In Wagga’s Past – 25 and 50 Years ago.

10th May 2025

Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.

25 Years Ago

• The Lake Village Shopping Centre has been sold by owner John Colhoun for a seven-figure sum to Wagga businessman Stuart Webster. Mr Webster and his wife Linda will continue to operate the Foodway Supermarket at Turvey Tops.

• Wagga City Council decided that Wagga’s proposed aquatic centre would have a 25-metre indoor pool reversing an earlier decision which favoured a 51.5 metre pool.

• A huge crowd attended a Rundles auction of 650 items from Kyeamba Station which included a cricket bat used in 1941 by Don Bradman which sold for $4500.

• Mike Slieker, Brendan Gaynor, James Fox, Andrew Graffen and Andrew Briggs were pictured all dressed to impress at the Sacred Heart Debutante Ball.

• Hundreds of people took part in the Riverina Bridal Fair held at Joyes Hall.

• Daily Advertiser advertising manager, Roger Gorrel is pictured presenting a framed photo of his years ANZAC dawn service to the new president of Legacy, Murray Aitken.

• More than 700 invited guests from all over Australia are attending the official opening by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, of the new Hartwigs Trucks dealership on Hammond Avenue.

• Reverend Doctor John Cohen was guest speaker at the Wagga CWA Evening branch international night.

• The Belmore building on the corner of Trail and Kincaid Streets has been the target of vandalism and squatters and its owner has now applied to Council to erect a fence around the entire building.

• Mildred Forsyth celebrated her 100^th birthday at The Haven Nursing Home.

• Wagga’s two Toastmasters Clubs are hosting an information evening which will feature guest speaker, speech and drama teacher, Louise Blackett.

• Bill Swain’s Garden at 100 Urana Street has been voted best garden of the season for Autumn 2000 by the Wagga Tidy Towns Committee.

• The former ANZ Bank property at 44 Fitzmaurice Street is on the market for $585,000 (not including GST).

• The Tourist Information Centre will soon have an additional staff member to cope with increased visitor numbers and is also expected to be upgraded to increase display space and create a river viewing platform.

• Council General Manager, Brian Andrews will retire in November after more than 16 years in the top job and a 44-year career with Council.

• More than 300 volunteer collectors and drivers will be involved in this years Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.

• Wagga City Council was fined $1500 by the Environmental Protection Authority for environmental breaches during construction work at the Civic Theatre.

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50 Years Ago

• State Transport Minister, Wal Fife is pictured with members of the Wagga Motorcycle Sports Club preparing to assist this weeks Lions Club Cancer Treatment Doorknock appeal.

• John Lale, Paul Donohoe and Ross Vincent, the only male members of the Wagga Leagues Club Slimmers Club have each lost more than one stone of weight since joining the predominately female slimmers club.

• Dulcie Corben is pictured hitting off during the Riverina Golf Associates annual tournament at the Wagga City Golf Club.

• Kerrie Long, Neal Durnan, Lee Hamblin and Graham Dutton are pictured attending the Wagga Amateur Picnic Race Club’s Dinner Dance at the Kyeamba Smith Hall.

• Warwick Tomkins, Peter Brown and John Bagley were among staff of Queensland Insurance Co. Ltd pictured in a Daily Advertiser adverting feature for QBE Insurance.

• Since its unofficial opening less than two months ago the Wagga Women’s Refuge in Trail Street has housed more than 20 women and children in need of temporary emergency shelter.

• South Wagga Lions president, Ian Mortimer and the clubs Save the Sight Committee chairman, Carlos Donebus presented safety googles to all Wagga High Schools.

• A record number on 238 players took part in the Kooringal Rotary Club Golf Day at the Wagga Country Club.

• A total of 996 people were registered as unemployed last month compared to 969 in March.

• Most Wagga doctors will boycott stage one of Medibank to be introduced on July 1 indicating that they do not wish to have their future manipulated by the Government.

• The Wagga Quota Club will have a street stall this week in front of Hunters on the Hill selling pot plants, home made pickles, chutneys, jams, cakes and biscuits.

• The Lockhart Rotary Club is celebrating its 1000^th meeting at the Lockhart Ex-servicemen’s Club.

• Wagga Lions Club president, Doug Drew and vice-president Noel Squire presented a cheque for $800 to the Wagga Community Action Group represented by Trixie Read in the absence of C.A.G. president Wes Campbell.

• Recommended price of the Daily Advertiser is rising by two cents to 12 cents.

• Rally organiser, Peter Hains said that more than 200 cubs from Wagga Junee and Coolamon are attending a district Cub rally at Camp Kurrajong.

• A special council Planning Committee has been called to make a recommendations on whether future Wagga suburbs should be developed to the north or south of the city.

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Membership of the Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society is open to anyone with an interest in the local and regional history of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. For more information about us and information on how to join our Society visit our website at https://www.wwdhs.org.au/about-us/members