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13 July, 2026
St Arnaud 100 Years Ago:
What was happening in the St Arnaud Mercury in July, 1926.
100 Years Ago
July 1926
Football: St Arnaud defeated Watchem at St Arnaud. Scores – ¼ time St Arnaud 4-6 Watchem 1-0, ½ time St A 4-7, W 3-1, ¾ time St A 9-5 W 4-3, final St A 10-10 W 5-4.
Goals kicked for St Arnaud by Mc Auliffe 5, Proctor 3, J Crone, Lloyd and Mead one each.
Goals kicked for Watchem Fraser 2, McQueen, Miller and D Gilchrist one each.
Birchip 10-7 defeated Donald 9-12, and Cope Cope defeated Litchfield by one goal two behinds [so score published].
Positions on ladder Donald 20, Watchem 16, Birchip 12, St Arnaud, Litchfield and Cope Cope 8 each.
St Arnaud Juniors match played at 1-30 prior to the senior match South End 4-4 defeated North End 4-3.
St Arnaud Hospital: Report for June – patients admitted 39, discharged 43, remaining 39, deaths 6, Andrew Burtt, Thomas McGregor, Christina Penfold, Dora Walters, William John Clarke and Simon Geddens. There were 579 patients admitted during 1925-26 financial year with an average stay of 21 days.
Lorna Freeman from Charlton commenced as a probationer nurse and Helen Macey is accepted as the next one when a vacancy arises.
Death: Mr Martin Kelly of Gowar East died from bronchitis age 84, leaving a widow Mary and seven sons and three daughters. Martin was born in Ireland and travelled with his parents in a sailing ship arriving in Port Phillip Bay on Easter Sunday 1850. His parents the late Mr & Mrs Sylvester Kelly settled in Carisbrook and remained there until their death. The late Mr Kelly commenced his career as a carrier of goods to the settlements, there being at that time no railways. The journey from Melbourne to St Arnaud was often made with a team of bullocks. In 1866 he carted wool from Nap Nap Station, N S W, to Melbourne. Eventually Mr Kelly secured land at Deep Creek near Eddington. After a while he sold this and selected land at Gowar East on the Avoca River. The late Mr William Gunn accompanied him and selected an adjoining block. Martin carried on wheat growing and grazing pursuits with much success, until about six years ago when he moved to a house in Bowen st, St Arnaud.
Golf: The eighteen-hole stroke handicap and the secret nine-hole competition were both won by Mr L S Downs, 45-49 minus 25 and 66 not out. Mr G Lorimer had a 67 not out and Mr J Eva had a 68 not out.
Fundraiser: The Football Club raised £20 at a euchre and ball with the euchre prize for the ladies won by Mrs Logan and the gent’s prize won by Mr R Clarke and the novelty dance won by Mr & Mrs Don Ross.
Motor Service: Mr F Kingston is running a motor service between St Arnaud and Stawell via Navarre and Landsborough every Monday, Wednesday and Friday leaving the Royal Hotel at 4 pm.
Weather: Three mornings of heavy frosts was followed by 47 points of light rain for two days.
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