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

This image appeared in the Australasian Sketcher on 13th August 1881. The initials in the corner indicate the artist may have been J D Cooper who worked with the Australasian Sketcher at that time. The Australia Customs Service played an important role in the history of Wodonga and a major part in the federation of the colonies of Australia. In 1852 the colonies were given the right to collect import duties on items such as coffee, tea, tobacco, chocolate and spirits. NSW was first to impose collection of duties in 1853. At that time Wodonga was not an official port of entry and was not allowed to collect duties. This regulation made it illegal for people to transport dutiable goods across the Murray River from NSW which provided an incentive for smuggling, while at the same time strangling the legitimate trade. Belvoir (later to become Wodonga) was a made a port of entry with its own Customs House gazetted on 22nd December 1854. The Government set aside 500 Pounds in 1859 to build Belvoir's own Customs House. After the arrival of the Railways to Wodonga in 1873, Customs Officers also checked travellers on the trains. The Sydney Morning Herald on 31st March 1881 reported:- "Luggage Scrutinised: The discomfort attending travellers proceeding overland from Sydney having to submit to their luggage being scrutinised by the Custom House officials at Wodonga is about to be increased. Passengers doing this journey must now be present on the platform at the Wodonga terminus three-quarters of an hour before the train leaves for Melbourne; and the Customs authorities have intimated that unless passengers attend as indicated, with the keys of their portmanteaus ready to open them for the inspection of the officers, the luggage will be detained until the next train, when it will be forwarded under bond, the owners having to pay the carriage." Tariffs were one of the most contentious issues which influenced discussions surrounding Federation. They were abolished when Federation was achieved in 1901. This item is significant because it depicts an early view of Wodonga when it was still an important customs post.A print from a pencil sketch which was published in the Australasian Sketcher 1881. It features a scene at the customs office in Wodonga. Initials JD in bottom right cornerearly wodonga, wodonga customs office

George Padgett was born into a railway family in Numurkah, Victoria on 3 February 1890. He began working for the Victorian Railways as a junior clerk in Maryborough and gained his Driver’s ticket in 1914 at North Melbourne. He was based at Ararat for some time, then transferred to Dimboola in 1926. In 1927 George drove the pilot train ahead of the Royal Train between Ballarat and the South Australian border. In November 1937 when the “Spirit of Progress” made its first run from Melbourne to Albury, George was moved to Wodonga. From the train's first return trip he took over the driving. During his career, he made an average of 92 round trips a year and this article reports that he made his 1,100th round trip in 1948. By the time of George’s retirement he had travelled over 500,000 miles at the wheel of the “Spirit”. George made his last trip on the “Spirit of Progress” on 4 February 1955 prior to his retirement. He died in Wodonga on 19 February 1967. These articles are significant because they give an account of the long-serving career of a locomotive driver who lived in Wodonga.Two newspaper articles written about George Padgett, long term driver of the Spirit of Progress Article 1 - "Spirit" Driver Plays trains too" was published in The Sun News-Pictorial Sat 28 Aug 1948 on Page 8 Article 2 - "THE ENGINE-DRIVER: MR PADGETT'S engine" was published in the Melbourne Herald Saturday 24 July 1948 on page 7george padgett, "spirit of progress"

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 the 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

Des Martin lived all his life in Wodonga, except for his years of service during World War Two. He was raised on the family property Aherlo in the Huon Creek Valley. In 1937 he joined the 8th Light Horse Regiment but in May 1940 led his Wodonga Troop into the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, which saw service in Syria, Java, New Guinea and Borneo. After the war, Des returned to Aherlo and his horses. He was granted permission by the Victorian Racing Club to participate as an amateur “gentleman” rider. He was a founder of the Victorian Amateur Riders Association and also the Murray Valley Hunt Club, for which he was Master for 21 years. He was a prolific writer, cartoonist, photographer and poet, contributing to The Border Morning Mail, The Age, and the Herald and Weekly Times amongst other publications. Des Martin’s other literary works included Australia Astride (1959), A Tale of Twin Cities, Part One (1981) and Backing up the Boys (1998). In 1976, Des wrote an historical novel, “Many a Mile”, based on a fictional region which highly resembled the Albury-Wodonga and Upper Murray area of Victoria. It was set in the last 10 years leading up to Federation. Throughout this period tensions (caused by fluctuating border duties, including an infamous impost on cattle and horses) occasioned the intermittent posting of heavily armed police detachments along the River Murray. Des also wrote eight 50-minute scripts from “Many a Mile” as a television series and were presented to Michael Pate, one of Australia’s leading actors and producers. Also, funding was sought through the Australian Broadcasting Commission ... unfortunately the series never came to fruition. This album is a pictorial precis, including photos and scene descriptions, created to promote the concept of the series and have it produced locally in North Eastern Victoria featuring local settings, skilled horsemen and actors. It was to be called “Ringer’s River” ... Ringer being the title accorded to either a top cattle hand, or the fastest shearer in the wool shed. Des Martin died on 12th April 1995.These albums and images are significant because they document literature written by a prominent member of the Wodonga community. The presentation of this precis was supported by several significant district families and individuals.Documents written to introduce the concept of "Ringer's River" to gain interest for the development of a television seriesdes martin, many a mile, ringer's river, northeast victoria stories

Set of 7 newspaper clippings concerning the fate of some 39 ex Melbourne W2's, including 14 Transporting Art trams, purchased by Laverton scrap merchant Jim Johnson. .1 - "Desire is a streetcar for Jim, a collector obsessed, The Herald, 8/3/1988 - features a photo of Jim standing on a bumper bar. Reported by Margaret Easterbrook, Photo Norm Oorloff. Reports on proposals that Jim has had for the trams, including a arts and craft in Wodonga. .2 - "Bell tolls for tram lovers obsession", The Herald, 12/4/1988, features a photo of the trams from street, including a person standing on top. Reported by Nick Richardson, Photo Leigh Henningham. Reports on the failure of the Wodonga proposal. .3 - "Jim's decent obsession is derailed...yet again", The Herald 12/4/1988 - as for .2, but headline changed. .4 - Public Notice, The Sun, 16/4/1988, by Jim Johnson, advertising his tram collection for sale Gives contact details etc. .5 -"The end of the line for a scrap dealer's tram-park dream", The Age, 17/8/1988, features a photo of Jim Johnson standing with two trams in the background. Reported by David Porter, Photo James McEwan, reporting on another failure proposal, this time at Myrtleford. Seeking buyers. .6 - "The end of the line for a private tram fleet", The Herald, 28/3/1989. Features a photo of Jim sitting holding his head with five trams in the background. Reported by Evelyn Tsitas, Photo Bruce Howard. .7 - "Jim's tram plan clangs to a halt", The Sun, 29/3/1989. Reported by Kirsten Hill, with Jim standing in front of the trams, he is still trying to sell or use. .8 - "Jim's tram park idea leaps the rails" - photocopy of article in the Sunday Press 24/7/1988 story by John Lethlean, photo by James Boddington - of Jim with a W2 in the background. Item .8 added 29-11-2015 - photocopy supplied by Rod Atkins 28-11-2015. See also Reg Item 1184.3 for the Tramburger concept! See also Reg item 2781 for colour photographs.trams, tramways, transporting art, decorated trams, auctions, tram disposal, laverton