Historical information

The first Europeans to arrive in the area of the current township of Bethanga were explorers Hume and Hovell in 1824. In 1836 the Bethanga pastoral run was taken up by pastoralists from New South Wales and other areas of Victoria. In 1875 gold was discovered there resulting in the establishment of the township named Upper Bethanga north-west of the present town of Bethanga. Four years later copper was discovered, and an adjoining settlement of miners arose, ultimately expanding to become Lower Bethanga and the present town.

Our Collection includes several photographs signed BONSEMA WODONGA or sometimes simply TBW.

Thomas Peter John Bonsema was born in Wodonga in 1876 to Peter John Bonsema and Mary Ann nee Nash. His name first appears on the Electoral Roll for Wodonga in 1909 and on the Electoral Roll in 1912 he is listed as a photographer. His photographs capture many scenes and events around Wodonga and surrounding areas.

Thomas Bonsema married Minna Louisa Jones in 1912. By 1914 he had moved to Chiltern, Victoria where he established Bonsema’s Photographic Studio. From this time onward many of his works bore the signature “BONSEMA CHILTERN”. As well as continuing to photograph landscapes and important buildings, Mr Bonsema was often the official photographer at school and community celebrations. He also sold many framed photographs and postcards from his premises at 68 -70 Conness Street, Chiltern.
By 1943 Thomas John Bonsema had relocated to New South Wales and died in Beecroft, NSW on 14th July 1944.
Some of his photographs are held in the Victorian State Library and Mitchell Library Sydney Collections.

Significance

These images are significant because they are the work of a recognised photographer Thomas Bonsema who was born in Wodonga in 1876. They show the township of Bethanga near Wodonga.

Physical description

Three black and white images of the township of Bethanga.
Photo 1 - Bethanga
Photo 2 - Upper Bethanga
Photo 3 - Lower Bethanga showing Harris Bros. General Store