Summary
This is a black & white postcard of the Exhibition Building showing the southern facade with trees and the lake in the foreground, circa 1910. The postcard, which is unused, was printed as no. 8 in the 'Kookaburra' series.
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.
Physical Description
A black & white photograph of the Exhibition Building showing the southern facade with the lake in the foreground. The building is reflected in the water and there are flags flying atop the building. On the reverse of the card there is a line drawing of a kookaburra with space for a message, an address and 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
Transfer from Trustees of the Royal Exhibition Building (REB), 1996
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Place & Date Made
Australia, circa 1910
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 1910
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Inscriptions
Obverse, text: EXHIBITION BUILDING, MELBOURNE. Reverse, text: "Kookaburra" Series Post Cards, 36 kinds, each with friendly/ motto, 3/- set.; No.8/ A cheery woman is the salt/ of the earth; LIFE IS A/ CAMERA./ LOOK PLEASANT/ PLEASE!; POST CARD; New Books/ BEAUTIFUL/ MELBOURNE/ 100 Views 2/-/ ALSO/ ARTISTIC/ MELBOURNE/ 17 Views 6d
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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
134 mm (Width), 84 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Buildings, Civic Mementoes, Exterior Views, Postcards, Royal Exhibition Building, Souvenirs
