Remember When – a Gallery of Old Wagga Photos

Enjoy this selection of Old Wagga Photos from Charles Sturt University Riverina Archive collections as published in the Wagga Daily Advertiser feature “Remember When”. Click on the Photo to enlarge.

: Hunter’s pictured here around the turn of the century was well known as Watchmakers, Jewellers and Opticians as well as a Newsagency and bookseller.

: Peter Rae arrived in Wagga in the mid 1870’s and worked as a Blacksmith and Coachbuilder until his death in 1895. His premises here were located on the southern side of Johnston Street.

: Roller skating in 1910 taken during a “white Night”, costume and fancy dress Carnival which was held at the Wagga Skating Olympia situated in Kincaid Street,

: Bank of New South Wales on the corner of Fitzmaurice and Johnston Streets (Now occupied by Farrell Lusher Solicitors).The building was constructed by Charles Hardy in 1874.

: The old ANZ Bank building (now occupied by Boyce Accountants) in clearly visible in this Fitzmaurice Street Photo taken around 1890.

: Fitzmaurice Street, c.1900: In the foreground is Victoria House, at this time occupied by Mr James O’Reilly’s “Trade Palace”.

: This busy photo was taken in the 1890’s. David Copland & Co grew out of a firm called Messrs Roberts and Copland’s Hall of Commerce which occupied premises in 1872 built by Charles Hardy in 1872. The store was located in Fitzmaurice Street, opposite the Court House.

: Wagga’s Civic Theatre is pictured here soon after completion in 1963.

: School children laying wreaths at the North Wagga Public School War Memorial Gates: An Anzac Memorial Service was held on 30 April 1960 to officially dedicate and open the Gates

: Here’s a delivery of ice being made in Baylis Street during the 1960’s. In the background is Carmody’s Royal Hotel, now the site of Wagga’s Sturt Mall.

: In 1895, a fire ocurred at Victoria House next to the Australian Hotel. Mr W N Jefferies, Chemist and Dentist estimated his loss to be in excess of one thousand pounds.

: Taxi Rank in Sturt Street outside the Court House around the 1920’s. A Taxi rank operated in this area for many years with horse drawn taxi’s here as far back as 1890.

: The Wagga Wagga Volunteer Fire Brigade, c. 1890: Wagga’s first fire brigade began in 1880 with 30 men initially joining up in June.

: Both Mangoplah and Cookadinia Football Clubs were formed in 1914.They merged in 1955 to become Mangoplah Cookardinia United and there was another merger in 1998 with Eastlakes Football Club to become the Mangoplah Cookardinia Eastlakes United Football Club.

: Wagga City Baths were constructed in 1953. They are pictured here in 1970

: The Davis Cup came to Wagga and was displayed during the NSW Hardcourt Championships held in Wagga over four days from 15th March 1956.

: The first Wagga Store (pictured here) opened in 1936 at 17-21 Fitzmaurice Street, moving in 1952 to 62 Fitzmaurice Street, next to Hunters.The variety store closed in 1979 when Coles opened a K-Mart store as part of the new Sturt Mall development.

: Housing problems and rent controls were commonplace during both World Wars and the period following them. The first sitting of the Fair Rents Court was held in Wagga in December 1920.

: A parade of early militia units in Wagga Wagga during the late 1880’s.

: RAAF Forest Hill was choosen as the location of an airforce training base prior to World War II. It was officially opened in 1940.

: This picture is of the “brown bomber” parking inspector during the 1960s or late 1950s in Wagga in Sturt Street, outside the Court House and showing Romano’s in the background.

: Intersection of Fitzmaurice and Gurwood Streets during the 1870 flood

: Wagga Show Society and Members 1918. The first Wagga Show was a small one day event on 21st November 1865 and was held at the rear of Wagga’s racecourse.

: Wollundry Bridge, c.1900: Wagga Wagga has been blanketed with a few snowfalls in its time, one of the earliest recorded being on a cold Tuesday morning in early August 1899

: One of the most signifcant developments for the suburb of Kooringal was the construction of the Kooringal Mall, which was opened in October 1968.

: The Corner, 1887-1899: William Johnston Daley and W.B. Morison’s shop “The Corner” was situated on the northern corner of Fitzmaurice and Gurwood Streets.