Benalla police Detective Acting Sgt Shannon Murphy said three males aged 17, 19, 21 and 37 were arrested on Monday and yesterday.

All four were released without charge pending further inquiries and Sgt Murphy said more would be arrested this week.

Sgt Murphy said police have identified more than eight offenders and up to 30 witnesses in an alcohol-fuelled brawl involving golf clubs, steel poles and rocks.

He said it started between two men outside of an 18th birthday party in Gaskin Street and escalated when a third man tried to intervene to stop the fighting.

The brawl swelled to up to 30 people, spilling into nearby Mansfield Road.

“There were heads split open, elbows split open and the most serious injury would be stitches to the head,” Sgt Murphy said.

Paramedics took five people to Wangaratta hospital that night, but none were admitted.

“It’s lucky as these sorts of things quite often result in serious head injuries,” Sgt Murphy said.

Sgt Murphy said it was “shocking behaviour” that had affected the wider community.

He said at least 10 people living in the area or driving past phoned triple-0.