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

16th May 2026

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

25 Years Ago

• Work on Wagga’s $10 million aquatic centre will begin in February 2002 and take ten months to complete.

• Wagga’s $18 million HomeBase bulky-goods complex, including BBC Hardwarehouse, Harvey Norman, KFC, Repco, and Forty Winks, has opened on Hammond Avenue.

• Shaun Collins, Lee Collins, Marie Black, Monique Holder, Prue Collins, Lynette Holder, and Cassie Collins are pictured supporting the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in the International Year of the Volunteer street parade on Saturday.

• The new manager of the Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre, John Knight, intends to turn the saleyards into the best livestock marketing facility in Australia.

• The focus of Wagga City Council’s new cultural advisory board, headed by Ray Goodlass and Donna Peacock, will be to ensure new facilities are fully resourced and utilised.

• Former assistant priest of Saint John’s Anglican Church and respected history writer, Reverend Doctor Tom Frame, has been appointed Bishop to the Australian Defence Force and, at 38, becomes the youngest bishop in the history of the Australian church.

• Delays on resealing Docker Street, Lake Albert Road and Chaston Street are causing problems for some residents.

• Lynne Angel, Melissa Roberts, Paul O’Donnell, Peter Anderson, Elsie Dunlea, and Kirsty Haines are pictured celebrating the 16^th anniversary of the Riverina Group Training Company.

• Carla Batkin from Mt Erin High School is pictured with the diving medal she collected recently at the All-Schools diving championships.

• More than 600 schoolchildren will take part in the 64^th Saint Andrew’s Junior Eisteddfod beginning this week.

• Wagga Mayor, Kevin Wales, was shocked to learn that the city’s number one Skyjet firefighting unit had constantly failed in emergencies and vowed to launch an investigation.

• Wagga City Council has banned the use of rollerblades, scooters, and skateboards on main street footpaths for at least six months.

• Councillors resolved by eight votes to five to increase their allowance from $11,000 to $11770 and the Mayoral allowance from $22,600 to $24,860, being the first increases in allowances since 1999.

• Paul Cherry, who has been secretary-manager since July last year, has resigned from the Wagga Commercial Club.

• Responsibility for Wagga City Council’s tourism and property functions has been shifted to a new commercial response unit as part of Council’s ongoing restructuring program.

• Deadly legionella was found in a water fountain on the first floor of the Wollundry Chambers building in Johnston Street, although Greater Murray Area Health Service, environmental health officer, Tony Burns, said there was no cause for alarm.

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50 Years Ago

• Miss Wagga 1976, Miss Judy Bourne and Community Advancement Fund award winner, Miss Jule Hamilton, are leaving on an eight-week tour of the United States after attending a civic farewell hosted by Mayor Ald Dick Gorman.

• Shane Murray is pictured with Sgt. John Roberson at a display of Army weapons and equipment featured at a C.M.F. recruiting drive at the Drill Hall in Docker Street.

• Cigarettes are advertised for 7 cents off per pack at the Australian Arcade Deli.

• Miss Helen Robertson was announced the winner of the Miss Rural Youth Quest for 1976 at the Riverina Area Rural Youth Ball held at the Marrar Hall.

• Marrar Australian Football coach and Central Riverina League captain, Graham Ion, is recovering in Wagga Base Hospital after suffering a ruptured bowel.

• Riverina Australian Football Club is hosting an Old Time Dance with the Ganmain Revellers.

• Hardy’s is advertising a Sanyo Kerosene heater for $37.99, Speedie bar heaters from $7.41 and Mitremaster Electric Blankets, single for $9.95 and double for $19.95.

• Pam Petherbridge is pictured in an elegant woollen crepe suit which “stole the show” at this week’s Wagga Picnic Races.

• Wagga’s Centre of Youth at 152 Fitzmaurice Street will be officially opened this week with a tour of the premises for members of the public, followed by an evening dance.

• Former Wagga schoolboy tennis champion, Garry Staines, is pictured with his trophies after winning the State of Illinois Open Singles recently.

• More than 500 people attended a family fun day at Bolton Park, arranged by the Sport and Recreation Service of NSW.

• Abattoir manager, Mr L S Wallace, said that a trial kill using the new beef floor at the Bomen Abattoir was completely successful.

• The Wagga and District Historical Society is organising an excursion to “Myall”, a property at Urangeline owned by Mr and Mrs R H Browne, which houses an impressive collection of steam engines.

• Outstanding young A.P.M. and Ungarie ruckrover, Terry Daniher, is on the verge of breaking into the V.F.L. with South Melbourne.

• Mike Gillard, who has been manager of Woolworth’s Family Centre in Wagga for five years, is leaving soon to manage a new Big W store in Tamworth.

• Warren Smith is coaching cricket to boys between eight and fifteen at Wagga and District Police Boys Club.

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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