Towong Hill Homestead is a 110-year-old Federation style mansion situated on a rock outcrop, with views of about 260 degrees. It was built over 2 years by grazier Walter Mitchell from bricks made from local clay dug from the river bank, to be the family home for his new bride Winifred. They established their home in 1904. After the death of Walter in 1917, Winifred relocated her family, but the homestead remained in the families hands. In 1935, Thomas Mitchell (1906-1984) returned home to Australia, a successful Lawyer, and married city girl, Elyne Chauvel, and settled himself back at his childhood home, Towong Hill. Thomas was a world champion slalom skier, had been a prisoner of the Japanese at Changi, and was elected for the Country Party in 1946 and served as attorney-general in the McDonald government. His wife Elayne (1913-2002) is best remembered for her Silver Brumby series of novels for children. But Elyne also wrote a substantial number of non-fiction works about the Snowy Mountains. Photographs demonstrate local Kiewa Valley residents enjoying a community visit to the historic homestead at Towong Hill which holds significance to the early history of the area. Also demonstrates a pictorial history of social activities undertaken during this period2 black and white photographs mounted on buff card. Kiewa Valley residents attending afternoon tea at Towong HillHandwritten in black pen underneath photo - T.W.Mitchell Towong Hill. Afternoon Teat w mitchell, towong hill, kiewa valley

Awarded to L.G. Donelan by the Shire of TowongMetal medallion, tarnished on face and rear.Face - FOR GOD, KING AND COUNTRY Back - SHIRE OF TOWONG For Honourable Service Rendered L.G. Donelan World War 1939 - 45l.g. donelan, towong

This newspaper was printed during 1887 and 1888 for the residents of Wodonga and Towong with a supplement of the Melbourne Weekly Times. As this newspaper was published during the late 1880's the articles would have covered a large area. The articles, photos, advertisements etc. give a historical understanding of the times, the issues and the events of the time. A useful document for research.Bound selection of newspapers - 'The Wodonga & Towong Sentinel' dated Jan. 1887 through to Dec. 1888.wodonga. towong. melbourne weekly times. newspaper.

Born: St Kilda, Victoria, Australia 1864; Lived and worked: England and France 1884-1933; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1947ModernismLedger Gift, 1977Open rural landscape with large bare hill, building, trees and fences under a grey sky. Gold brushed timber frame.Recto: Signed "RB" in square in black oil in l.r.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledpainting, landscape, hills, house, trees, clouds

An A4 size spiral bound publication including articles and black and white images. The covers are light card and have been laminated. This publication includes extracts which have been selected at random, but chronologically, from the 1907 editions of the "Wodonga and Towong Sentinel." The images of advertisements throughout this publication were digitally photographed and enhanced, and in some cases are shown larger than actual size for clarity and legibility. The Society is indebted to Mrs. Norma McGrath for donating the papers, and we thank her for her generosity.wodonga 1907, wodonga history, wodonga and towong sentinel, newspapers wodonga

The establishment of the "Wodonga Herald" was an attempt to create a publication to cater to the needs of the growing local township of Wodonga and the surrounding townships. The proponents of the publication aimed to promote the area and its interests on a wider scale at the same time as the railways were extending into the district. It was intended for circulation in Wodonga as well as Barnawartha, Yackandandah, Kiewa, Towong, Koetong, Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta and the Upper Murray as well as Chiltern, Brown's Plains. Rutherglen, Wahgunyah, Albury and its vicinity. The publication did not meet is objectives and folded on 4 October 1873. The "Murray and Hume Times" was founded as its successor. It was published in Wodonga and Albury on Tuesdays and Fridays and circulated through the whole of the Murray and Hume Districts. The place the new publication was printed seems to have fluctuated between a printing office in Dean Street, Albury, and the main printing office in Sydney Street, Wodonga. By June 1874 the "Murray and Hume Times" had also run into financial difficulties. In October 1874, only one year after its launch the second paper changed hands to the owner of the Albury Banner, George Adams. This item is significant as it represents one of the earliest newspaper publications for the Wodonga district.A photo of the front page of the first issue of the Wodonga Herald published in Wodonga on Saturday, April 19, 1873. Price Sixpence. The image has been mounted with a card backing in a metal frame. The publication included circulation to Barnawartha, Yackandandah, Kiewa, Towong, Tintaldra, Koetong, Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta and Upper Murray Advertiser.wodonga herald, early wodonga newspapers, the murray and hume times, the albury banner, george adams publisher

The office of The Sentinel or Wodonga and Towong Sentinel newspaper was in High Street, Wodonga. The Sentinel began operation in 1885 and was owned, managed and edited by James Ryan. It was published weekly until he was killed by a train at Wodonga station on 27 July 1912. James Ryan was born in Beechworth in 1861 and served his apprenticeship with the printing business of the "Ovens and Murray Advertiser”. For a time, he worked on the Melbourne "Herald”, followed by the Ballarat “Courier”. With a fellow printer, William Oldfield Taylor, he moved to Wodonga and they began the "Wodonga and Towong Sentinel" with the first issue on 29th August 1885. Mr Taylor died in June 1894. After James Ryan’s death the “Sentinel” was continued by his son Charlie until his death 26 February 1965. It was sold to the Border Morning Mail in 1965. The last issue was published on 22 March 1968.This image captures th80e premises of an important newspaper published in Wodonga for 80 years.A black and white image of the Sentinel newspaper office in Wodonga.At the top of the building "The SENTINEL"wodonga businesses, wodonga & towong sentinel, wodonga buildings

