Bill Toole, whose late father Pat established Tooles Disposals in 1939 on the corner of High and Stanley streets, has kept the family tradition going with wife Debbie since the central Wodonga location was sold in 2011 and then converted to more shops.

But he needs to vacate a large shed near the Bandiana Primary School by the end of the financial year and will conduct a mega clearing sale onsite on June 23 to sell the remaining stock with the exception of some items he will retain and attempt to sell online.

“Dad used to go to the government auctions buying vehicles,” Mr Toole said.

“Then he saw all the general merchandise which was surplus and he got his way in there.

“Everything in the shed presently will go under the hammer.”

Mr Toole estimates the clearing sale could run all day due to the volume of items with steel ammunition boxes used to store high explosive, anti-aircraft shells among the oldest in the shed which was originally from Lake Hume and used at the time of its construction.

Military items date as far back as World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

They include soldier uniforms, binocular collimator, gas masks, army stretchers, military hospital beds, former mess crockery, radios, body bags and even an interception plotter used in the Battle of Britain.

“Rocky” the riding horse, which used to operate in the High Street shop, is one of the few items which will have a reserve.

It made an appearance in the movie Strange Bedfellows, starring Paul Hogan and Michael Caton, which was largely shot on location in Yackandandah.

“He is in one of the opening scenes when a little girl is riding him,” Mr Toole said.

“I bought “Rocky” from a lady who used to have a video store in Wodonga.

“He was made in Tasmania and is probably 50-60-year-old.”

Mr Toole said moviemakers and collectors have been among his biggest clients.

“There is a movie being shot up in Queensland at present on the Battle of Long Tan,” he said.

“They need the props, the clothing and whatever they can get their hands on.”

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