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

A spiral bound volume presenting articles and information and timelines documenting the history of the Saleyards in Wodonga.This booklet is based on information from the Wodonga & Towong Sentinel newspaper leading up to the construction and opening of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards in Elgin Street, Wodonga. It then documents key developments until the closure of the yards in 1980. Information on the closing of the yards, the buying and construction of new cattle yards at Bandiana from 1980 -1985 is also included. wodonga municipal saleyards, saleyards bandiana, saleyards elgin street wodonga

This plaque commemorates the opening of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards, named the W. G. Page Saleyards, in 1980. The last sales at this facility took place in February 2015 before being replaced by the privately-run Barnawartha North's Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange. William George Page was Shire and City Engineer in Wodonga from 1965 until 1989. When he arrived the Shire of Wodonga had a population of 17,000 people. In 1966 Wodonga was selected as a city for special growth assistance. In 1972 Bill Page presented a new Town Plan to the Wodonga Council. Over the ensuing years he dedicated himself to bring this plan to fruition. He often had to argue and campaign with the Albury-Wodonga Corporation to push for the interests of development in Wodonga. This included winning a planning appeal to allow the saleyards to be relocated to Bandiana on the outskirts of Wodonga. Bill Page retired on health grounds in July 1989. The Council honoured him with a farewell dinner and renamed the saleyards at Bandiana the W.G. Page Saleyards in his honour.The Mayor , Cr Valentina Gillard, said "Every development in Wodonga in the past 24 years has a bit of Bill Page in it". William Page died 3 months later at 58 years old.This plaque commemorates an important centre in the development and support of the livestock industry around Wodonga.A bronze plaque bearing the symbol of the Rural City of Wodonga in the upper left corner and an inscription to commemorate the opening of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards. It includes a detailed inscription.RURAL CITY OF WODONGA / THIS PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED / ON 29TH JULY 1980 / BY /THE HON. J. C. BALFOUR M.P. / ACTING MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE /TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF THE / WODONGA MUNICIPAL SALEYARDS CR. G. R. CHAMBERLAIN, J.P. MAYOR CR. I . J. MACAULAY CR. M. J. McEACHERN CR. D. I. SCHUBERT, B'E'N', J.P CR. H. W. DRAPER, J.P. CR. D.J .IVERSON CR. E. E. CHESTER CR I. D. WATSON CR. L. C. BOYES CR. B. F. ROGERS CR. P. M. STONE. J.P CR. B. McLEAN TOWN CLERK R. I. O"TOOLE A.I.M.A., A.R.M.I.T, M.A.I.H.S CITY ENGINEER W. G. PAGE, B.E, M.I.E (AUST) B.S .E.W.S L. G. E. A saleyards wodonga, w. g. page saleyards, livestock sales wodonga

William George Page was Shire and City Engineer in Wodonga from 1965 until 1989. When he arrived the Shire of Wodonga had a population of 17,000 people. In 1966 Wodonga was selected as a city for special growth assistance. In 1972 Bill Page presented a new Town Plan to the Wodonga Council. Over the ensuing years he dedicated himself to bring this plan to fruition. He often had to argue and campaign with the Albury-Wodonga Corporation to push for the interests of development in Wodonga. This included winning a planning appeal to allow the saleyards to be relocated to Bandiana on the outskirts of Wodonga. Bill Page retired on health grounds in July 1989. The Council honoured him with a farewell dinner and renamed the saleyards at Bandiana the W.G. Page Saleyards in his honour.The Mayor , Cr Valentina Gillard, said "Every development in Wodonga in the past 24 years has a bit of Bill Page in it". William Page died 3 months later at 58 years old.This image depicts an important centre in the development and support of the livestock industry around Wodonga.An aerial photograph of the W. G. Page Saleyards in Wodonga. It has been mounted in a wooden frame.On a sign attached to the photo frame: "This photo of the W.G. Page Saleyards has been donated to the people of Wodonga from Mrs Pat Page and Family. The saleyards were named after the late Bill Page, City Engineer of Wodonga Council for 25 years until his death".w. g. page saleyards, wodonga saleyards, william george page

