Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society Inc. in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia | Community organisation

Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society Inc.

Locality: Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 417 277 592

Address: Baden Powell Drive 2650 Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.wwdhs.org.au

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25.01.2022 Official Opening of 1st Wagga Scout Hall in Forsyth Street. The building was officially opened in September 1937 by the Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons who congratulated all on the success attending their efforts in securing the new Scouts’ hall and the interest displayed as was demonstrated by the large gathering. President of the building Committee Ald. H. E. Gissing thanked the Prime Minister for the great honour of him agreeing to perform the opening function.

23.01.2022 WESTOE - AN ICONIC WAGGA WAGGA HOME A new article is now available on line tracing the history of this historic building. The article consists of some ninety pages of text, photos and maps, tracing the history of this iconic home now the Edel Quinn Centre and the surrounding properties. The latter includes the old bonded store and Westoe Cottage [the old Grinton home].... Lots of biographical details of the people and families connected to the various properties. Westoe was the home of George Forsyth, the first mayor of Wagga Wagga. Westoe stands where the Royal hotel once stood [an early Wagga pub]. This same building [the hotel] also served as Wagga’s first hospital. The article can be viewed or downloaded at the following URL https://www.wwdhs.org.au//2/10/westoe-20201025-publish.pdf Photo courtesy Hampshire Cultural Trust

20.01.2022 In the Past - 25 and 50 Years ago - from the pages of the Daily Advertiser. Click any photo to see more on our website.https://www.wwdhs.org.au/blog/https://www.wwdhs.org.au/blog/

20.01.2022 This photo of the Victory Memorial Gardens is taken from the Wagga Wagga City Mayor’s Christmas card of 1938. In 1938 Australia was celebrating its 150th Anniversary and Wagga celebrated its 100th anniversary. Wagga had a population of about 12,000 but already had "daily air service links with the capital cities", the journey taking one hour and forty five minutes, with Wagga City Council having built a new airport on the Sturt Highway. it was also the year when the water supply filtration plant was installed

18.01.2022 "Huthwaites - The Friendly Store" This is the title of a new book tracing the history of the firm from its conception till its demise. 115 pages with heaps of photos. Huthwaites holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Wagga locals. It began in 1906 as a general store and ironmongery, and, over the next 70 years, developed into a multi-faceted locally owned business selling groceries, clothing, fuel, building supplies and agricultural machinery. Explore the memories a...nd wonderful stories of this Wagga institution. Printing of this book was funded by Create NSW’s Cultural Grant Program administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society. Price: $25 Available from: - Museum of the Riverina Historic Council Chambers site - Charles Sturt University Regional Archives: Phone 02 6933 4590 or email [email protected] - Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society: Phone 0417 277 592 or email [email protected]

18.01.2022 Bicycle races and relays were very common around the turn of the century. A relay race from Sydney to Melbourne was held in September 1896 which covered 604 miles in 42 hours and 35 minutes. Particpants in this race included Frank Middenway and A Thomson from Wagga who are pictured here on the far left and far right with with race officials, Heath Shipley and Hunter sometime in 1896 (CSURA RW2893 299)

18.01.2022 These underground men’s toilets were located in the middle of Forsyth Street between the Union Club hotel and what is now, Hore and Davies Real Estate. Also clearly visible on the other side of Baylis Street is Carmody’s Royal Hotel (which was demolished to make way for the Sturt Mall) and on the right hand side, Thomas Bros before their relocation to Dobney Avenue. Wagga City Council decided in December 1973 to remove the toilet block and not to replace it. Reasons given for... its removal were that it was antiquated and no longer used regularly by the public. Further it was felt to be a traffic hazard and that the cost of removing and filling it would be nominal. A bulldozer was used to push down the walls and cover over the toilet. As Patrick Byrnes, author of Remember the 1950s ‘60s & 70s in Wagga Wagga comments some budding archaeologist may discover the remains of the old toilet in the far off distant centuries to come. (Photo CSU Riverina Archives) See more