This photograph was taken in early stages of development of Museum at Buna Barracks. Museum was officially opened 1 May 1988.Colour photograph of group of guests at 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Museum, Buna Barracks 28 February 1982. Three ladies and four gentlemen, one in uniform." Mrs. M. Hough, Mr. Don Campbell Museum Committee, Lt. Col M Hough, The Hon TW Mitchell CMG " Towong Hill ", Mrs. Elyne Mitchell noted Authoress, daughter of Sir Harry Chauvel, Guests at Museum, 8/13 Open Day Buna Barracks, 28 February 1982.

In the early 1900s a new Coffee Palace was erected on the first railway land to be leased for private business in Wodonga. This Coffee Palace (later to become Glenburnie Guest House) was situated in High Street opposite the former Customs House which at the time was being used as the Wodonga Police Station. It was built by Mr Denny Donovan and operated by his wife. An article in the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel declared that “No expense has been spared in the erection and fitting up of the Palace, which is intended to supply a long felt want”. The building consists entirely of brick and the rooms are lofty, spacious and well-ventilated. The bedsteads are modern, and will satisfy the most fastidious. The motto of the proprietress is “Cleanliness, civility and attention”. Mr Donovan died in January 1908 and in 1909 the Wodonga Coffee Palace was sold by Mrs Donovan to Mrs P. Egan who advertised hot and cold shower baths with meals at all hours. In 1913 the Wodonga Coffee Palace was taken over by Mrs Cuthbertson and Miss Steele. In 1921 Wodonga Coffee Palace was taken over by Julia Ronan who had successfully conducted the dining rooms at the Wodonga Saleyards for 15 years until those premises burned down. The Wodonga and Towong Sentinel on 10 January 1936 reported that “the business premises formerly conducted by Mrs Ronan have been renovated and refurbished. The new proprietresses are Misses Breen, who have had extensive experience in managing such businesses. The new premises will be known as the Glenburnie Guest House.” Changes of ownership continued with Mrs M.E. Elliot taking over in December 1940, followed by Mrs Stella Victoria Wong in 1945. In 1953 it was again taken over by Mrs E.M. Moran. The date of the closure of Glenburnie Guest House is uncertain but the building was demolished in the early 1970s.This image is significant because it is one of the few remaining links to an important Wodonga business.A photo taken from a newspaper article about Glenburnie Guest Houseglenburnie guest house, early wodonga businesses, coffee palaces

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 Fri 4 Jan 1889 Wodonga and Towong Sentinel announced that the Wodonga Brewery had been taken over by D. Clark of Melbourne. By Fri 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 Jan 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 as it advertises and 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

From 1870 onwards discussions took place in Wodonga concerning the best location for a building to house and reorganise the holdings of the Wodonga Literary Institute and Free Library. The Literary Institute, originally the Belvoir Literary Group, had been formed prior to 1861 and changed its name with the renaming of the town in 1869. In 1873 a meeting was held to consider the re-organising of the Wodonga Literary Institute and Free Library as “there were a goodly number of valuable books and other property belonging to the Institution but they were not used, and it was a pity to see such valuable works and sketches shut up in a back store getting spoiled”. In October 1885 the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel reported that the Wodonga Athenaeum and Free Library committee were seeking a grant of £200 to add to the £200 already paid to purchase Hellerman’s buildings. In October 1886 the Wodonga Athenaeum in Hume Street was officially opened. It was designed by Gordon and Gordon, architects, and built by Stewart Bros. This building continued to house the Atheneum and its collection until 1915 when the new library in High Street was built. In 1916 the Athenaeum building was moved on drays drawn by Clydesdale horses, to 153 Lawrence Street and used as a private home since. The building is heritage listed. This image is one of a collection of glass negatives taken by Robert Prentice. The negatives 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. On the glass he would also scratch the name Prentice where he could, in this case along the bottom of the picket fence.This image is significant because it housed the Wodonga Literary Group and Free Library, the first library building in Wodonga.Black and white image of old wooden house with tin roof. Trees and a picket fence are at the front of the house.Written below picket fence: Atheneum Wodonga, Prenticewodonga literary institute and free library, atheneum wodonga, belvoir literary group, robert prentice

