There were 101 retail stores, seven banks, 11 garages, five licensed hotels, four motels, several public halls and a drive-in theatre. The population of Wodonga Shire was 10,850.

The regular festival on New Year’s Eve had been transferred from Martin Park to the main street which was blocked off from the shire hall to the water tower for several hours. There were street stalls, variety acts, dancing, bands, parades, contests, music and fun.

The Shire rate was 7½d in the £, the water rate 2½d in the £ and the sewerage rate 10d in the £, all based on the unimproved value system which was based on site valuation rather than the value of building improvements.

For visitor accommodation, apart from hotels and motels there were three caravan parks.  Carriers Arms Hotel Motel had four double motel units complete with own shower and toilet, six hotel rooms and plans for 10 additional single units.

Wodonga had been awarded first place for Industrial Development, second place for Town Planning, Development and Beautification in the Victoria Premier Town Contest for the 1961-64 period.

“Within 20 miles of Wodonga there are 51,400 people to provide the district’s work force,” the book stated. “This is supplemented from time to time with the thousands of migrants who come to Bonegilla Migrant Centre before being posted where employment is available.  The migrants have brought news skills to this country and thousands of them have chosen to settle down and build homes in Wodonga.”

“It has been truly claimed by those who have travelled the length and breadth of Australia that Wodonga is situated in the centre of the finest 1000 square miles of the Commonwealth.”

“Wodonga invites you to look around Australian at will, but assures you that there is no finer place to live, to tour or to set up a new industry or business than right here in Wodonga.”