Historical information

The original postcards in this series (2013.002 to 2013.018) were generously loaned to Williamstown Botanic Gardens by a private collector for copying.

Significance

The postcards are evidence of the interest the gardens held as a subject for postcard publishers. The text and images provide a snapshot into fashions, social interests and concerns of the time. The professionally produced images provide a pictorial history of Gardens including changing planting styles, various structures and features of the Gardens eg the aviary, cannons, the fountain, the second Curator’s Lodge and gates. The images offer an opportunity to compare garden vistas with the present day.
This postcard, looking east on the main east-west axial path with a typical Victorian/Edwardian mown grass strip which in turn borders formal shrub beds with herbaceous plantings. The photo was taken after the Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonia robusta) planted in 1915, which in turn were replaced with the same species in 1987.

Physical description

Sepia image of main path of Gardens, looking east towards the Osborne Street gates and three people. The path is lined with grass, shrubs and palms.

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse: ‘POST CARD / CARTE POSTALE / Communication – Correspondence Address – Adresse’. Top right corner: a rectangle with a logo in the centre and ‘STAMP / HERE’. In pencil ‘AUSTRALIA / 50p / 1920s’