Tocumwal History

24/12/2025

What was happening on Christmas Eve in Tocumwal 100 years ago?

Here are some extracts from the Tocumwal Guardian from Thursday 24th December 1925. There are a few great gift ideas if you are leaving things to the last minute!

04/12/2025

04/12/2025

17/10/2025

What was going on in Tocumwal 131 years ago today?

Back on 18 October 1894 the Tocumwal Times Newspaper was distributed with townspeople advertising their businesses -

R Hennessy, Tocumwal Butchery
H H Casey, Tattersall's Hotel
Jim Burbury, The Tocumwal Hotel
W E Latchford, Tailor and Outfitter
P Sullivan's Hairdressing & Shaving
Jos Pitman, The Tocumwal Saddlery Establishment
R E Glennie, Manager of The Commercial Bank
Peter Dunne, Postmaster
Dr T Sydney Davies
Trask & Whitty, Solicitors
W Whitehead, Auctioneer
L Jensen & Co, General merchant

And in local news -
The Government Inspector of Roads visited
The Tocumwal Quadrille Assembly was held
The river was rising again and had covered the town flats, with all the roads around town in 'a terribly muddy state'
There were no buyers at the recent land sales and the land was passed in
Around 80 school children enjoyed a picnic hosted by Riverside Dairy
The telephone line between Tocumwal and Finley was nearing completion
A concert to aid the Tocumwal Football and Cricket club was held

07/02/2025

Issue 6 - 8 February 1894

Some interesting opinions on dairy farming, turf management and the railway line as well as news from Berrigan and Jerilderie.

31/01/2025

Issue 5 – 1 February 1894

Jim Burbury advertised the Tocumwal Hotel as being established for over quarter of a century. Who knew over 100 years later it would still be trading! Tattersalls advertised liquor, accommodation, stabling and “also good grass paddock”

At the local court two men were charged and sentenced for being drunk and disorderly, with the choice to pay fines or serve two or three days imprisonment, both chose jail time. Other cases brought to the court include Mr Burbury being charged for not having a lamp outside his licensed premises and a second charge for the rolling of dice on his premises. He was fined for both offences.

Whitehead, Pennefather and Reynoldson & Russell all ran ads for their services as auctioneer, stock, station and general commission agents. There was an ad for the new Murray Steam Saw Mills situated across the river and offering Red Gum timber of all lengths and sizes.

24/01/2025

Issue 4 – 25 January 1894

At a presentation for Mr Clinton, the outgoing Bank of NSW manager, on Saturday evening there was much praise for the town of Tocumwal stating that it would shortly be the principal town on the Murray between Albury and Echuca. The tables were tastefully arranged with light refreshments and a choice collection of fruit, while an unlimited supply of liquor was at hand.

It was suggested that a dairy farm in the district would be beneficial given that the whole town has been unable to buy butter for the past week and the rich river flats should be suitable for dairy farming.

An abattoir was to be established at Tocumwal by Mr George Plummer, a butcher from Berrigan. McInytre Lincoln and Co invited locals to their factory to witness the trial of a new aerated water system for hotelkeepers to use on their bar. And an advertisement by Mr O’Brien from Cobram who had 30 pairs of canaries for sale.

At a meeting of the Tocumwal Progress Association it was decided to write to the Postmaster General and urge the construction of a telephone from Tocumwal. L Jensen & Co advertised his General Store selling everything from drapery, boots, tin and glass ware, fencing wire, doors and cement!

17/01/2025

The Tocumwal Times - Issue 3

18 January 1894

On the topic of missing and wandering dogs, it seems nothing has changed in Tocumwal during the last 131 years.

A regular advertiser in the Tocumwal Times was Jim Burbury, the Proprietor of the Tocumwal Hotel. The ad states “This magnificent hotel contains over 80 rooms replete with the most modern conveniences”.

This issue also reports on a meeting of locals who were interested in a movement to convince the Bank of NSW to change their decision to close the local branch. It was decided to let the matter drop “which was done with great reluctance”.

