigns after the war. The various Shires in each State were given quotas that they were expected to raise. As part of the efforts to gain support for the Seventh War Loans for the Commonwealth, an Australian military tank launched an "offensive" throughout Northeast of Victoria, visiting several towns finishing at Wodonga on Saturday 5th Wodonga and staying on the Sunday before continuing on its tour. In response to this and other fund-raising efforts, the Wodonga community subscribed more than £12,845 to the Peace Loans which was acknowledged with the presentation of the brass plaque.This image captures an important event in Wodonga in response to World War 1.A black and white photograph depicting crowds gathered outside the Shire Hall in Wodonga. Flags are flying in the street. People are looking at a war tank on display towards the right hand side of the image.TANK DAY WODONGA has been hand written on the middle of the image.peace loans australia, world war 1, social response world war 1