Maples Furniture makes a delivery at Wagga Wagga Airport in the 1950s. Photo: CSURA.
This week the Museum of the Riverina takes us back to 1950s Wagga Wagga, where an iconic 1955/56 Dodge truck from Maples Furniture makes a delivery at Wagga Wagga Airport.
Known for their rugged ”pilot house cab” and practical design, these Dodge trucks were the backbone of local commerce, ferrying everything from furniture, equipment and memories across our beloved region.
The Dodge 55/56 model was one of the first with a full windscreen; previous models were halved and split down the middle.
Maples Furniture has been woven into Wagga’s fabric since 1922, when it first purchased Abe Nathan Furniture at 132-136 Fitzmaurice St.
The successful chain of Nathan’s furniture stores began in Melbourne in 1887 and Abe Nathan and his son John ventured into the Riverina-Murray area in 1908 to sell items at auction.
Struck by the huge demand, the family established a store in Albury and sold their wares right across the Riverina and eventually opened additional stores in Corowa and Wagga.
An advertisement from The Daily Advertiser in the 1920s. Photo: Trove.
When Maples purchased its holdings, John Nathan stayed on to manage the Wagga branch and supervised the Albury store.
In July 1922, The Daily Advertiser reported that this arrangement would ensure that “his long experience of the requirements of these districts will be at the disposal of the firm’s patrons”.
He extended a personal invitation to the community to “promenade through the various departments” in the Fitzmaurice Street store that had been “extensively remodelled and extended and fitted up with an electric lighting service”.
From modest beginnings, Maples grew into a cherished local institution, later moving into the historic David Jones building, next to Hunter’s Newsagency and opposite the courthouse in 1972.
Maples’ journey mirrored the growth of the community itself and many Wagga families furnished their homes with pieces from Maples. From cosy Fler chairs to sturdy dining sets, each item carried its own story and has become part of the city’s heritage and the museum collection.
History was also being made with the Auster aircraft. Known not only for ferrying goods and services across regional areas, the Auster also made a national debut with its two-hour pilotless flight over Sydney on 30 August, 1955.
This daring marvel captivated thousands before two Navy Sea Furies intercepted and brought it down over the sea.
This historic photograph from CSU Regional Archives has been vividly colourised to bring Wagga’s vibrant past to life.
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