Step back in time

Rising out of the ashes

Saturday night of the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend saw the Narrandera Golf Club celebrate the golden (50th) anniversary of the opening of its newly erected clubhouse after the previous building was completely destroyed by fire. The club’s...

Elizabeth Lawrence

17 Jun 2021

Step back in time

Cafes, coursing in Roach family

The Roach family has been synonymous in the Narrandera Shire for their operation of cafes and involvement in sport in the towns of Narrandera and Barellan. Beth Smith-Preston (nee Roach) only retired in recent years from operating a café in...

Elizabeth Lawrence

17 Jun 2021

Step back in time

Celebrating a local connection to the century-old RAAF

The centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force was celebrated on March 31 2021 - it has a strong connection to Narrandera through the No 8 Elementary Flying Training School which was established near the town’s airport and boasts a memorial to...

Narrandera Argus

17 Apr 2021

Step back in time

Nothing fishy about success of area’s early anglers

The late Jim Bailey was a keen fisherman who lived in the Narrandera area all his life. If you have ever doubted that Narrandera was a top place for fishing that boasts some well-known fishing spots, Narrandera resident and keen fisherman the late...

Elizabeth Lawrence

01 Apr 2021

Step back in time

A decade of drought, destruction and desperation

In Australia, drought is as sure a thing as the sun rising. In the new Federation of Australia, what became known as the Federation Drought tore businesses, lives and livestock apart. It is considered one of the worst droughts Australia has ever...

Nicholas Rupolo

18 Mar 2021

Step back in time

Entertainment that hit all the right notes

The Narrandera Musical and Dramatic Society was one of the biggest forms of entertainment in the town in the 1930s and often had up to 100 entertainers on stage. Glen Ward’s Lost Narrandera page on Facebook recently shared a 1963 program from...

Elizabeth Lawrence

15 Mar 2021

Step back in time

Which prime ministers have graced our streets?

It’s been a long time since a Prime Minister has walked down the main street of Narrandera with historic visits by the highest office in the land few and far between. Narrandera has had its share of election celebrations and policy protests over...

Nicholas Rupolo

18 Feb 2021

Lost Narrandera

Bundure Station: A historic homestead

Ian Hutchins has provided a real-life account of growing up on “Bundure Station”, a rural landmark in the Riverina’s pastoral history and located 99km south of Narrandera. The old homestead was built in 1842 and Ian’s grandfather was manager...

Glen Ward

12 Feb 2021

Step back in time

Diving into the past of Lake Talbot pool

Alex Scott and John Sullivan (partly obscured) make an exhibition dive off the 10m tower at Lake Talbot in 1946. Photo supplied With the opening of the new look Lake Talbot Water Park, former champion high diver John Sullivan recalled the days when...

Kim Woods

14 Jan 2021

Step back in time

A century ago in Coolamon: Harvest hope and fire concerns

Local newspapers reflect community hope the 1920-21 season would yield a bumper harvest with reports suggesting this would be the case.

David McCann

12 Dec 2020

Step back in time

Revisiting a 19th-century ‘medical misadventure’

Narrandera has had a variety of scandals over the years, bringing some excitement to the town. This was the case in 1898.

Liz Lawrence

05 Dec 2020

Step back in time

A century ago in Coolamon: Community gives couple a car

The impending departure of one of Coolamon’s most respected couples was making news 100 years ago.

David McCann

18 Nov 2020

Step back in time

Farming and football: Top headlines from this week in 1920

Farming pursuits and the price of wheat made news this week a century ago, as did football, weddings and the departure of a valued citizen.

Liz Lawrence

10 Nov 2020

Step back in time

Imperials caught in premiership furore

In 1934 the Narandera (spelt that way then) Imperials (now the Narrandera Eagles) won the South West District Football League (now Riverina Football League) Grand Final 11-12 (78) to Matong’s 7-9 (51). This was the club’s third successive...

Narrandera Argus

07 Jul 2020

Step back in time

Looking back at tennis glory

One of the Narrandera Shire’s most famous Aboriginal residents and sportspeople was no doubt Evonne Fay Cawley (nee Goolagong) so it is timely with Wimbledon 2018 now over to reflect on her remarkable career. Evonne was born on July 31 1951 at...

Narrandera Argus

23 Jul 2018

Step back in time

Boxing troupes part of our history

Tent boxing was once an exciting part of rural agricultural shows, including Narrandera, and the name of Jimmy Sharman is synonymous with the sport. Born as James Sharman in Narellan, NSW, the fifth of 13 children to James and Caroline Sharman...

Narrandera Argus

02 May 2018

Step back in time

Victim of the Great War

Percy Talbot Griggs, son of Hugh Gardiner Griggs of Narrandera was one of the first from this district to enlist for service in the Great War and one of the original ANZACs. After the evacuation of Gallipoli he saw service with the Australian Forces...

Narrandera Argus

16 Jul 2018

Step back in time

Newspaper pioneers: Lapthorne and Jarman

One of Narrandera’s earliest newspapermen and outstanding citizens was Edward T Lapthorne, a former proprietor of the Narrandera Argus, who was born at Huntley (Victoria) on January 28 1869 and was 73 years of age when he died. At the age of 16 he...

Narrandera Argus

09 Jul 2018

Step back in time

The Adams Family made their mark on Narrandera

The Adams family was one of the earliest pioneer families of Narrandera. Henry Daniel Adams came to Riverina with his father in the year 1850 and spent his early days on the land in the Little Billabong district, where his father was one of the...

Narrandera Argus

06 Jun 2018