"Dear Alice" Is a collection of 142 Postcards from Australia and around world, almost all of which are addressed to Miss Alice Evans, No. 2 Cox Gardens, Williamstown, dated between 1905 - 1909. These postcards form part of a collection found in the ceiling of No. 2 Cox Gardens by a local builder and carpenter Gordon Peterson. Peterson was contracted to demolish the house in the mid 1970's. The cards were held in the Estate of Gordon Peterson, along with a photo of the cottage, before demolition until donation to the historical society by his descendants in 2024. Alice Edith Evans was born in Williamstown in 1885 to parents Benjamin Samuel Evans (1833-1900), a bootmaker from Ruabon, Denbighshire, Wales and Catherine (nee Jones) (1850-1915) from Eaglehawk, near Castlemaine. Alice had three older step sisters, and two younger brothers, Benjamin and Samuel, who sadly died in infancy. Alice’s father, Benjamin, had been married previously, his wife dying during childbirth, leaving him with three daughters to care for. After leaving school, Alice was employed as a clerk with Trevor Jones & Co. (real estate agents), until her declining health prevented her from working. She was an active and well known member of the Welsh Church and Sunday School on Ferguson Street and enjoyed singing and playing in local concerts. Well known in the community, a Grand Benefit Concert was organised in her honour on 9th April, 1910, at the Mechanics Institute, Williamstown. Hosted by Mayor Cr. Wymark, the event featured a delightful program of musical performances, showcasing both individual talents and the Carlton Club Choir. Tragically, Alice passed away due to the effects of her illness on 3rd December 1910, at the age of just 25. She is buried in Williamstown Cemetery. The postcards, written between 1905 to 1909, illustrate the social history of residents and everyday life at the turn of the century, using postcards as a means of communication.This postcard forms part of the collection of 142 Postcards. A postcard, black and white photograph of Bridal Veil Falls, Leura, N.S.W. with a group of seven individuals standing at the base of the falls.Bridal Veil Falls, Leuraalice evans postcards, waterfalls, bridal veil falls, leura, new south wales

Thought to have originated in Austria in 1869, postcards first gained popularity in Australia in the 1890s.They were used to send short messages to friends and family. This collection was generated by Mary Emma Elliot of Talgarno. Talgarno is a rural locality in Victoria, Australia, situated on the southern shoreline of Lake Hume, about 23 km east of Albury-Wodonga. The collection contains postcards from across the world. Mary Emma Sibley was born in Ironbark, Bendigo in 1859. She married James Elliot in 1893 and they settled at “Kelso”, Talgarno. They had two children – Mona and Sibley. Mary Emma Elliot died in Melbourne in 1944, aged 84 years. This item contains the following: Twenty Australian postcards collected by Mrs James Elliot between 1898 and 1915. 1405.001 This coloured card shows people on a path walking passed a tea house in gardens; on the card is printed "Scene near Tea House, Botanic Gardens Sydney". 1405.002 This coloured card shows a bird and flowers, along with a bridge and historic building; on the card is printed "Greetings from Yass". 1405.003 This coloured card shows two figures in a harsh Australian landscape; on the card is printed "DEAD BEAT" and "AUSTRALIAN SERIES" 1405.004 This black and white card shows a winding coastal road; on the card is printed "Clifton Cliffs - Series 19 - Illawarra" 1405.005 This black and white card shows a waterfall; on the card is printed "The Bridal Veil Falls, Leura." 1405.006 This black and white card shows a path through a forest with ferns; on the card is printed "Path to Bell Fall, Leura. Series 93 Kerry, Copyright, Sydney" 1405.007 This black and white card shows a river running across rocks in a fern forest; on the card is printed "Fern Grotto, Leura. Kerry (copyright) Sydney" 1405.008 This black and white card shows a stream running over rocks; on the card is printed "Marguerite Cascades, Leura. Series 92. Kerry, Copyright Sydney" 1405.009 This multi black and white and coloured "wattle bordered' card shows a statue and garden beside an estuary or lake; on the card is printed "The Botanic Gardens and Harbour, Sydney" 1405.010 This coloured card shows a striped red and white pavillion, and a fountain in gardens; on the card is printed "Botanical Gardens - Sydney" 1405.011 This black and white card shows a row boat with two people in the middle of a river; on the card is printed "National Park, Sydney N.S.W." 1405.012 This black and white card shows five men and a dog in front of a tudor styled village; on the card is printed "Caves House, Jenolan Caves, N.S.W." 1405.013 This black and white card shows a rocky outcrop into the sea and waves crashing; on the card is printed "Coast scene, Wattamolla Series 47 - National Park, Kerry (Copyright) Sydney" 1405.014 This black and white card shows rocks in the water of a river or maybe a lake; on the card is printed "Looking-glass Rock, Hawkesbury River Kerry (Copyright) Sydney; there is handwriting across the bottom of the card - 'Love from Stella. Dear Aunt Emma, Thanks for P.C. I am sending Mona one. Will you please send it to her, as I don’t know the address. 1405.015 This black and white photo shows a coastal town, bridge and lighthouse; on the card is printed "The Harbour, Kiama - Series 19 - Illawarra Kerry (Copyright) Sydney". On top right hand corner is a one penny Australian stamp. 1405.016 This coloured card shows a river scent with forest on both banks of the river; on it is printed "River Scene, National Park N. S. Wales." 1405.017 This black and white card shows a church surrounded by an ornate fence. The church has a high steeple. On the card is printed "Church of England, Cootamundra" 1405.018 This black and white card shows a river with flooded banks into the front paddocks of a house, mountains in the background; on the card is printed "Flood, 1917" 1405.019 This black and white card show a river bank with three figures on the bank; printed on the card is "Murray River" 1405.020 This coloured card shows a rural city street corner and buildings with ornate verandahs. In the background are mountains; on the card is printed "Bathurst, looking east. H C.Beavis Photo (J. R. & A. Jones Bathurst."postcards, collecting, collections, talgarno