This plaque commemorates the official opening of the liveweight selling facilities at the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards, named the W. G. Page Saleyards, in 1980. Liveweight selling usually involves a curfew where cattle have to be at the saleyard by a specific time before the sale in order for them to be weighed prior to auction. Cattle that do not make the curfew time are sold on a $/head basis. The last sales at this facility took place in February 2015 before being replaced by the privately-run Barnawartha North's Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange. William George Page was Shire and City Engineer in Wodonga from 1965 until 1989. When he arrived the Shire of Wodonga had a population of 17,000 people. In 1966 Wodonga was selected as a city for special growth assistance. In 1972 Bill Page presented a new Town Plan to the Wodonga Council. Over the ensuing years he dedicated himself to bring this plan to fruition. He often had to argue and campaign with the Albury-Wodonga Corporation to push for the interests of development in Wodonga. This included winning a planning appeal to allow the saleyards to be relocated to Bandiana on the outskirts of Wodonga. Bill Page retired on health grounds in July 1989. The Council honoured him with a farewell dinner and renamed the saleyards at Bandiana the W.G. Page Saleyards in his honour.The Mayor , Cr Valentina Gillard, said "Every development in Wodonga in the past 24 years has a bit of Bill Page in it". William Page died 3 months later at 58 years old.A bronze forged metal plaque with detailed inscription. Bolts to fix plaque to the wall are still attached.RURAL CITY OF WODONGA / THIS PLAQUE/ COMMEMORATES THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE/ LIVEWEIGHT SELLING FACILITIES AT / THE WODONGA MUNICIPAL SALEYARDS /BY/THE HON. DIGBY CROZIER, M.L.C., / MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT/ ON WEDNESDAY, 4TH MARCH, 1981 CR. H. W, DRAPER, J.P. MAYOR R. I. O'TOOLE TOWN CLERK , CR. I. J. MACAULAY MARKETS CHAIRMAN W. G. PAGE CITY ENGINEERlivestock sales wodonga, liveweight cattle sales, municipal saleyards wondonga

Before the construction of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards which opened in 1935, there were four private saleyards which operated in Wodonga. They were owned by Gippsland & Northern Co-Operative Co. Ltd., Dalgety & Co., New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd. and Younghusband Ltd. When Mrs Julia Ronan nee Arundel lost her husband John to tuberculosis in 1906, she quickly decided to move from their small farm into Wodonga with her 3 children. She was granted the lease of the ground she needed to establish her eating house at one shilling per year in a shed on the Dalgety's saleyard block. Two established merchants Albert Schlink and John Whan and butcher Jack Garrett agreed to allow her credit which enabled her to open Ronan's Dining Rooms at the Saleyards. It was often a challenging environment, with drovers, and horse- breakers, auctioneers and bushmen bringing huge mobs of cattle and horses to the saleyards. Stories of the premises include the unexpected arrival in the passage of a lively bullock which finished up on the girls' bed. Mrs Ronan persevered and beat all obstacles to finally move from the saleyards to the Wodonga Coffee Palace in High Street, beside the railway gates in 1921.This item is significant because it captures one of the private saleyards which operated prior to the establishment of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards.A black and white image of the sale yards at Wodonga c1907 with the dining room operated by Mrs Ronan on the right.Beneath image: View of Wodonga Mrs Ronan's Dining c1907 Wodonga Sale site, Corner Elgin (Melbourne Road) and Smythe Street, replaced by Municipal Saleyards in 1935. Photo: Bob Prentice, Donated by Mrs Val Phefleywodonga saleyards, mrs julia ronan

An A4 sized spiral bound publication with laminated front cover. It includes 43 pages of articles, photos and typed transcripts. A compilation of presentations made by guest speakers at a function held by the Wodonga Historical Society on 6th May 1998 at the Wodonga Football Club. Speakers included a range of people who had a connection with the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards between 1935 and 1980 including planners, staff, stock and station agents and stockment. A summary table of market sales is also included.wodonga saleyards, stockmen in wodonga, wodonga historical society

An A4 sized publication which has been spiral bound and has a laminated cover. It contains transcripts from a presentation night,This booklet includes information about the establishment and role of the Municipal Saleyards in Wodonga. The booklet was produced as part of the celebration of the Saleyards conducted by the Wodonga Historical Society. It recognises the significant role played by William George Page who was Shire and City Engineer in Wodonga from 1965 until 1989 and fought to have these saleyards established.municipal saleyards wodonga, w. g. page saleyards

non-fictionBuilt in 1935, the saleyards in Wodonga catered for cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs and were the site of the second largest one-day sale of cattle in Australia. Prior to the establishment of the municipal saleyards there were 4 privately owned sets of saleyards in Wodonga. In 1925 Mr. Robert Richardson was elected to the Wodonga Shire Council and immediately proposed that the Council should establish new saleyards to replace existing, outdated facilities. Initially there was a lack of support and strong opposition from the private owners. It was not until Mr. Richardson was elected President of the Shire in 1933 that progress was made. They were eventually opened in October 1935 and played a pivotal role in primary industry in the area. This book tells their story.saleyards wodonga, livestock sales, primary industry victoria

