J M Peck & Sons held regular stock and station sales at their dedicated Wodonga yards. The original stockyards were located near the old Wodonga Railway Station. The firm was originally established in Melbourne in 1887 when John Murray Peck went into partnership with his son, Harry Huntington Peck. Recognising Wodonga's vital strategic position as the premier gateway for moving stock across the state border, the firm expanded into the North East almost immediately. By the 1890s, when another son, Richard "Dick" Peck, joined the business, it became known as J. M. Peck & Sons and had cemented its permanent operations in Wodonga. To manage the high volume of local business, the firm often operated together with local partner Simon Mulqueeney, trading locally under the joint banner of Peck, Sons & Mulqueeney for land, municipal, and crown property auctions. They conducted fortnightly and seasonal stock auctions at their central Wodonga yards. The standalone entity of J. M. Peck & Sons ended in 1922 when the business was formally acquired by and amalgamated into the Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Co. Ltd. (AML&F). 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. 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.This image is significant because it is the work of a recognised photographer Thomas Bonsema who was born in Wodonga in 1876 and documents the importance of the Wodonga Saleyards.A black and white image of cattle sales held at the Wodonga Saleyards J M Peck & Sons on sign Cattle Sales Wodonga written on fencebonsema photography, thomas peter john bonsema, wodonga saleyards, simon mulqueeney