Historical information

This is an ash tray sold to tourists as a souvenir of a visit to Warrnambool. It would have been relatively cheap to buy. Souvenirs such as this were mass-produced for the tourist market and a relevant photograph inserted on the base to suit the town or settlement where they were sold. As cigarette-smoking is no longer so socially acceptable, items such as this one are no longer sold as tourist souvenirs.

Significance

This item is of interest as an example of the type of souvenir sold to tourists in Australia in the first half of the 20th century, probably in the 1940s or 1950s. It is of particular local interest because it contains a photograph of Warrnambool during that time.

Physical description

This is a souvenir tin ash tray circular in shape. It has a colour photograph of Warrnambool inserted into the base of the dish (Flagstaff Hill showing part of the fortifications, the Lower Lighthouse, a camping ground and Warrnambool Bay). The ash tray has three lips on the side of the dish for resting a cigarette. The base is gold-coloured and is slightly tarnished.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Warrnambool Victoria’