History of Victorian Towns in the Weekly Times

During the period 1928 to 1931, Francis (Frank) H A Whitcombe wrote and had published in Melbourne’s Weekly Times illustrated, history articles of 74 Victorian and Riverina Country Towns.  This article is an index to make it easier to look up these articles. Many covered 2 to 3 issues of the Weekly Times. 

Frank Whitcombe died on 20 May 1935 in Collingwood, aged 85 years. An obituary was published in the Age on 21 May 1935, page 7.

MR FRANCIS H. A. Whitcombe, 86,one of Victoria’s oldest journalists,died last night at his home in BedfordStreet, Collingwood. Mr Whitcombe, whowas an Englishman, joined the staff ofthe Evening Standard when it was established in Melbourne in 1889, and as asenior reporter, did work which broughthim into prominence. He served lateron the Evening News, a journal whichhad a brief career in Melbourne. Mr Whitcombe next turned his attention tofarming in Gippsland, where he remainedfor many years. He then joined TheWeekly Times, and his work includedarticles descriptive of various countrycentres in Victoria and Riverina. In theearly days he was a committeeman ofthe Victorian Reporters’ Association, apioneer press organisation. A facilewriter, he also possessed considerabletalent as a painter. He left a son andtwo daughters.

Accessing a newspaper article

There are two ways to access these articles. First, at the end of each line there are links to the images up to three Parts. Second, using the information below you can access the Weekly Times on Trove so as to view an article. There could be other historical items and photographs published at around the same time relating to the each town.

Index to the Weekly Times

Albury – No 17 – 27 October & 3 November 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Alexandra – No 54 – 9 & 16 August 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Ararat – No 39 – 26 October & 2 November 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Avoca – No 70 – 4 7 18 April 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Bairnsdale District – No 6 – 26 May & 2 June 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Ballarat District – No 4 – 28 April & 5 May 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Beechworth – No 22 – 2 & 9 February 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Benalla – No 13 – 1 September 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Bendigo – No 18 – 17, 24 November, 1 December 1928, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Birchip – No 69 – 7 & 14 March 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Bruthen – No 26 – 6 & 13 April 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Camperdown District – No 7 – 9 & 16 June 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Casterton – No 47 – 12 April 1930, page 10, Part 1

Castlemaine – No 14 – 15 & 22 September 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Charlton – No 20 – 22 & 29 Dec 1928, 5 January 1929, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Chiltern – No 30 – 25 May & 1 & 5 June 1929, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Cobram – No 60 – 8 November 1930, page 10, Part 1

Colac District – No 3 – 14 April 1928, page 5, Part 1

Corowa – No 32 – 29 June & 6 July 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Dandenong – No 52 – 19 July 1930, page 10, Part 1

Deniliquin – No 19 – 8 & 15 December 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Dimboola – No 37 – 28 September 7 5 October 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Donald – No 67 – 7 February 1931, page 11, Part 1

Echuca – No 10 – 21 July 1928, page 5, Part 1

Euroa – No 11 – 4 & 11 August 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Geelong – No 51 – 21 & 28 June & 5 July 1921, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Hamilton – No 41 – 14, 21 & 28 December 1929, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Hopetown – No 27 – 20 April 1929, page 5, Part 1, Part 2

Horsham District – No 5 – 12 May 1928, page 5, Part 1

Jerilderie – No 66 – 24 January 1931, page 12, Part 1

Kerang – No 29 – 11 & 18 May 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Korumburra – No 36 – 14 September 1929, page 10. Part 1

Kyneton District – No 1 – 17 March 1928, page 5, Part 1

Leongatha – No 38 – 12 October 1929, page 10, Part 1

Lilydale – No 68 – 21 & 28 February 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Maffra – No 43 – 1, 8 &15 February 1930, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Mansfield – No 56 – 6 & 13 September 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Maryborough – No 15 – 29 September, 7 & 6 October 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Merbein – No 73 – 16 & 23 May 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Mildura – No 72 – 2 & 9 May 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Mount Gambier – No 42 – 4 & 11 January 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Nagambie – No 55 – 23 August 1930, page 10, Part 1

Naracoorte – No 44 – 1 March 1930, page 10, Part 1

Narrandera – No 62 – 29 November & 6 December 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Nhill  – No 34, 10 & 31 August 1929, page 5, Part 1, Letter 

Numurkah – No 58 – 4 & 11 October 1930 – Part 1, Part 2

Orbost – No 28 – 27 April & 4 May 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Ouyen – No 61 – 15 & 22 November 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Pinnaroo – No 63 – 13 & 20 December 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Port Fairy – No 33 – 20 & 27 July, & 3 August 1929, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Portland – No 50 – 31 May, 7 & 14 June 1930, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, 

Red Cliffs – No 74 – 30 May 1931, page 10, Part 1

Rosedale – No 45 – 8, 15 & 22  March 1930, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Rutherglen – No 46 – 29 March & 5 April 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Sale District – No 2 – 31 March 1928, page 5, Part 1

Seymour – No 49 – 17 & 24 May 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Shepparton – No 9 – 7 & 14 July 1928, Part 1, Part 2

St Arnaud – No 65 – 10 7 17 January 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Stawell District – No 8 – 23 & 30 June 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Swan Hill, No 31 – 15 & 22 June 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Tocumwal – No 64 – 27 December 1930 & 3 January 1931, Part 1, Part 2

Traralgon – No 23, 23 February & 2 March 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Wagga – No 16 – 13 & 20 October 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Wangaratta – No 24 – 9 & 16 March 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Warrnambool – No 35, 24 August 1929, page 10, Part 1

Warracknabeal – No 25 – 23 & 30 March 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Warragul – No 21 – 19 January 1929, page 5, Part 1

Wedderburn – No 57 – 20 & 27 September 1930, Part 1, Part 2

Wentworth – No 71 – 11, 18 & 25 April 1931, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Wodonga – No 48 – 3 & 10 May 1930, Part 1, Part 2 

Wycheproof – No 59 – 25 October 1930, page 10, Part 1

Yarrum and Its Ports – No 40 – 16 & 23 November 1929, Part 1, Part 2

Yarrawonga – No 12 – 18 & 25 August 1928, Part 1, Part 2

Yea – No 53 – 26 July & 2 August 1930, Part 1, Part 2