"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. The postcard is a black and white photograph of The Weeping Rock, Wentworth FallsThe Weeping Rock, Wentworth Fallsalice evans postcards, wentworth falls, weeping rock, waterfalls

Reinis Zusters OAM was born 15 October 1918 in Odessa, Ukraine, of Latvian parents. Zusters’ father died before he was two years old and he was raised in an orphanage from an early age. He had one sister. He studied Art at the Riga Technical College, Latvia, from 1935 to 1940. He married Aldija Kapteinis, and they had a daughter, Rudite (born 1942 in Riga). After World War II the Zusters family were refugees. They reached Western Australia in 1950, where they stayed for 6 months before moving to Canberra, ACT. In 1952, Zusters moved from Canberra to Pennant Hills in Sydney with his second wife, Arija Biks. Their daughter Laura was born in Sydney in 1956. In 1966, Zusters met his future third wife, Venita Salnajs. In 1969, Zusters bought a house in Greenwich, Sydney. He married Venita on September 17, 1976, and they moved to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains. Zusters died on 8 October, 1999 at Wentworth Falls, and was cremated at Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney. His ashes are buried in the Latvian section of Rookwood Cemetery. Zusters studied at the Technical College of Riga (Latvia), and at East Sydney Technical College, Australia. He was influenced by his Latvian cultural heritage, and admired the artist Voldemars Tone (1892-1958). Shortly after arrival in Australia, Zusters became a draughtsman with the Department of Works and Housing in Canberra. Later he was appointed chief designer with the Australian-American architectural firm Austin-Anderson, at St. Leonards, Sydney. Zusters practised as a full-time professional artist from 1968. Zusters was a prolific painter, predominantly in oils. He produced many large landscapes, including triptychs of the Blue Mountains. His landscapes were mountain scenes prepared in the manner of Jackson Pollock and completed with washes and pale glazes of colour. His cityscapes featured a rich paint surface and sharp-edged thickness of paint applied with a palette knife, layer upon layer. He painted urban scenes of Sydney, inland Australian scenes, and several major portraits including Sir Winston Churchill’s gardener (purchased by Art Gallery of NSW). He made many small informal portrait-drawings of friends. His usual signature was “Zusters”. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections in Australia and abroad. He won numerous prestigious awards in Australia, Japan and USA and was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 1994.

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. 1405.121 This black-and-white card shows water cascading over a broad rocky ledge in bushland; on the card is printed “WEEPING ROCK, Wentworth Falls, N.S.W”. Hand written on the card is 28/12/08 1405.122 This black-and-white card shows a large sailing ship stranded on a beach surrounded by crowds; on the card is printed “ON MANLY BEACH (an Unusual Visitor).—The stranding of the French barque, ‘Vincennes,’ on the beach, usually devoted to the gambols of surf bathers, attracted thousands of sightseers to the ocean-side suburb.” 1405.123 This coloured card shows Mosman Bay with ferries, boats, wharves and a footbridge; on the card is printed “Photo.] MOSMAN BAY, SYDNEY.—Mosman’s Bay, reached from Circular Quay by a fifteen minutes ferry trip down the splendid harbour, is the favorite of all Sydney’s marine suburbs. Its beautiful surroundings fully entitle it to that pride of place. [Toogood.” 1405.124 This coloured card shows a harbour with a ferry and waterfront buildings; on the card is printed “MOSSMAN BAY FROM CREMORNE”. 1405.125 This coloured card shows a harbour with a ferry, ships and a rocky shoreline; on the card is printed “CREMORNE POINT, SYDNEY HARBOUR.—An ideal picnic ground. A favorite rendezvous for lovers. A paradise for admirers of beautiful scenery.” 1405.126 This black-and-white card shows a thatched bush homestead with people standing in the garden; on the card is printed “A Bush Homestead” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” 1405.127 This coloured card shows a rocky coastal cliff above the sea; on the card is printed “1827.—Gap, Watson’s Bay, Sydney.” 1405.128 This coloured card shows a long railway bridge crossing a broad river; on the card is printed “1789 - Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge, nr. Sydney.” 1405.129 This coloured card shows a waterfall descending over a steep rocky cliff surrounded by bushland; on the card is printed “1276 - Head of Wentworth Falls. Blue Mountains.” 