The Wodonga Rifle Club has had a chequered history. A Rifle Club was initially approved in October in1887 and then disbanded in March 1896. Then in May 1898 Minister of Defence W McCulloch again approved the formation of a Rifle Club in Wodonga. It was the first conducted under guidance of the Herbert Trudewind. Arthur McDowell, Sid Dibley, T. W. Parnaby and Ted Tanner, the latter leading as captain until 1908, when Jim Horsfall took over, remaining as captain for the record period of 26 years. Many members achieved great succeed in the 1940s including Alf Boyes, having won the Jamieson Aggregate at Sydney in 1948 followed by the Kings Prize in Hobart in1949. Bill Harris represented Australia at Bisley in the United Kingdom. The Wodonga Rifle Club won county championship pennants, shields and cups at district prize meetings. Many local and district men were members, some of whom were: Charlie Pollard, Ernie and David Mann, Jack Hore, Arthur Awburn, Roy Benson, Alec Reid, Leo Mulqueeny, Bert Tooley, George Vining, Ernie Zeinert and Frank Whan. In 1963 the Wodonga Rifle Club amalgamated with Albury as Albury-Wodonga Rifle Club, with headquarters at Albury. The Wodonga Rifle Club was reformed in 1972A collection of photos and newspaper advertisements related to the formation of the Wodonga Rifle Club.wodonga sport, wodonga rifle club, wodonga community sports

Born in Hammersmith, London, England in 1903, Ernie May migrated to Australia at the age of 19 years old. A printer by trade, Ernie worked on the land at Woodburn, near Wonthaggi, then near Smithton, Tasmania. He then returned to his trade at the Launceston Daily Telegraph and then with the Rainbow Argus in the Victorian Mallee. Arriving in Wodonga in 1927, Ernie was employed by Mr Charles Ryan who at the time owned the "Wodonga Sentinel" newspaper. He quickly became involved in community activities. Ernie was President of the Border and Northeast Band Association, Secretary of Wodonga Rifle Club for 20 years and Secretary of the Public Library for 15 years. When Ernie May was Wodonga Bandmaster, the Wodonga Band played at Saturday afternoon football matches as well as other public appearances. At that time the Wodonga Band had 30 members. Ernie also conducted his own dance band. In 1952, Mr May and his wife moved to Sale, gaining employment firstly with the Enterprise Press, then the Gippsland Times. In 1957 he started up a monthly paper at Phillip Island. Not content with so many years as Bandmaster at Wodonga, Ernie May became Bandmaster for Phillip Island's brass band. After 50 years in the printing business Ernie and his wife Cicely retired in Cowes, Phillip Island where he passed away on 29th December 1977.These images are significant because they depict a former member of the community who made an important contribution to Wodonga over a period of 25 years.A collection of black and white images of Ernie May, Wodonga Bandmasterernie may, wodonga band, wodonga sentinel

The first Bank of New South Wales building in Wodonga was located in a small cottage. The branch opened on 7 May 1872. At first it was conducted as an agency of the Beechworth branch. In October 1872 premises in Sydney road were purchased from Mr P. L. M. S. Chauncy for £650. When the bank commenced in the cottage the first account was opened in the name of Hillerman & Co, storekeepers, Wodonga. Another early account was in the name of William Huon, squatter of de Kerilleau, Wodonga. On 9 July 1873, the agency was converted into full branch under the management of Mr. Joseph Belcher. Other early accounts included Cronin & Callaghan, storekeepers; John Bassett Jnr, shoemaker; John Jennings, contractor; Ah Soon, tobacco grower, Kergunyah; John de Corney Ireland, collector of customs; Andrew Kyle, fellmonger; Rowan Lockhead, accountant; Alexander McKay, publican; George Pollard, farmer; Thomas Street, farmer; and Edmund Uren, gentleman, Buninyong. Organisations banking at the branch included Wodonga Building Society, 1873; Wodonga Mechanics Institute 1875; Wodonga Band Fund 1882; Talgarno Athenaeum, 1888; Talgarno Butter & Cheese Factory 1892; Wodonga Federation League 1893; Wodonga Brass Band 1895; Wodonga Benevolent Society 1895; Wodonga Fire Brigade 1897; Wodonga Rifle Club and Wodonga Racing Club in 1899 and Kiewa Polo Club in 1900. There were also numerous lodge and church accounts. The cottage was later renovated with a porch added in 1889 and an extension to the residence in 1898. The original house was eventually demolished to make way for a new bank and manager’s residence in Sydney Road in 1906. That building was again remodelled in 1969. It became a branch of the WESTPAC bank when the Bank of NSW and CBA Bank joined to become the Westpac Banking Corporation in 1982. After the building ceased operation as a bank, it has been the home to several businesses including a video store, a travel agency and a clothing store.These images have local significance as they record changes to a building which filled an important role in the commercial life of Wodonga.A series of photos both black and white and coloured which document changes in the former Bank of New South Wales building in Wodonga over time.Photo 1: On sign above verandah "BANK of NEW SOUTH WALES" Photo 2: On sides of building and above door: "BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES" Photo 3: Above door: "HIRE/ VIDEO MADNESS/ SALES" Photo 4: Above door: "WODONGA TRAVEL"wodonga businesses, banking wodonga, bank nsw wodonga, businesses high street wodonga