Historical information

Costa’s Wine Cafe was once one of the best known landmarks in Wodonga. It was near the corner of High Street and Lawrence, across the road from where the water tower was later built.
Mr. Bernardo Costa came to Australia from Switzerland, arriving in Sydney in 1857. In 1882 he moved to Wodonga and conducted his boot sale and repair business He applied for a Wine License in December 1886.
In 1908 B Costa advertised that he had rebuilt his premises, which “affords the best and most comfortable accommodation to the travelling public”. For a while it was known as Wodonga Swiss Wine Café.
After Bernardo’s death in 1915 the wine cafe and accommodation at the rear was run by his three daughters, Annie, Angela and Gertrude.
In 1941 the Misses Costa sold their business and freehold to Mrs. J Adams who died just six years later. It was then run by her son Pat Adams, and after his demise his wife ran the business.
Frank Walsh was running it as Walsh’s Wine Café by 1951.
The Wine Café was closed in 1963 having been purchased by Woolworths and was demolished to build their new supermarket on the site.

Significance

These images represent an early business in Wodonga .

Physical description

2 black and white photos of the buildings of A. E. Costa, a brick building with signage.

Inscriptions & markings

Photo 1: Above verandah: A.E. COSTA / Phone 70 COSTA's WINE
Photo 2: Above verandah : WINE CAFE