Historical information
This Directory of 1889 covers the location of Melbourne based trade and professional offices by street and in Alphabetical order. It covers all of Melbourne and its suburbs. It also covers government and official, ecclesiastic, legal, municipal and miscellaneous information. The directory details a cross section of a developing city with a splattering of advertisements opening up an in depth look of all aspects of living in the late 1800s. It is interesting to see that all the advertisements do not have any telecommunication numbers listed (personal shoppers or mail orders only). This was a period of high moral standing within the community and hotels advertised rooms " suites of rooms for families and single rooms for Ladies and Gentlemen" also "electric bells throughout the house. Telephone, night porter and hot and cold baths."
Significance
This directory would be used by the majority of families and businesses working and living within the Kiewa Valley and the surrounding area. Melbourne was the only place where every aspect of living requirement was catered for. Although the delivery of services and goods were not at a high rate, certain items or transactions would require a visit to "the big smoke". Business information are listed both by suburb and alphabetically. There is also a section for British and Foreign Trade. This directory covered nearly everything to do with commerce, an example pay days for principle firms. Greater evolution of trade locations started to balloon out after the mid 1950's. Increased populations and greater levels of communication and safe fast transport facilities permitted greater devolution of commercial enterprises into rural communities, such as the Kiewa Valley.
Physical description
This directory has no front or back cover and is held together by its cloth spine. It contains over 1300 pages, however there may be some pages missing front and back of the directory which would have contained advertisements of some unknown shops. All the sides of this directory (except the spine) have advertisements and content information stamped on. The spine cover has been placed in the directory until further conservation work is carried out. It has gold coloured printing and in the central section, a gold coloured background with the words "Sands & McDougall's Melbourne Directory 1889." The spine has three adverts on the spine.
Inscriptions & markings
On the spine in gold colour "South * British insurance Company Fire and Marine. Risks Lowest Current Rates No. 11 Queen Street, Arthur J Masters, Manager" and half way down " *Phoenix* Fire Office of London established over 100 years Annual Income exceeds (pound sign) 1,000,000" underneath "Losses Paid Over (pound sign) 16,000,000" underneath "Reserve Fund Exceeds (pound sign) 1,000,000" underneath "9 Market Buildings William Street, Melbourne " underneath " R. Manfield Taylor, Agent" and at the bottom section" Henry Scott Auctioneer and Estate Agent 49 Bridport St., Albert Park" stamped on the bottom side across the page endings "The Wonderful Wertheim Sewing Machines Swanston Street opposite Town Hall", stamped on the top side across the page endings " The Sweet Hapsburg Pianos & Organs Swanston Street Opposite Town Hall"