The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge was constructed by the Country Roads Board in 1939. The date was recorded on a small plaque attached to one of the trestles. The bridge is an important reminder of one of the industries Wodonga was built on — cattle. It was constructed to develop a new stock route between Albury and Wodonga which would direct cattle away from the main bitumen roads and traffic bridges to the Wodonga Saleyards, where thousands of sheep and cattle were sold each month. It is a moderately tall timber trestle road bridge consisting of nine spans, with a deck length of 76 metres and deck width of 4.5 metres, and a maximum span length of 8.5 metres. The substantial timber deck featured decking laid horizontally and longitudinal running planks laid on top of it. The bridge also has timber side safety rails to discourage livestock from straying over the side. The bridge also became the centre of summer social activity for the young people of Wodonga as the area became a gazetted swimming area before the Wodonga Swimming Pool was constructed in 1959. In 1980 the Wodonga Saleyards were relocated to Bandiana to the east of the city. This meant that Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge was no longer needed for its original purpose. Although listed as a significant site by the Victorian Heritage and National Heritage Trust on 3/08/1998, the bridge fell into disrepair and also suffered damage from several floods. A suspension Bridge was constructed beside the Stock Route Bridge in 2013 and the old bridge was closed to traffic. Major damage caused by several floods, including a major flood in 2022 has resulted in the bridge being unsafe and its future is uncertain. The model of the Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge in our Collection made by Mr John Wild, depicts its current condition.The Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge is significant for technical, historic and social reasons and has been registered at the State Heritage level. It is of technical significance as a nine span bridge with tall timber trestles. Large bridges of this type are now very rare in Victoria. It is of historic significance as a surviving structurally authentic bridge designed specifically for livestock and drover use, on a historic stock route. The Stock Bridge is of social significance for its location at a popular riverside leisure spot since its construction in 1939.A collection of photographic images depicting the Wodonga Creek Stock Bridge. It contains both black and white and coloured images taken at different times in the Stock Bridge's history. A model of the Bridge made for Our Society is also included.wodonga creek stock bridge, wodonga heritage

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 Hotel was constructed in 1940 at a cost of £10,000. It is now called Elgins Hotel. It was established after the transfer of the licence from the Halfway Hotel. This was the result of a lengthy hearing before the Licensing Board over two days in December 1939, There was some opposition from established guest house keepers and hotelkeepers. G. A. Adams, owner of the Carriers’ Arms Hotel was refused a hearing as he was not a resident, so Rachael Spence his manageress objected on the ground that it would do her hotel a lot of harm. Mr Luke Murphy represented the applicants, Irene Weatherall and Lena Pickering. He stated that the new structure would be of brick, cement and iron and contain 22 rooms. The site was near the municipal sale yard and near the railway station, and, he pointed out the trucking industry, which he believed to be larger than any other in Victoria, outside of Melbourne. The hearing was told of the bad state of the Half Way Hotel, having been there for almost 100 years. Luke Murphy was quoted as saying “If Hovell were here he could give evidence on that.” The lack of accommodation and quality accommodation at Wodonga hotels was frequently heard of. Costa’s Wine Café had very excellent accommodation for but only five or six people. The lessee of the-tea rooms at the municipal saleyards, also gave evidence. Mrs Lowden said that on sale day she served up to 130 dinners in addition to 10 or 20 breakfasts, and almost continuous light lunches. She did not think a hotel would provide a needed facility for patrons of the saleyards. In April 1940 the application was granted on the condition that premises were erected within 42 weeks. The hotel was used for soldier accommodation during World War II and experienced a boom period when Wodonga saleyards were located across the road. Irene House behind the pub also was constructed in the 1970s when Albury-Wodonga had been identified as a National Growth Centre by the Whitlam Labor government. After running the hotel for 5 generations, the Weatherall Family sold the business in 2021.These images represent an early business in Wodonga . 2 photos of the Wodonga Hotel and 1 newspaper advertisementwodonga businesses, a. e. costa, wodonga pioneers, early wodonga businesses, wodonga businesses high street