1405.130 This coloured card shows a person standing on a path through snow-covered trees; there is no visible printed caption. 1405.131 This black-and-white card shows the Three Sisters rock formation framed by a tree and cliffs; on the card is printed “Three Sisters, Katoomba.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” 1405.132 This black-and-white card shows a waterfall cascading over tiered rocky ledges; on the card is printed “Terrace Falls, Hazlebrook.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” 1405.133 This black-and-white card shows stalactites and mineral formations inside a cave; on the card is printed “GEM OF THE SOUTH, Temple of Baal. Series 31—Jenolan B. Kerry (Copyright), Sydney.” 1405.134 This coloured card shows an elevated view of a riverside settlement and broad waterway; on the card is printed “BROOKLYN, Hawkesbury River, N.S.W.” and “W. C. PENFOLD & CO.” The handwriting reads: “Am sorry I have no other cards just now. H. Downer.” 1405.135 This black-and-white card shows stalactites and mineral formations inside a cave; on the card is printed “GEM OF THE SOUTH, Temple of Baal. Series 31—Jenolan B. Kerry (Copyright), Sydney.” 1405.136 This coloured card shows a horse-drawn vehicle travelling through a densely forested mountain pass; on the card is printed “Camberwarra Pass, South Coast, New South Wales.” 1405.137 This coloured card shows a hospital complex beside a broad river with a person rowing a boat; on the card is printed “WALKER’S HOSPITAL, PARRAMATTA RIVER, NEAR SYDNEY.” and “[Star Photo. Co., Copyright.” 1405.138 This black-and-white card shows a road descending between trees towards a town; on the card is printed “A. J. Shearsby, photo.” and “Manse Hill Yass”. 1405.139 This black-and-white card shows the interior of a church with pews, altars and religious statues; on the card is printed “St. Augustine’s R. C. Church, Yass.”, “HOWARD & SHEARSBY, PHOTO.” and “WILL THOMSON, PUBLISHER.” 1405.140 This black-and-white card shows two people in a boat on a river beside a wooded hillside; on the card is printed “A. J. Shearsby, photo.” and “Murrumbidgee River Yeumburra Yass”.postcards, collecting, collections, talgarno

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 Mrs James 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.This item consists of the following: Twenty Australian postcards collected by Mrs. James Elliot between 1898 and 1915. 1405.081 This black-and-white card shows a calm river framed by large trees and dense vegetation; on the card is printed “A. J. SHEARSBY, PHOTO.”, “Yass River.” and “WILL THOMSON, PUBLISHER.” 1405.082 This coloured card shows a garden lawn with trees, a monument and city buildings; on the card is printed “Botanic Gardens, Macquarie Street, Sydney”. 1405.083 This black-and-white card shows a large college building behind an iron fence; on the card is printed “No. 325 The Scot’s College. Belle Vue Hill. Rose Bay. N.S.W.” and “G. Giovanardi, Publisher, Sydney.” 1405.084 This coloured card shows a large multi-storey office building; on the card is printed “SYDNEY HARBOUR TRUST OFFICES. N.S.W.” 1405.085 This black-and-white card shows a suspension bridge spanning a wooded river valley; on the card is printed “SUSPENSION Bridge NorthSydney.” 1405.086 This coloured card shows a small waterfall descending through a densely wooded fern gully; on the card is printed “‘Den Fenella,’ Wentworth Falls, N.S.W.” 1405.087 This black-and-white card shows a bridge crossing a calm river; on the card is printed “Murray Bridge, from Corowa.” 1405.088 This coloured card shows a horse-drawn vehicle travelling along a tree-lined mountain road; on the card is printed “ROAD SCENE, TOP OF BERRY MOUNTAIN, SHOALHAVEN DISTRICT” and “Copyright.” 1405.089 This black-and-white card shows a stone tower overlooking a coastal town; on the card is printed “MANLY FROM RED HILL.” 1405.090 This black-and-white card shows an urban park surrounded by city buildings; on the card is printed “WYNYARD SQUARE PARK, SYDNEY”. Hanwriting on the card: “1.3.06. Hope all are well. Very busy but will write on Sunday after G. comes back from Gunning. Hilda is getting on alright—a little homesick of course. Raining at last and steadily, so hope it will continue. Tell Mona to write to us. Love from all. A. M. H.” 1405.091 This coloured card shows a cascading waterfall surrounded by dense forest and ferns; on the card is printed “Britannia Falls, Valley of Waters, Blue Mountains, New South Wales.” 1405.092 This coloured card shows a rocky shoreline overlooking a crowded beach and coastal settlement; on the card is printed “1777 - Cronulla Beach near Sydney.” 1405.093 This black-and-white card shows water cascading over a broad rocky ledge; on the card is printed “Weeping Rock, Wentworth.