HISTORIAN Ken Arnold joined an estimated 300 people at the Lonview clearing sale.
Known for his interest in agricultural implements, Ken’s interest in the Boort auction was heightened by a Barger scarifier that sold for $280 when the collection of Robert Coutts went under the hammer.
Ken said the manufacture of implements by William Barger started when he settled at Bridgewater in 1877 and formed a partnership with George Jenkins.
“A branch was established at the fledgling township of Leichardt, that was still being conducted in December 1887,” Ken said.
“In the meantime the partnership was manufacturing ploughs, wire strainers, the Excelsior tree extractor, wagons, carts and other farm machinery these at times being exhibited around the various shows as far afield at Sandhurst, Pyramid Hill, Kerang, Charlton and Boort.
“They were awarded a number of prizes including many at the North Western Agricultural Show held at Inglewood. 
“This show was originally the Newbridge Agricultural and Horticultural Show, considered by many people of the day as the biggest and best show outside the Royal Melbourne Show.
“The Newbridge site is now farmland, it being between Bravo Street and the Loddon river, it now being farmland between Bravo Street and the river.”
Ken says the Newbridge show amalgamated with Bridgewater and Inglewood shows and was held at the corner of the Calder Highway and Morse’s lane, Bridgewater.
“This site backed onto the Bul- a-Bul creek and such was its importance that a railway siding was constructed but today there is now evidence. 
“The show was next moved into Station Street, Inglewood,  adjacent to the old Railway hotel, and was also used by touring circuses but today it is where you will find the new fire station.”
Ken said Joseph Jenkins and William Gabriel Barge applied for a patent for improvements in the construction of scarifiers in 1888.
“But at that hearing,  objections would be heard,” he said. “As the business had grown considerably a second branch was established in Boort, described as being south of and behind Godfrey Street.”
Barger, a Justice of the Peace, was a prominent member of the Bridgewater community and provisional director of Bridgewater Valley Mining Co. However, the township was rocked on January 8, 1892, when he was arrested on five charges of forgery to which he was jailed for 18 months on two of the charges.
“In the meantime a stock in trade auction was held on February 22. A new factory was built opposite the railway station in Boort in October 1893.
“The partnership of Jenkins and Barger was dissolved on June 20, 1894 at which time Jenkins took control of the Bridgewater branch whilst Barger was to continue in business at Boort.”