Historical information
The arrival of the railway from Melbourne to Wodonga was celebrated on 21st November 1873. The railway line between Melbourne and Wodonga was constructed in three sections. The first section from Essendon to Seymour was fifty-six miles. It was constructed by Messrs. O'Grady, Leggatt and Noonan at a cost of £305,558. The second section from Seymour to Benalla was sixty miles under contract to Messrs. Styles, Murray and Co. for £314,994. The final section of sixty six miles to Wodonga was constructed by Messrs. Cain, Dalrymple and Holton for £350,100.
The Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers 4 December 1873 reported extensively on the event. The Victorian Government was determined to celebrate the event with a banquet, to which twelve hundred guests were invited. Four special trains had departed Melbourne to bring dignitaries to Wodonga.
The Governor Sir George Bowen, Lady Bowen and, two Misses Bowen, were among the guests. Sir George Bowen proposed a toast to the “Prosperity to the North-eastern railway”.
The banquet was held in marquees erected for the event, although the facilities struggled to cater adequately for the more than 5,000 people who arrived to celebrate. The estimated population of Wodonga was 500 only people.
That evening a ball was held in the goods' shed, which was handsomely decorated with flags, evergreens and flowers. About five hundred guests were present.
It would be another decade before New South Wales completed the line from Sydney to Albury and a connecting rail bridge was built over the Murray River.
Significance
This item is significant because it documents the festivities celebrating the arrival of the railway line in Wodonga.
Physical description
A colourised version of a newspaper article documenting the celebrations for the arrival of the North Eastern Railway to Wodonga. It depicts crowds of people congregated near the railway line area. Large tents have been erected to house visitors and special activities. The railway goods shed can be seen in the background and a steam locomotive is on the track. The image was accompanied by a lengthy article which detailed the development of the railway line.
