Historical information

This seal was used for official police and court documents by the Belvoir Police Office.The initial land survey for the city now known as Wodonga was first undertaken in 1852 by Thomas Wedge - Assistant Surveyor. The new township was called "Belvoir" and was proclaimed by that name in 1852 and again in 1861. The first sale of land in Belvoir was held at Wangaratta on April 28, 1854, when all the allotments surveyed by Thomas Wedge (excepting those set apart for reserves, government and public areas) were offered at auction. Following representations by the Postmaster General on June 23, 1869, the Governor in Council, on July 12, 1869, approved of its Aboriginal name "Wodonga" being restored.
The seal was found at the Yackandandah Courthouse by the Circuit Judge, the late Mr. Jim Humphrey. As the Wodonga Historical Society was in recess at that time, the seal was held in trust by the North-East Historical Society in Wangaratta. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society in 1987.

Significance

This item was the official seal of the Belvoir Police office from the beginning of the European settlement of the modern day city of Wodonga, then know as Belvoir. It is one of the earliest relics of that period of history, until its name was changed in 1869.

Physical description

Wood and metal seal bearing the official emblem of the Police Office Belvoir. It would have been used to apply a wax seal to official documents. The seal is mounted in a timber and glass case so that the imprint of the seal can be seen reflected in a mirror mounted in the base of the box.

Inscriptions & markings

Around the edges of the seal "POLICE OFFICE / BELVOIR"