Community
19 January, 2026
St Arnaud history: stellar race day, stolen goods from pub and more
Take a look to see what was making news in St Arnaud 100 years ago
THREE thousand people attended the Navarre Races on New Years Day where the Northcote Citizens Band played at intervals during the day.
There were seven races with the main event being the Navarre Cup of one mile and first prize being 70 sovs and a silver tea and coffee service.
This was won by F Watson’s ‘Mutina’, a short head from W J Morrow’s ‘Nalto’ in one minute 44 secs.
There were nine entries in the 1½ mile trot with first prize 20 sovs won by J Pretty’s ‘Black Wattle’ and G Doyle won first and third places in the Novelty Pony Race with ‘Frances’ and ‘Uno’.
At the Maryborough sports on New Years Day, Mr M V Kenny of St Arnaud cleared 10 ft 1 inch to win the vaulting with the pole event.
The death occurred at Sister Bartlett’s Private Hospital on 7th January of Bernice, the four months old twin daughter of James and Annie Wright of Bowen Street.
From 15th January, the Vacuum Oil Company will deliver in bulk, Shell Motor Spirit by lorry to St Arnaud and will supply kerbside pumps at reduced prices.
Members of the St Arnaud Salvation Army farewelled Commandant & Mrs Smith and their family who are leaving for Mildura and welcome Ensign & Mrs Cant.
Charles Cassin held a clearing sale at Carapooee as he is moving to a property in N S W.
Mrs Fleischer widow of Cannon Fleischer held a furniture sale.
M Watts and Jas Wilson held a clearing sale at the Railway Hotel, Emu.
On Monday 11th January a record load of wheat grown by Mr John J Feeny of Swanwater passed over the Swanwater weighbridge.
The gross weight was 14 tons 12 cwt and the waggon [built by J H Bolden of Donald] was drawn by nine horses driven by Jack Pritchard/Murrells and McNicol were the receiving agent.
Two young men Harold Dickinson and John O’Boyle cut the flywire on a back window of the St Arnaud Hotel and stole bread and bananas from the kitchen.
The proprietor’s daughters Norah and Monica Leigh saw them and their sister Ellen chased the boys down the street. She caught one and John McKenna a hairdresser who also lives at the hotel caught the other one. Constable Hedger took them to the police station, where they were charged with wilful damage to property and being drunk.
The Croquet Club has recently installed electric lights and they were turned on for the first time on 6th January by the Mayoress. The two overhead lights each with the power of 1,000 candles lighted up the lawn for the evening’s events.
Winners - Clock Croquet Mrs Cook, Putting Miss D Jackson, One-ball Break Mrs Levick, Crazy Croquet Mrs Bray and Bagatelle Mrs Levick.
Water level at town reservoirs – Teddington 13 ft 3 ins, Government 8 ft 1 in and Goldfields 10 ft 3 ins.
Miss Leila Ellis, daughter of Police Sergeant S T Ellis of St Arnaud has been appointed assistant teacher at the Donald High School.
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