Mrs Barbara Emery, born in Beechworth in 1914 was one of the original members of the Wodonga community who formed a Committee and lobbied for the building of a swimming pool in Wodonga. This was prompted after many near misses and a drowning at the popular swimming spot in Wodonga Creek. She and her husband Bob, along with other Committee members lobbied the Wodonga Council and were finally able to negotiate land which fronted onto Stanley Street, Wodonga. Members of the Committee worked tirelessly to fund raise and also to build the pool itself. Countless working bees were organised to complete the construction and surrounds. The pool opened on 12th December 1959. Mr Bob Emery became the manager and Grace ran the kiosk for many years. Later reflecting on her life in the Wodonga community Mrs Emery stated, “To get the pool was a highlight in my life, the satisfaction that we could save lives.” After years of heated discussion about the future of the Stanley Street pool and the construction of a new pool, it finally closed on 31 March 2012. Mrs Emery died in Wodonga.This membership badge is significant because it was awarded to a member of the Wodonga community to recognise her service.A gold plated and enamelled badge attached to a red enamelled bar. The badge is engraved on the front.On bar;- LIFE MEMBER On badge; 1991 GRACE EMERYgrace emery, wodonga swimming pool, life membership grace emery

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