The sale of stock in Wodonga goes back to its earliest history with yards being operated on the site now occupied by Elgin's Hotel and the Centro Shopping Centre, located close to the railways. Horse sales were an important part of the history of the Wodonga Saleyards. Horses were bred in north-east Victoria for the Indian Market, and records show that a truck load of horses left Wodonga Station in 1875. Campbell & Sons commenced selling horses at the Elgin Street site in 1895 and they conducted regular sales in association with Younghusband Ltd. Campbell & Sons was a Melbourne-based company, which eventually merged with Wright Stephenson & Co. Wodonga and Towong Sentinel of Friday 3rd March 1899 reported “Buyers attended from Bendigo, Ballarat, Calcutta, Madras, Singapore, The Islands, Gippsland, Dandenong, and Melbourne. Indian remounts brought up to £32 10s, draughts to £25, medium draughts to £18, town hacks and harness horses to £32, buggy pairs to £65, and light weedy sorts to £5.” After World War II, large numbers of mainly Clydesdale working horse teams were driven to Wodonga for sale. The March horse sale was the biggest and most important event of the year with overall yardings of 1,000 horses sold over two or even three days. It was a very busy period. All the horses were put through the ring singly, usually by Felix Grundy and generally caught and mouthed by Harold Boon, Andy Elliot or Toy Mulqueeney. The majority of the horses sold were trucked by rail from Wodonga. With developments in technology and the changing role of the horse in modern society, the sale of horses dwindled although horse sales at Wodonga continued until the early 1980s.These items are significant because they represent an important industry in Wodonga's past as a major centre of livestock sales in Victoria.Photographic images of horses on sale at Wodonga Saleyards.wodonga saleyards, horse sales wodonga

According to an advertisement in the Wodonga & Towong Sentinel on Friday 22 August 1913, James Frank Gerrard, formerly of Wangaratta, purchased a bakery owned by Mr. E. B. Atwood. The premises had been built in 1905. In approximately 1920 he was joined in Gerrard’s Bakery by his son James Frank Peter Gerrard who is depicted in this image. In 1923 James Sr became a traveller for Messrs W & P Smith North Eastern Flour Mills in Wangaratta, Victoria. His son continued to operate the bakery until 1925 when it was sold to T. S. Jones from Euroa. The premises continued to function as a bakery run by a succession of proprietors including F. Blackwell, P. J. Hide and the Birrell Brothers. In 1964 the premises and three neighbouring businesses were demolished to make way for Wodonga Home Furnishers. This building in turn was demolished in 1998 to facilitate the realignment of Elgin Street and High Streets. James Sr. and his wife Annie had a family of 12 children. He continued to work for W & P Smith until two years before his death in December 1944, in his 80th year. Their family included two other sons, Leslie Frank Sinclair Gerrard, who for some time ran a Watchmaker and Jeweller’s business in Wodonga and Charles Francis Alexander Gerrard who operated a Hairdresser and Tobacconist shop, also in Sydney Road, Wodonga. James Frank Peter Gerrard, pictured in this image, continued to live in the Albury-Wodonga area. He operated a variety of businesses including a wood yard and a taxi and bus service operating between Albury, Wodonga and Tallangatta. He died in Albury on 3rd December 1954.This image is significant because it documents an early businessman in Wodonga.A black and white image of a man holding a loaf of bread. His baker's cart is in the background.On side of cart:- J. F. GERRARD, BAKERearly wodonga businesses, bakeries wodonga, gerrard family

This photograph was taken about 1900. Herbert Schlink, on the right of the image was born on 28 March 1883 in Wodonga, Victoria to German migrants Albert Joseph Schlink and Franziska Trudewind. He initially enrolled in Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney, but after one year he transferred to medicine and graduated in 1907. This marked the beginning of a brilliant career. He was appointed as honorary gynaecological surgeon at Royal Prince Alfred, Sydney NSW from 1922. As a director of the hospital board from 1926, Schlink as chairman (1934-62) supervised the opening of Gloucester House, King George V Memorial Hospital for Mothers and Babies, Queen Mary Nurses' Home, the neurosurgical and psychiatric blocks, the (Sir Earle) Page Chest Pavilion and the hospital chapel. As a gynaecologist, Herbert pioneered the use of cobalt ray therapy in treating pelvic cancer and instigated the systematic follow-up of cancer patients. In 1954, Herbert was created Knight Bachelor for his public services and his service to medicine. He had previously received the Silver Jubilee Medal from his Majesty King George V, and the Coronation Medals of 1937 and 1953. Outside of his medical career, Dr Schlink was an enthusiastic skier. In 1926 he made the first winter crossing from Kiandra to Kosciusko. He was a foundation member of the Kosciusko Alpine Club and was directly responsible for the building of the first chalet at Charlotte Pass. Schlink Pass near Guthega in the Snowy Mountains is also named in his honour. Charlie Ryan is the boy on the left. He was to later become the editor of the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel after the death of his father in 1912.This image is of significant as it depicts a group of local boys including a preeminent medical professional who was born in Wodonga and a newspaper editor.A framed photo of a group of boys playing with a fire cart in Wodonga.Below photograph: "PLAYING FIREMEN / Young Charlie Ryan, left, with the boys of the village./ Herbert Schlink, probably the boy on the right, was to/ become Sir Herbert Schlink, on of the nations most/ distinguished men of medicine. Circa 1900. Photograph courtesy: Wodonga Historical Society"wodonga fire fighters, sir herbert schlink, charles henry ryan