General News
23 February, 2026
St Arnaud 100 years ago: all the sales and duck season opening
Here's what was making news in St Arnaud in 1926.
100 Years Ago
February 1926
Duck Opening: Hundreds of duck shooters travelled through St Arnaud on their way to Lake Buloke where game was plentiful and approximately 2,000 cars surrounded the lake for the opening of the season.
Hospital Sunday: The St Arnaud Brass Band entertained at Gre Gre Village where they collected £24-16-4, the Birchip Band collected £27 at Curyo and £17 at Watchupga and the Donald Band collected £65 at Watchem, all for the St Arnaud Hospital.
Deaths: Mrs Elizabeth Penberthy, relict of James Penberthy, died age 94. Elizabeth and John came from Cornwall in 1856 and followed the gold diggings before coming to St Arnaud 60 years ago. John was manager of the Chrysolite mine, later the Lord Nelson mine while Elizabeth ran a general store on the corner of Napier and Alma sts. John died in 1893 and seven years later Elizabeth leased the shop and retired to St Kilda. Well-known Gowar resident, Mrs Mary Ann Michael died age 76 leaving her husband John and five grown children.
Farewell: Cr Herbert John Rowe was given a farewell smoke social at the Town Hall by representatives from the Borough Council, St Arnaud Hospital. Christ Church, Cricket, Tennis, Football, Bowling, Race and Agricultural Clubs of which he was a member. He was presented with an Illuminated address in book form prior to his moving to Melbourne.
Tennis: Presbyterians 55 games defeated St Arnaud 43. Gents Doubles L Knights and C Goltz [P] beat R Anderson & Cousins [ST A] 9-6. Ladies Doubles Misses Harley and W Grieve [P] beat Misses Dower & McLean [STA] 6-2.
Cricket: Traynors Lagoon 124 defeated Cope Cope 63, with the most runs for Traynors Lagoon by McLean & P Hines 32 each and for Cope Cope Bath 23 & Edgoose 10.
Sales: On Feb 6, 6,900 sheep sold at St Arnaud sale yards. On Feb 6, estate James Langdon [dec], of Gre Gre Central sells 240 acres with five-room W B house etc adjoining A & J McIntyre sold to James McIntyre for £11-7-6 acre, 317 acres joins J J & D McIntyre sold to J J & D McIntyre for £8-7-6 acre, they also purchased 320 acres alongside school for £14 acre.
On the same day James Langdon Jnr selling 15 acres with five-room W B House at Gre Gre Village next to school [passed in]. The estate he held a clearing sale on Feb 17 which included 720 sheep, nine draught horses, 16 cattle, 20 hens 12 ducks, machinery, implements, harness, furniture and Ford motor car.
On Feb 8 James Male, of Kooreh South, who is going to devote his time to grazing, held a clearing sale, which included 9 draught horses, 50 sheep, machinery and harness.
As Mr S G Mills, of Coonooer West has sold his farm, he holds a clearing sale on Feb 9, which included 20 draught horses, 200 sheep, 6 rams, 4 cows, 3 pigs, machinery, implements and harness etc.
On Feb 8, Mr J O’Donnell sells 874 acres, one mile from Sutherland Railway Station and six miles from St Arnaud, divided into twelve paddocks, with seven-room house plus clearing sale which included 24 draught horses plus harness etc, 220 sheep, a Studebaker Big six motor car, seven passenger tourer, machinery and implements, plus a contracting plant of a Gaston scoop, two Champion wheel scoops, a tank plow, a Buck scraper, shovels, bars etc.
On Feb 13, E Bath sells 5-room WB house cr Millett & McMahon to Mrs Langdon Snr for £840. On Feb 19, Angus Hodgson, who is leaving Cope Cope, held a clearing sale which included two small pine dwellings, two iron buildings, a wood and iron stable 36 ft x 24 ft x 12 ft high.
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