It was made up of businessmen who resolved to close their shops at 1pm on Wednesdays, instead of the accepted 6pm for the other week days.

Nowra embraced the concept, with the proviso that the early closing would not occur in weeks when there was a public holiday.

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Draper John Joynson chaired a meeting of the association at Nowra School of Arts in March 1888, chemist Thurstan Peak was the secretary, while major storekeepers John McArthur and Peter Walsh were among the members in attendance. A meeting report indicated that "one individual stands aloof from this laudable movement".

However The Shoalhaven Telegraph obviously supported the movement, urging the support of the general public.

After being dropped for a time, the Half Holiday concept returned to Nowra in 1897 and 18 months later some 15 local businesses advertised they had decided to continue with these hours for the foreseeable future.

On the same subject there was a radical move in early 1899 when one Junction Street business announced it would stay open until 8 o'clock every night.

This was met with scepticism by one local who suggested it would not make sufficient sales to pay for the kerosene to light up the shop.

Apart from its concern for shopping hours, the organisation had an offshoot in the form of Half Holiday Cricket Club which made good use of the free Wednesday afternoons by playing matches at the Recreation Ground.

From the mid-1890s the club was active - sometimes entering the Shoalhaven competitions, but more often just playing social games throughout the summer months.

It usually started the season with a game between the married members and the single men, while on one occasion it was between those living north of Junction Street and those south of it.

The list of club office-bearers read like a "who's who" of the Nowra business community, and many of them enjoyed a game.

For some years the club had an annual trip up the Shoalhaven River to Bundanon for a match against Burrier.

A detailed report of the 1897 trip revealed that the day was much more than cricket, starting with the trip up the river aboard the steamer operated by Captain Cliff Richards.

They were accompanied by a contingent of Nowra bandsmen who struck up with a tune as they passed by the Grotto.

Burrier had the better of the on-field activities, but its players proceeded to entertain the Half Holiday as only they knew how. In the party was Fred Breen who photographed the group, but sadly no copies of the snapshot appear to have survived.

At the end of each season, Half Holiday invariably had a grand social when trophies won by the team's stars were dispensed by the Mayor of the day, or local member.

Over a two-year period, these trophies included cricket bats, cricket trousers, a pair of dancing shoes, a silver mounted pipe, gold sleeve links, along with gold and silver medals.

Despite the value of these trophies, the club invariably finished its season with a credit balance in the vicinity of £3.

The photograph of Half Holiday Cricket Club from the Nowra Museum collection, is believed to be from the 1890s. Third from left on the back row is William Linkenbagh who was very active in that period, being a keen player as well as being club president for several seasons. He was in business at Nowra as tobacconist and hairdresser, but one advertisement reveals that he carried a whole range of cricket equipment.

Information thanks to the Shoalhaven Historical Society