Summary
This is a black & white postcard of the Exhibition Building showing the south west facade of the building and the gardens in the foreground, circa 1908. It shows an electric light, urn and fence within the garden. The postcard, which is unused, was printed in Belgium.
The Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, which opened to visitors on 1 October 1880. On 9 May 1901, it hosted the opening of the First Commonwealth Parliament of Australia. By the early 20th century, picture postcards of the Exhibition Building were a popular Melbourne souvenir.
The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Australia until 1905.
Physical Description
A black & white photograph of the Exhibition Building from the south west corner showing garden in foreground with roses in flower, trees and shrubs. On the reverse of the card there is space to write a message, an address and to place a stamp. The card is unused.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Place & Date Made
Belgium, circa 1908
The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Britain until 1902 and Australia until 1905. -
Place & Date Depicted
Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1908
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Inscriptions
Obverse, text: Exhibition Building. - Melbourne Reverse, text: POST CARD.; THIS SPACE MAY BE USED FOR/ CORRESPONDENCE; THIS SPACE FOR NAME AND/ ADDRESS; PRINTED/ IN/ BELGIUM
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
138 mm (Width), 87 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Buildings, Civic Mementoes, Exterior Views, Postcards, Royal Exhibition Building, Souvenirs
