Recently, I wrote a Trove Tuesday post about newspapers used as wallpaper in a North Portland building.   This week I have a similar story, but the newspapers in this case were found in a more unusual place.  The Argus of April 10, 1911 reported on the discovery of newspapers under the Birregurra State school.  While finding newspapers under floors my not be unusual, the containers they were in was unusual.  The papers were shredded and stuffed into bottles.  They were obviously not shredded too small as contractors were able to identify the titles of the newspapers and an article about Adam Lindsay Gordon.  Coincidentally, the find was almost 44 years to the day from when the papers were published.

NEWSPAPERS OF 1887. (1911, April 10). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 9. Retrieved September 16, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10893529

While none of the titles found are available at Trove for the said dates, I was able to find an article about the Autumn Grand National at Ballarat as reported in the Geelong Advertiser of April 13, 1867. The corresponding article was in The Argus of April 13, 1867.

In the feature race, Adam Lindsay Gordon rode Cadger owned by Walter Craig, then proprietor of the well-known Craigs Hotel in Ballarat.  Gordon set the pace and with the remaining four horses dropping off, Cadger and Ingleside were left to fight it out.  The rough and tumble of colonial racing and the fearlessness of Gordon was on display in the final stages of the race.  Cadger baulked at a jump, but Gordon faced him up at again and was able to clear it on the second attempt.  The chase was on but Cadger fell further down the track.  Not to be perturbed, Gordon remounted and continued the race.  Unfortunately, Ingleside had too much of a lead and Gordon and Cadger were beaten by around 12 lengths.

BALLARAT TURF CLUB. (1867, April 13). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 6. Retrieved September 16, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5764224