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” The handwriting reads: “Dear aunt Emma, Thankyou for the nice post card, isnt this pretty. Do you collect? Love from Stella.” 1405.094 This black-and-white card shows water flowing over a low weir in a rural river valley; there is no visible printed caption. 1405.095 This coloured card shows two people beside a mountain lake surrounded by rocky, snow-covered slopes; on the card is printed “The Blue Lake, near Mount Kosciusko, New South Wales” and “N.G. 44”. 1405.096 This coloured card shows livestock being driven across a shallow stream by mounted riders; on the card is printed “ON WALLA WALLA STATION” and “Copyright”. 1405.097 This black-and-white card shows a series of waterfalls cascading over rocky ledges in a forested gorge; on the card is printed “THIRD FALL and CASCADES, Fitzroy, Moss Vale.” 1405.098 This coloured card shows a calm stream surrounded by dense bushland and tree ferns; on the card is printed “A BUSH STREAM”. 1405.099 This black-and-white card shows stalactites and other formations inside a cave; on the card is printed “The Curios, Jenolan, N.S.W.” and “Kerry (Copyright), Sydney.” 1405.100 This black-and-white card shows mist rising through a mountainous valley framed by trees; on the card is printed “Rising Mists, Govetts Leap.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.”postcards, collecting, collections, talgarno

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: Nineteen Australian postcards collected by Mrs. James Elliot between 1898 and 1915. 1405.161 This coloured card shows cascades flowing over rocky ledges; on the card is printed “Cascades over Katoomba Falls, New South Wales.” 1405.162 This black-and-white card shows a road through dense bush with horse-drawn vehicles; on the card is printed “Bulli Pass, N.S.W.” and “Hold up to the light”. 1405.163 This black-and-white card shows a waterfall cascading over rocky ledges; on the card is printed “Waterfalls, Yass River.”, “A. J. SHEARSBY, PHOTO.” and “WILL THOMSON, PUBLISHER.” 1405.164 This coloured card shows a horse drinking from a stream near a rustic hut; on the card is printed “HIS OLD HOME”. The handwriting reads: “With love and a happy Xmas & New Year.” The underlined signature appears to be “F. J. Hull” 1405.165 This coloured card shows the main avenue through a botanical garden with people walking among dense trees; on the card is printed “296., MAIN AVENUE. BOTANICAL GARDENS. SYDNEY, N.S.W.” and “COPYRIGHT.” 1405.166 This coloured card shows a small bush cottage in a wooded clearing: On the card is printed “Australian Scenery A Bush Home”. 1405.168 This coloured card shows a mounted man beside a fenced bush hut; on the card is printed “J HUTCHINGS”, “AUSTRALIAN TYPES” and “THE SELECTOR’S HUT”. 1405.169 This black-and-white card shows a church and adjoining rectory behind trees and a picket fence; on the card is printed “St. Paul’s Church and Rectory, Cooma”. 1405.170 This coloured card shows St Andrew’s Cathedral; on the card is printed “ST ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL.” and “STAR PHOTO CO., COPYRIGHT.” The handwriting appears to read: “Thanks for letter received yesterday. Sorry you have not been well. Trust you are better now. Thanks for the pattern; will write from Queensland. What a happy time you have had. Much love from H.S.” There is also a handwritten “Sydney” beneath the photograph. 1405.171 This black-and-white card shows a river landscape above a portrait of a dog: On the card is printed “SNOWY RIVER. ‘I WISH YOU ALL GOOD CHEER.’ Series 28—Combination. Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” 1405.172 This coloured card shows a river landscape with a wooded island and surrounding hills: On the card is printed “Long Bay and Goat Island, Hawkesbury River.” 1405.173 This black-and-white card shows a small waterfall flowing over a broad rock ledge in a wooded setting: On the card is printed “260. The Weeping Rock. — Wentworth Falls. Blue Mountain. N. S. W.” 1405.174 This black-and-white card shows a waterfall flowing through a wooded valley: On the card is printed “Valley of the Waters, Wentworth. Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” The handwriting reads: “With love from Stella. I hope you will like this. Will write next week.” 1405.175 This black-and-white card shows a view of Yass town with a bridge and a large tree in the foreground: On the card is printed “A. J. Shearsby, Photo. Yass Town from the Park. Will. Thomson, Publisher.” 1405.176 This black-and-white card shows a waterfall flowing through a wooded valley: On the card is printed “Valley of the Waters, Wentworth. Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” The handwriting reads: “With love from Stella. I hope you will like this. Will write next week.” 1405.177 This coloured card shows a large flock of sheep gathered in an open paddock: On the card is printed “A FLOCK OF SHEEP, BURRAWONG STATION Copyright.” 1405.178 This black-and-white card shows open sailing boats racing on Sydney Harbour: On the card is printed “Open Boat Sailing, Sydney Harbour. Series 95. Kerry, Copyright, Sydney.” 1405.179 This black-and-white card shows a rocky breakwater with railway tracks leading towards Nobby’s headland: On the card is printed “Ex.195. NEWCASTLE N. S. W. ‘Nobby’s’ from the Breakwater.” 1405.180 This black-and-white card shows nurses and a man standing in the gardens outside a large brick hospital: On the card is printed “Forbes Hospital. HOWE PHOTO FORBES.”postcards, collecting, collections, talgarno

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. 1405.101 This black-and-white card shows unusual mineral formations inside a cave; on the card is printed “Mysteries. Jubilee Cave. Jenolan. N.S.W.” and “Series 80. Kerry. Copyright. Sydney.” 1405.102 This black-and-white card shows a snow-covered hotel courtyard with deep drifts and icicles; on the card is printed “Court yard. Hotel Kosciusko.” and “Series 90. Kerry. Copyright. Sydney.” 1405.103 This black-and-white card shows a broad commercial street lined with shops, hotels, a clock tower and a monument; on the card is printed “Main Part of Lachlan Street looking South, Forbes, N. S. W.” 1405.104 This black-and-white card shows a large hospital building with verandahs and a central tower; on the card is printed “Forbes District Hospital, Forbes, N. S. W.” 1405.105 This coloured card shows sailing scows on Sydney Harbour; on the card is printed “SCOW, SYDNEY HARBOUR.” 1405.106 This black-and-white card shows a coastal village on steep cliffs above a rocky shoreline; on the card is printed “CLIFTON VILLAGE. Series 19—Illawarra.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” 1405.107 This black-and-white card shows stalactites and mineral formations inside a cave; on the card is printed “Alabaster Hall. Jubilee Cave. Jenolan. N.S.W.” and “Series 80. Kerry. Copyright. Sydney.” 1405.108 This black-and-white card shows a passage through a limestone cave with railings and steps; on the card is printed “Marguerite Cave. Left Imperial. Jenolan. N.S.W.” and “Series 77. Kerry, Copyright, Sydney.” 1405.109 This coloured card shows a harbour with a ferry, small boats, waterfront buildings and railway lines; on the card is printed “Lavender Bay, Sydney” and “300176.” 1405.110 This black-and-white card shows a waterfall surrounded by dense ferns and forest; on the card is printed “Lila Falls, Leura.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” The handwriting appears to read: “47 Ferndale Rd Newtown, Sydney I received post card and was pleased with it. I would be very glad if you could get me some old Victorian stamps, and if you collect stamps I will send you some in return. Stanley Owen.” 1405.111This black-and-white card shows a waterfall cascading over a series of rocky ledges; on the card is printed “Katoomba Cascade Blue Mts., N.S.W.” 1405.112 This black-and-white card shows a waterfall descending through a forested rocky gorge; on the card is printed “New Falls, Wentworth.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney.” 1405.113 This coloured card shows a waterfall descending through a forested rocky gorge; on the card is printed “New Falls, Wentworth.” and “Kerry (Copyright) Sydney”. 1405.114 This black-and-white card shows people rowing a boat on a tree-lined stretch of water; on the card is printed “NATIONAL PARK, SYDNEY, N.S.W.” 1405.115 This coloured card shows rough ocean waves with seabirds flying overhead; on the card is printed “Rough Sea, Ocean Beach, Bondi, Sydney, N.S.W.” and “FRED B.” 1405.116 This black-and-white card shows an ornate town hall building; on the card is printed “Town Hall, Albury.” 1405.117 This coloured card shows a broad tree-lined river; on the card is printed “The Murray River.” 1405.118 This coloured card shows a long tree-lined avenue with white railings; on the card is printed “Smollet Street, Avenue, Albury” and “P. W. Blake, Publisher.” 1405.119 This black-and-white card shows a harbour with ferries, boats and waterfront buildings framed by trees; on the card is printed “MOSMAN.” The handwriting reads: “This is a pretty spot in the Harbour. We are going there on Sunday.” 1405.120 This coloured card shows a convent on a hillside overlooking the water; on the card is printed “CONVENT FROM ROSE BAY, SYDNEY.”postcards, collecting, collections, talgarno