the cobdogla soldiers memorial institute
About Our Club
The Riverland Vintage & Classic Car Club was formed in 1970 with just a few enthusiasts and has grown to almost 300 members and 400 vehicles. The club has a vast range of vehicles ranging from the very old through to some of the more exotic modern cars, trucks, tractors & motorcycles.
The Riverland Vintage & Classic Car Club covers a large area of South Australia, from the South Australia / Victoria border down river to Morgan and as far south as Pinnaroo in the Mallee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at our Clubrooms in Cobdogla.
The Riverland Vintage & Classic Car Club leases The Cobdogla Soldiers Memorial Institute from the Berri-Barmera Council to utilise as its Clubrooms.
A plaque was unveiled to officially open the Clubrooms on the 15th of July 2018 (photo on the left).
The Cobdogla Soldiers Memorial Institute was erected to commemorate those from the District who died in service or were killed in action in World War One.
The foundation stone for the hall was laid in 1923 and the hall was officially opened on the 28th of June 1924 (photo on the right).
“Saturday was a red-letter day in the history of Cobdogla, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Soldiers’ Memorial Institute. The Hon. J. Jelley, M.L.C., had motored from the city to open the hall.
A large crowd assembled outside the entrance of the new building to witness the ceremony. Mr. A. T. Coats (President of the Institute Committee) introduced the Chief Secretary. In welcoming Mr. Jelley, he referred to the effort made, extending over a number of years to attain an ideal, partially achieved that day.
The hall had been erected as a district memorial to the men who had fallen in the Great War.
He presented Mr. Jelley with a silver key and asked him to declare the hall open.”
The Register (Adelaide), 3rd of July 1924.