Twenty five Years ago hams prepared by Knights Meats as prizes for the lucky wheel competition are a very popular attraction at the annual Carmelite Springtime Fair.

The Red Cross formed as an Australian Branch of the British Red Cross Society on the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and soon after the Wagga Branch of the Wagga Red Cross League was formed with eighty women immediately volunteering.

The Hon. Edgar “Eddie” Graham was a very popular State Member for Wagga from 1941 until his death in 1957. Born in January 1897, he attended both the Lake Albert Public School and the Wagga Wagga Public School, but only for the minimum time required. 

The Daily Advertiser was founded by two wealthy local pastoralists, Auber George Jones and Thomas Darlow, and was first printed in 1868, making it one of the oldest regional newspapers in the country.

On Saturday, 11 December 1976 the Edward Street underpass was opened by Member for Wagga Wagga, Joe Schipp, and the Mayor, Brian Allen. This structure replaced the Tarcutta Road Level Crossing which came into service with the arrival of the first train into the South Wagga Wagga Railway Station on 1 September 1879.

  In 1891 Council purchased the saleyards established by A. T. Bolton in Travers Street. By the 1920’s Wagga Wagga was recognised as the largest stock selling area outside the metropolitan markets. Sales of sheep alone increased from 59,621 in 1915 to 554,066 in 1928.

Pharmacist Morris Gissing pictured in the dispensary at Gissing’s Pharmacy on top of the hill in Fitzmaurice Street in the late 1950s. Picture: CSURA RW1574_673 (Lennon Collection).

Prince of Wales Hotel at the corner of Fitzmaurice and Kincaid Streets in 1949. The building still stands minus veranda’s and some other alterations as the Prince of Wales Motel. Photo: CSURA RW66

A stock drive to raise funds during the First World War, held at the corner of Fitzmaurice Street and Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga. David Copland & Co’s store can be clearly seen in the background.

See what was happening in Wagga 25 and 50 years ago from the pages of the Daily Advertiser.