Mr Arthur Dunstan established a sawmill at Glen Wills in 1931 which operated for about 16 years. A larger and more modern sawmill with drying kilns was erected at Eskdale in 1947. He was contracted to build Wodonga’s municipal saleyards in 1935, followed by the Wangaratta saleyards which created so many forward orders that he bought a large block of land on the corner of Beechworth and Tallangatta Roads and opened a timber mill and hardware store. In 1974 other sawmills opened in Tallangatta Road near Chapple Street to cope with the expanding business. A large proportion of the company’s timber output was processed at the Wodonga yards into flooring, weatherboards, mouldings, and practically the whole output was distributed locally and throughout the Riverina and eastern freeboard of New South Wales, and Canberra. At its peak Dunstan’s was one of the biggest sawmilling businesses in Victoria and in Wodonga employed 150 people and milled 16,000,000 super feet of timber annually. Arthur Dunstan died in 1963 and the business was carried on by his sons Arthur Jr, Jack and Les, together with Reg McDermott and Neil Carr. Dunstan’s timber yards in Wodonga were sold to Ezard Industries in 1987 with the retail section being bought by BBC Hardware. Hardy’s took over the timber yard in 1989 and staff was gradually reduced to 51 by 1991. Processing fell to 1000-1200 tonnes of pine a month by 1992 and Hardy’s, by then part of Pacific Dunlop, finally closed operations in that year with the loss of the remaining 27 jobs. The area where Dunstan’s was located is now known as Southside.A black and white photo of a retail buildinga and workshopOn shopfront: DUNSTAN A & SONS HARDWARE JOINERY & TIMBER MERCHANTS RICKSHAW MAGICOLOR We stock and recommend HARDIES FIBROLITE SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT FINISHESdunstan's hardware wodonga, wodonga businesses, dunstan's timber

The wool industry has been critical to the Australian economy from the early days of European settlement. The increase in wool production in the mid to late 19th century led to the need to replace the hand shears with some mechanized forms of shearing.The first commercially successful sheep shearing machinery by Frederick York Wolseley in New South Wales who was granted a patent for his machine on 28 March 1877. Many of the early settlers to North East Victoria droved sheep overland from both Sydney and South Australia and established large pastoral runs in the district. Wodonga became a major service centre for the industry and established major saleyards for the pastoral and cattle industries. The handset has the company name "Heiniger" on the side. Heiniger is a Swiss company with subsidiaries in Australia and New Zealand. It was originally established in 1946.This item is connected to a major rural industry in North East Victoria.A metal handpiece for a sheep shearing. A toothed blade is held in place with metal adjustable screws at one end. A jointed metal pipe at the other end allows attachment to the shearing machine. The hinge has been covered with leather.On adjustment knob "Heinger"shearing industry, shearing equipment, shearing handset

When Mrs Julia Ronan nee Arundel lost her husband John to tuberculosis in 1906, she quickly decided to move from their small farm into Wodonga with her 3 children. She was granted the lease of the ground she needed to establish her eating house at one shilling per year in a shed on the Dalgety's saleyard block. Two established merchants Albert Schlink and John Whan and butcher Jack Garrett agreed to allow her credit which enabled her to open Ronan's Dining Rooms at the Saleyards. It was often a challenging environment, with drovers, and horse- breakers, auctioneers and bushmen bringing huge mobs of cattle and horses to the saleyards. Stories of the premises include the unexpected arrival in the passage of a lively bullock which finished up on the girls' bed. Mrs Ronan persevered and beat all obstacles to finally move from the saleyards to the Wodonga Coffee Palace in High Street, beside the railway gates in 1921. The construction of the Hume Weir had begun and some construction workers boarded at the Coffee Palace. Her 3 children achieved success due to their mother’s hard work to ensure their futures. Bill trained for the priesthood and was a parish priest, but died from tuberculosis 1n 1939 aged of 41. Katie became a highly accomplished music teacher, including 32 years at Albury Public School. In the 1930s she was able to buy a house at 49 High Street, Wodonga where she lived with her mother and sister Mary. Mary trained in office work at Edmondson’s solicitors and then worked on the Albury Council. After living with her daughters in the High Street house, Julia passed away on her 90th birthday in 1958. Mary died on 6 January 1983. Katie passed away in Wodonga at the age of 97 on the 16 September 1996. All members of the family are buried at Yackandandah, Victoria.A black and white image of Miss Mary Ronan, Mrs Julia Ronan and Miss Teresa Trudewind at the Old Saleyards Dining Room, Wodonga.On front of building: DINING ROOMS/ MRS. J. RONANmrs. ronan, dining rooms wodonga sale yards, wodonga businesses, wodonga pioneers