Located at 17 George Street
The North Wagga Butchery was established by John McPherson (known as ‘Frosty’) in 1946. Frosty had been born in Yarrawonga in Victoria in 1884 but moved to Wagga Wagga at the age of 34. He already had a butcher shop in Baylis Street since 1931 and was the President of the Master Butchers’ Association for many years. He was actively involved in all North Wagga affairs as President of the North Wagga Progress Association 1929-1959 (and a life member from February 1935), President of the North Wagga Public School Parents and Citizens’ Association and a Trustee of the North Wagga Hall 1934-1935. He was also a well-known Australian Rules footballer and once represented New South Wales against Victoria in Sydney. He had served in the 8th Battalion during the First World War and was a founder and president of the Returned Soldiers League Club from 1946 until 1947 and made a Life Member in 1950. Church Street, North Wagga Wagga, was renamed McPherson Street in his honour in 1938.
At the North Wagga Butchery, Frosty had the assistance of his sons, Herbert John (‘Herb’) McPherson and William Frederick (‘Bill’) McPherson who took over when John died in April 1959.
During the Second World Wars, both Herb and Bill enlisted in the AIF, Herb on 9 August 1941 and Bill not long after on 5 January 1942. Both served in the Australian Armoured Corps. Herb attained the rank of Lieutenant and was transferred to the Royal Australian Engineers. He then served in the Citizens Military Forces from 1948 until 1960. He was a member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1964 until 1973. By 1972, the butcher shop was run by Herb McPherson and his son, Colin. McPherson Oval in North Wagga was named in recognition of Bill McPherson who was the North Wagga’s Club President from 1966 to 1973 and is still the longest serving president in the club’s history.
