Community
25 May, 2026
St Arnaud 100 Years Ago: woodchop and tender accepted
What was happening in St Arnaud 100 years ago.
100 Years Ago
May 1926
Woodchop: Following the successful wood chopping contest held last week by G Morgan of the Victoria Hotel, another contest took place at the Racecourse Hotel Moolerr on Saturday. Twelve inch red gum logs were used, the entry fee was 5/- and J Higgins acted as handicapper. First prize of £5 went to Sep Wright 2nd prize of £1 won by W Wright, 3rd T Carlyon; other competitors were W & D & L Palmer, M Zeuschner and G O’Garey.
A sawing match of an 18-inch log for a prize of £5 was arranged to take place at this event between D Williams & J Haynes of Tasmania and locals Tom Fraser & J O’Garey. The Tasmanians did not show up so a contest for £2 has held between Fraser and O’Garey and Ted Carlyon & W Wright with Fraser & O’Garey winning in a time of 33 secs.
Dance Palais: Over sixty couples attended the first of the regular Thursday night dances run by the Fire Brigade and the Band.
Deaths: Mrs Margaret Walsh loved wife of Michael Walsh of Sutherland died age 60. She was born in Ireland and came to Australia as in infant with her parents Mr and Mrs Hayes.
Margaret married Michael Walsh in Ballarat and lived at Warrenheip before they moved to Sutherland where they raised seven children.
Mr Patrick McManus second son of Catherine and Francis McManus of Slaty Creek, died suddenly at Middle Park age 62.
Miss Kate Swanton formerly of Stuart Mill, died at Heidelberg and was buried at Stuart Mill.
Football: The North Central District Football League competition begins next week when St Arnaud plays Watchem at Watchem with the train leaving at 12-30.
St Arnaud held a practice match this week at King George Park where Len Crone was elected Captain, J Millgate Vice-captain. Crone and Millgate each selected seventeen players and Crones’ team won.
Several young players who look promising are J Zeuschner, E Easton, F Harper, M Johnston, J Behan, W Williams, O Hore and H Coleman. Other players who showed good form were L Crone, M Kenny, C Lardner, Jack and Joe Cecini, J Craig, J Millgate, R Giles and J Hunter. Country players not there but will be in uniform next week are N Proctor [Kooreh], J Walton [Moolerr], J Pennington [Paradise], T Marchment, A Frohlich, C Edelsten and J Lloyd [Stuart Mill], plus old favourites A Fithall, and A Griffiths.
Tender Accepted: Mr J P Scarff won the tender to build a brick power house at the St Arnuad flour mill for W S Kimpton & Sons.
Shops Purchased: Mr Arch Brady proprietor of the Town Hall Hotel has purchased the adjoining two-storey wooden building owned by C W Carnegie.
Williams the Shoeman has purchased the two-storey brick building adjoining the Mercury Office and at present occupied by Miss Grigg and owned by Mr H J Mewkill for £100 per foot.
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