17.01.2022 Staff of Edmondson’s Gurwood Street Wagga Townley Edmondson began business in Gurwood Street in 1864 initially as agent for Thomas Mate of Albury. By 1869 his main store was a double-storey brick building in Gurwood Street. There was a large yard at the back of the building where pastoralists and farmers brought their bullock-drawn wagons and drays to collect their supplies which were expected to last three or four months. He was also one of several local businessmen who form...ed the Wagga Wagga Steam Navigation Company in 1869. By 1921 the store had been rebuilt and converted into a big general business embracing many Departments and a lengthy frontage to Gurwood Street. During the Second World War the popular Elizabeth Café on the first floor which had opened in 1922 was converted into a canteen operated by volunteers. By the time the centenary of Edmondson’s was celebrated in 1964 there were eighty members of Staff and although Burns Philp held the majority of the shares it continued to trade under the name of T. Edmondson and Co. In 1968 the old building was demolished and a new three story building, which later included Wagga’s first escalators, was constructed. As Wagga’s commercial centre began to shift along Baylis Street the business was sold and over time a number of companies operated on the site including Mates, Meaghers, Youngs, Myers, Fosseys and Cannons. . Eventually, in 1992, the old Edmondson’s building; the Golden Square Car Park and an adjacent service station were sold to Wagga Wagga City Council. The property is now occupied by Woolworth’s Northside. (Photo CSURA RW212)

16.01.2022 The River Steamer Wagga Wagga was not based in Wagga but it did visit on many occasions. From 1878 it made regular trips between Hay, Narrandera and Wagga and was principally used to transport wool and timber. The Wagga Wagga was one of the last operational river steamers on the Murrumbidgee River. On the day World War One ended, 11th November 1918 it was beached at Narrandera for chalking work which was never carried out and today the remains can still be seen there when river levels are low. (CSURA RW3016)

13.01.2022 Fitzmaurice Street, c.1900: In the foreground is Victoria House, at this time occupied by Mr James O'Reilly's "Trade Palace". O'Reilly, an Irishman from County Cavan, opened his own drapery business near the Wollundry Lagoon in 1898. A few years later, O'Reilly's moved into the very prominent position of Victoria House, next to Hunter Bros. Newsagency. [CSU Regional Archives, RW5.432, Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society Collection]

13.01.2022 ROMANO'S - A new 90 page history of this iconic hotel. Originally named the Commercial hotel, but changed to Romano's after WW2. Heaps of photos and details of the many people who owned and licensed this historic hotel. In it's heyday it was a world class hotel. Click on the following link to view or download the file. https://www.wwdhs.org.au//commercial-hotel-publish-2020091 References to Romano, Bellair, Bernborough, Steak Diane, et al. Photo below is a collage of the earlier Commercial hotel building.

13.01.2022 T EDMONDSON & CO. An iconic Wagga Wagga business, once located in Kincaid Street. Click on the following link to view or download a forty page history complete with numerous photos. https://www.wwdhs.org.au/wp-content//2020/09/edmondsons.pdf References to Edmondson, Huthwaite, Lupton, Kerfoot, Meaghers, and JB Young.... Photo courtesy Museum of the Riverina. See more

11.01.2022 Mount Pleasant Homestead - a story of the Maher and Lloyd families of Wagga Wagga. A new seventy page story is now available that traces some history of these two prominent Wagga Wagga families and two of the farms they owned. Lots of photos, maps, and biographical details. Mount Pleasant occupied an area that encompasses the Haven, the Australian Rules Club, and Mount Austin Public school. The 2nd Mount Pleasant homestead is still standing to the west of the Rules Club. Tela...con Lloyd conducted a butcher shop in Baylis street, and the Lloyd family home at the corner of Fitzhardinge and Edward Streets, called Warrabingah, was an iconic Wagga Wagga home until its demolition in 1958. The article can be viewed or downloaded at the following URL https://www.wwdhs.org.au//Daniel-Maher-and-Mount-Pleasant- Photo of Mount Pleasant homestead c.1906, courtesy Walsh Family Collection

