fires

July 21, 1954. The Miller Motors Body Shop was located at 99th Street and 106 Avenue. This view is looking east along 107 Avenue at the north end of the building. The photo appeared in the Edmonton Journal the following day (July 22, 1954)

Allan Cunningham was responsible for the exploration of the region in 1827, and this was followed by European settlement in the 1840s. Established in 1848, the town of Chinchilla was named after Chinchilla Station which was an extension of Wongongera Station. The name chinchilla is believed to be derived from the aboriginal word “tintinchillla” or “Jinchilla” indicating cypress pine possibly recorded by an explorer Ludwig Leichardt. The history of the Commercial Hotel dates back to 1877, and since that time the hotel has been reconstructed four times due to fires. The first took place in 1904, after just 27 years of trading. In 2020 Waymark Hotels, a privately-owned Australian hotel and property group acquired the Commercial Hotel Motel Chinchilla. Built over a period of more than 60 years and with a heritage originating in the Northern Territory and Queensland outback, the group has been leading projects that have brought vital infrastructure and amenities to communities since the 1950s. ​ The style of the Commercial Hotel logo encompasses a contemporary edge for an otherwise historic venue, and its chosen color palette draws on earthy tones from the Chinchilla region including petrified wood. Source: www.thecommercialchinchilla.com.au/about-us/history/

that's an amazing shot.

The US Transport MOUNT VERNON (AP-22) aground at Balmain, Sydney during her arrival from Auckland on 12 October 1942. She was pulled clear by tugs the same day with no apparent damage. Built as the luxury liner SS WASHINGTON she entered service with the United States Lines in 1933. Acquired by the US Navy in June 1941, MOUNT VERNON transported British reinforcements and Hurricane fighters to Singapore in January 1942. A few months later in March she transported over 4,000 Australian troops from Middle East to Australia. Following the war she had a short period back in commercial service between 1947 and 1951 before being laid up for over a decade until broken up in 1965. Source: Sydney Harbour History/Ash Moore