Summary

Postcard featuring black and white image of rural landscape at River Watts near Fernshawe with man and horse crossing place. The Postcard includes a handwritten message.

It is one of sixty seven postcards dated from the 5 January 1904 to 16 April 1907, all addressed to James Baird Scott and his family living in Paisley, Scotland. Fifty three of the cards are sent from Victoria, Australia, by Marion Flinn and her family and feature Melbourne landmarks and suburbs, scenes from Victoria and New South Wales. Fourteen postcards are sent from various international locations including South Africa, Nigeria, India, Singapore and western Europe apparently by extended members of James Baird's family either holidaying or working.

Physical Description

Black and white postcard, with image ofcrossing place at River Watts near Fernshawe. Hand writing around and over parts of the image. Reverse side with hand written address and parts of date stamp. One of the two stamps were removed.

Significance

This collection of early 20th century postcards provides an invaluable pictorial record of urban and rural landscapes in Melbourne,Victoria and New South Wales. It also captures the social and political attitudes and observations of one Melbourne family, relating to domestic and social life, literature, politics, and Australian culture. Themes such as nationalism, the postiion of women and prejudices surrounding Aboriginal Australians, global shipping and communication are also referenced by both the visual iconography and the commentary on the postcards.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Home & Community, Leisure, Information & Communication, Images & Image Making, Public Life & Institutions

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Moreen Shields, Jun 2011

  • Sender

    Marion Flinn, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 Aug 1904

  • Addressed To

    Mr James B. Scott, Paisley, Scotland, 10 Aug 1904

  • Inscriptions

    Printed: Atlas Press, Copyright. Crossing Place, River Watts, near Fernshawe. Handwritten text: Melbourne 10. Aug. 1904 'My dear Cousin James. Your sweet little view of 'Westminster Abbey' came last evening and oh such a wail that no pc had come from me. I am so sorry that I had missed but it is never neglect or carelessness but just everything conspiring to raise obstacles to my writing. I am often fraught to think of a certain gifted lady when writing to her intended- Richard Temple. "To conceive a desire for anything is in my case tantamount to obstacles being raised against its fulfilment and to express a desire is to count on denial." I have not got her words right but you can gather what she means and I feel. Far from being silly your cards are best when you speak of the children. for I love them and enjoy every little story about them. My Jennie enters on her teens today! I suppose I should feel old, yet can't say so. Perhaps it is the "eternal feminine" in me that admits no old age. I smile when you call yourself older and I wonder what you will say in 40 more years for the Scotts are long lived. Does this ease your trying mind. This is the "Forest provincial"? Dearest love to Agnes and Jimmie and yourself from Marion' Mr J. B. Scott 12 Hillview Paisley Scotland

  • Classification

    Communications, Postal, Correspondence

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Document

  • Overall Dimensions

    139 mm (Width), 89 mm (Height)
    landscape

  • Keywords

    Bushes, Correspondence, Horses, Postcards, Rivers, Rural Landscapes, Scottish Communities, Scottish Immigration