Historical information
This postcard depicts the view down Bridge Street from east of Maria Street (Main Road) circa 1910. A man on a horse stands in the foreground. J.H. Clark Photo is stated under the title.
From the same collection as accession no. 00778, (Yarra at Eltham) - sent from Eltham and addressed to "Mr J. L. Brown, "Elthamville", Tinning Street, Brunswick" "with love from Nellie" who was most probably a member of the extended Brown family, and no. 00779 (Pond near Eltham Park). "Dear John, As you see " can be ascertained on the reverse of this card.
Sending postcards to family and friends including short messages was a common form of communication in the early 20th century.
Photographer: J.H. Clark
John Henry Clark was the youngest of three boys born to William Henry Clark (1823-1877) and Maria White (1843-1914). He and his brothers, William Charles Clark (1872-1945), Clement Kent Clark (1874-1912) operated a photography business (Clark Bros.) from 25 Thomas Street, Windsor near Prahran during the period c.1894 to 1914. Following death of Clement in September 1912 and their mother in 1914, the Clark Bros business appears to have dissolved, the premises demolished, and a new house was under construction in 1915. John set up business independently in 1914 operating out of 29 Moor Street, Fitzroy where he is registered in the 1914 and 1915 Electoral Rolls.
By 1916 John had relocated to Eltham where he continued his practice as a photographer and took many of the early images around the district of Little Eltham.
Around 1930 John changed professions and opened a small cobbler's shop in 1931 near the pond opposite Dalton Street adjacent to the Jarrold family cottage. He never married and continued his profession as a bootmaker from this little shop, maintaining a close relationship with Mrs Jarrold for the rest of their lives. His bootmaker shop remains today beside the Whitecloud cottage and is one of only three remaining shops in the area from the early 20th century.
There are a couple of images of Eltham taken by Clark Bros. in the Eltham District Historical Society collection, one such example being Hunniford’s Post Office with Miss Anne Hunniford out front (EDHS_00140 - marked on the back of the print, Clark Bros., 25 Thomas St. Windsor), which would date this image between c.1894 and 1914. Other early images of Eltham taken by John Henry Clark are marked on the face “J. H. Clark Photo” and it is assumed these are dated between 1914 and 1930.
It is noted that the Grant of Probate for John H Clark of Eltham South dated 5 April !957 (513/387) records his occupation as "X Photographer".
Significance
Sending postcards to family and friends including short messages was a common form of communication in the early 20th century.
Physical description
Original sepia photo postcard hand dated 20 May 1911 in very poor condition which has been removed from an album. Glue residue and album page adhering preventing information being read
Inscriptions & markings
Eltham J.H. Clark Photo
