So much so, that The Daily Advertiser of December 23, warned readers that “C Day” was approaching rapidly.

Many local stores were reporting excellent trading.

“Store managers said yesterday they had never experienced such a busy morning as last Saturday, and yesterday was much busier than expected. Most managers said Christmas trading was well in excess of the last few years…”

The Daily Advertiser also carried a large number of advertisements offering last minute gift ideas.

Suggestions from David Jones, the “Store of the Christmas spirit”, included hand-made Italian ties, handkerchiefs, socks, cigars, cigarettes, and bottle openers for him; and for her, stockings, slippers, perfumes and night gowns.

Wagga Legacy had grand plans to sell at least 800 Christmas trees, and Huthwaites’ ran an innovative guessing competition where people had to guess the weight of a car filled with groceries. More than140,000 entry forms had been distributed by the store, with the prize being the car and the groceries inside.

Mr MC Cather from Forest Hill won with a correct guess of 18cwt (hundredweight), 2 quarters, 13 pounds and 12 ounces (or approximately 940 kgs).

However, purchasing food supplies over the Christmas break might be a problem for families. Stores closed on Wednesday (Christmas Eve) and most did not reopen until the following Monday (December 29). Bread was a particular problem.

“No bread will be baked after tomorrow until next Monday. Extra bread will be baked to enable households to stock up, but bakers said to be on the safe side customers should place their Christmas orders early.”

How Christmas has changed in Wagga in the last 58 years!

Blakemore Building, College Avenue, CSU South Campus in Turvey Park. Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm; Closed December 24-January 2. Contact us: (02) 6933 4590 or archive@csu.edu.au