11.01.2022 The Silvalite has been a feature of the Narrandera and Albury Roads junction for many years. This photo was taken during the 1960’s. If you look carefully you can see one of the proprietors was D. Lawson. This was Doug Lawson, father of cricketer Geoff Henry Lawson who grew up in this part of Wagga. Also visible are signs for Kelso hot pies and Avor Ginger Beer both popular local products of the time. Esso operated retail petrol stations in Australia until 1990, when its stations were acquired by Mobil. (CSURA RW1574.358.1560)

11.01.2022 Wagga’s Hampden Bridge was opened by the Minister for Works Mr Young on 11th November 1895 in the presence of many dignitaries including the Mayor Ald R.S. Heydon and Messrs Gormly and Fitzpatrick representing the electorates of Wagga and Murrumbidgee. After the usual speeches Mr Young called upon the Mayoress to name the bridge. Mrs Heydon came forward and broke a bottle of champagne on the rail before naming it The Hampden Bridge after the new Governor of the Colony. Pictured is the civic party on opening day with the Mayor and Mayoress seated on the right and Ald. Joseph Hayes and his wife seated next to them on the left. (CSURA RW2993.236)

10.01.2022 The Methodist Church was located on the corner of Fitzmaurice and Johnson Streets (the old Post Office building is visible in the background of the photo). It was built by Charles Hardy and construction was completed 1877. The church replaced an earlier adjacent chapel which had been constructed in 1865 and was in turn converted for use as a Sunday School hall. The new Church had seating for a congregation of 254. The property was sold to the Commonwealth Bank soon after World War II and it was until recently the site of the Commonwealth Bank’s Wagga Branch. The present Wesley Uniting Church just along Johnston Street on the corner of Tarcutta Street was opened in 1949. (Photo CSURA)

10.01.2022 Whatever happened to all of the brass helmets?

10.01.2022 In the Past - 25 and 50 Years ago - from the pages of the Daily Advertiser. Click to see more on our website. https://www.wwdhs.org.au/blog/https://www.wwdhs.org.au/blog/

09.01.2022 The young Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, stopped off in Wagga as part of their 1954 Royal Tour on February 13. She is pictured here being welcomed outside the Council Chambers by the Member for Wagga and Minister for Agriculture and Food Production Hon Eddie Graham. (CSURA RW43.39)

08.01.2022 National Heavyweight Championship Bout In July 1952 Dave Sands defended his Australian heavyweight championship at Wagga Wagga. This is possibly the only national championship fight ever held in Wagga Wagga, and one of the few ever held outside of a capitol city. The bout took place at the Riverina Stadium, which was inside the Kyeamba Smith Hall. Within a month Sands was dead, as a consequence of a tragic accident. This meant that Dave Sands defense of his title, in July 1952, was his last ever professional fight. Click on the following link to see a brief summary of the events. https://www.wwdhs.org.au//20/09/Dave-Sands-Final-Fight.pdf Below: Jim Woods is counted out, while Dave Sands watches on. The referee was Steve Norrish of Wagga Wagga. The promoter was Arthur French.

08.01.2022 The Wagga Baths were constructed in 1952. Before that "Learn to Swim" campaigns were held at the Wagga Bathing Beach. This photo was taken about 1950.(CSURA RW5.407)

02.01.2022 The Murrumbidgee Milling Company on the site of the current Mill development in Edward Street opened in June 1890, and became second largest milling company in NSW outside Sydney. It ceased operation in the early 1980s and the grounds were taken over by Goodman Fielder in 1987. Goodman Fielder operated for approximately 10 years before it closed its doors on 8 December 2000. (CSURA RW-1032)

01.01.2022 The Lord Baden Powell memorial arch over Baden Powell Drive was erected in 1962 by the 4th Wagga Rover Crew. A ceremony was held on Saturday 22nd September 1962 when the arch was officially handed over to the Mayor Ald. I.J. Jack (second from left) by the acting Chief Scout Commissioner for NSW, Mr. B. Garnsey (standing). Also in this picture is Wagga Wagga District Commissioner for Scouts Mr. M H Gissing (on left) and Member for Wagga Mr W C Fife (centre)