Historical information

This photograph shows the "lay back" atmosphere enjoyed in a small country town in the 1940s to the 1950s. Two women and a young boy basking in the warmth of the sun. The unsealed drive way and cars parked close to the entrance was typical of small towns during this period. Open doors and shady trees provided sufficient cooling for most sunny days. The wooden barrel next to the outside wall shows that storage space within the hotel was limited and that metal aluminium barrels had not been in existence. This photograph was taken at a time when children and women had limited access to the major drinking and entertainment facilities within a hotel(pub). Legal drinking age was for patrons 21 years and older and no strict dress codes where applied. The hotel bar was not open on Sundays (God fearing) and opening time restrictions were in place. "In transit" clients were given some leniency when staying in small country hotels as strict liquor laws

Significance

This photograph presents a window to a life in the 1940s to 1950s, of a small town in the Kiewa Valley. It covers a period when the local hotel or "pub" was the meeting point for local men and women to talk about local events and life in general. It was also a point where "locals' had the first opportunity to meet new arrivals and converse with tourists and "through traffic". The importance of "face to face" verbal communication was a critical part of community life and interaction. The hotel(pub) was in this period the hub of small communities, and together with local churches provided the essential structure for a balanced existence in rural Australia.

Physical description

Black and white photo of Tawonga Hotel. This photo is in itself a photo of a photo and as such lacks fine detail.

Inscriptions & markings

This reproduction is on "Kodak XtraLife II paper "