A well know tailor and outfitter from Deniliquin announced that he had opened a business in Tocumwal, and poor Mr Dunne (the Postmaster) not only had his children’s favourite calf killed but also had an unexpected swim in the Murray.

10/01/2025

The Tocumwal Times – Issue 2

The second issue of the Tocumwal Times was published on 11 January 1894.

M’Intyre Lincoln & Co of Narandera published an ad for the Tocumwal Aerated Water and Cordial Factory that was now operating. The Bank of NSW advertised that the Tocumwal Branch would be closing its office on 22 January 1894 sparking much debate and angst among the village people.

The Murray River was reported about 9 and a half foot above the usual summer level and rising with much of the low-lying land in the area submerged. A Cottage Hospital is being proposed for Tocumwal with the nearest one currently 45 miles away.

The details provided in articles was somewhat brutal with strong descriptions of accidents and injuries…

17/12/2024

On this day in 1891 there was a large sheep sale at Tocumwal with 14,000 sheep being sold.

Back in 1901, a committee meeting of the Race Club was held and amongst other things, a tender was accepted for the painting of the picket fence in the straight and the judge’s box for the sum of £6.

Crime was an issue this month, recently two robberies were committed in the same night with the Tocumwal Hotel being broken into and the Customs office also entered and a safe smashed open. At the police court a man was sentenced to the three months jail for stealing a roll of canvas from the local general merchant and the robber of the Customs office was remanded.

A man named Buffet was sentenced to three months hard labour for using obscene language and threatening grievous bodily harm. Two drunks were fined five shillings or 24 hours in the local lock up.

This week in 1903 a man walked all the way from Mooroopna to Tocumwal to give himself up to police as he had been told he was wanted on this side of the river. He was assured he was a free man and then trudged all the way home again.

And a photo of a news report from 1898, the detail used to described accidents back then was so engaging!

03/12/2024

Tocumwal’s first newspaper was called The Tocumwal Times with the first issue dated Thursday 4 January 1894. It was four pages, printed weekly, cost Threepence and was published and edited by John Callander Jnr at his steam printing works in Numurkah.

The first page highlighted national and world issues with the other three pages containing articles and ads for local services including The Tocumwal Hotel, Shaw & Bradbury Livery and Bait Stables, The Commercial Bank, Dr Davies, Trask & Whitty Solicitors, Hennessy Butchers, House Painting, Boot Making, Auctioneer, Saddlery, Bricklayer and General Merchants.

There were also local news and events reports including the Tocumwal Racing Club New Years Day Races writeup and advice that the electoral lists of the Tocumwal Division of the County of Denison contained 614 names. A lengthy update on the bridge construction was provided and notice that a cricket game had been organised for the following week with a team from Victoria and “A good afternoons enjoyment may be confidently anticipated”.

A bizarre in Hillson Hall was held to benefit The Church of England opening on Saturday 30 December 1893 and carrying through to a late hour on the Monday night. Exhibits included a fish pond, art exhibition, produce stall, refreshments, a flower stall, live entertainment and raffles.

26/11/2024

Hillson’s Punt

On 9 April 1864 Edward Hillson advertised for two men to build punt at Tocumwal, by 23 July the new punt was in working order and he also built forcing yards for cattle to make loading more efficient.

By 1872 Hillson saw that the old punt was too small for the purpose of crossing large mobs of stock, and there was a need for a new larger punt. Brothers Stenhouse were hired and construction began, the new punt was 84 feet long and 24 feet wide, built of gum, fastened and supported with strong iron bolts and stays. It could carry up to 800 fully fleeced sheep and was located just east of where the old railway bridge is located today.

In late 1885 Hillson advertised his intent to retire and called for interested parties to lease the punt. Early 1886 Jonathan Howard took on the lease, it changed operators quite a few times over the years and Hillson again took over operations until his death in 1892. Due to the fluctuating river levels and ongoing repairs the punt was often not working and the demand for a bridge across the Murray at Tocumwal grew.

In 1895 the newly constructed bridge opened and the punt was retired.

This photo was featured in the Australian Town And Country Journal in June 1894 as part of a photographic competition.