Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc

16/10/2026

The Barlow Family took over Joe’s Service Station on the corner of Smythe St and Elgin Blvd in December 1970. Some of the family are still operating the business, now known as Barlow Bros, in Trafalgar Street, offering motor engineering, mechanics and repairs. Fifty plus years in business warrants a place in the history of Wodonga.

15/10/2026

We have not been able to get confirmed dates as to when these businesses opened and closed. Can anyone help?

14/10/2026

IF YOU ARE SENT TO MESSENGER WHEN TAPPING ON A PIC JUST TAP ON THE PIC AGAIN AND YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE PICTURE. I WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION. SORRY ABOUT THE FB GLITCH!
Have you ever clicked/tapped on a pic and been sent to Facebook Messenger with what looks like a personalized message from me asking how I can help you? If so, you’re not alone. It’s not me responding to every single Facebook click I get....it’s an annoying default Facebook-generated message on many business pages.
I could turn messenger off, but that would prevent anyone from messaging me about certain pics or events.
So….if you click on a pic and get redirected to Facebook Messenger, don't worry about it. You haven't accidentally messaged me. I don’t even see it unless you respond to the pop up message.
You can just close it out and keep on clicking and tapping.

Send a message to learn more

13/10/2026

Some memories are worth revisiting time and again. This photo thanks to Paul Davids who is with his brother on the steps of Ollies Trollies which was started here in High Street north of St Augustine's in 1973/74. Sometime between 1987 and 1989 it moved from here to Thomas Mitchell Drive. It opened as Ollies Family Restaurant (with a red canopy in the photo) but was not there long.

12/10/2026

Des Pain was the shire engineer from 1959 to 1965.
He designed the Pollard Archway which originally stood on the Lincoln Causeway.

11/10/2026

Franz Gordes’ Boot & Shoe Warehouse, Wodonga
This shop was situated in High Street, on the site later occupied by Jensen’s Butcher Shop.

The Australian story began with the emigration of Franz Gördes. Franz was the son of Kaspar Gördes and Elisabeth Fischer and was born about 1843 in Eversberg Germany. When he was 27 he was determined to try his fortune in Australia, so he set sail from the Port of Gravesend in London on the 21st October 1871, aboard the S.S. Somersetshire. He arrived in Melbourne, Australia on the 27th December 1871 after 67 days at sea. Almost at once he headed for the goldfields of Beechworth in the North East of Victoria where he settled on some land that is now known as Spring Gully. That calling did not prove congenial to him and he decided to go back to his trade as a Bootmaker. He set up business in Wodonga in a shop close to where Sister Hughes's Hospital once stood. Later he built a shop and stocked it with all the requirements for a General Store. On the eve of opening up in these premises a fire destroyed everything. Not to be daunted he rebuilt and carried on business til the time of his death 8th June 1928. He married Margaret Burke from silver creek Beechworth on the 25th April 1876. He was 33yrs old and she was 19 yrs old. Together they had 9 children. Margaret died on the 24th September 1938.

10/10/2026

From our Haeusler collection.
Photo of Louis and Ilma on their wedding day

08/10/2026

Grand Parade - Wodonga Show c.1962

07/10/2026

Convent of Mercy from a fold out postcard series. Still there to the left of St Augustine's church looking from High Street. Was converted to priest's accommodation in 2009.

06/10/2026

Wodonga High School Form 1A 1969 Thanks to Kerry Sanderson
Only these few names known.
Back Row: centre Robert Rendich
3rd Row: Joanne and ???Twins
2nd Row:
Front row: Jovana Gozdanovitch, Kerry Sanderson, Sharon Harris