Historical information

Sliding Gunter was the nom de Plume of Thomas Hamilton Tracey Osborne. Thomas Hamilton Tracey Osborne was born at Belfast 4/9/1851, the son of Thomas Hamilton Trail Osborne and his second wife Eliza nee Treacey. The young Thomas spent many hours among seamen and ships at Port Fairy. He moved to Warrnambool and commenced work as secretary to the Western Steam Navigation Company becoming manager in 1883. After the company failed he joined with Mark Saltau and they traded as Saltau and Osborne. His writings as Sliding Gunter appeared in The Warrnambool Standard and the Belfast Gazette. He was knowlegable and maintained an interest in shipping and the sea. He died in 11th December 1902 and his body was taken on board the Julia Percy and was buried at sea out from the Breakwater. He was well liked in the district and people lined the Cannon Hill area and the foreshore to farewell him.
As an avid writer he corresponded with many people and this letter is one such letter The writer J J Crawford from Koroit tells the story of some of his family and their travels to Australia and early years in South Australia.
The contents of letters such as these show he drew information from various sources.

Significance

These letters as they relate to one of Warrnambool's earliest writers hold historic and social significance.

Physical description

002192.1 Plain white paper letter handwritten in black ink on back and front of letter
002192.2 Plain white paper letter handwritten in black ink on front and section on the back written sideways. Both letters are in the same hand.

Inscriptions & markings

002192.1 dated 27 Feb 1902, Koroit. Signed J J Crawford
002192.2 Dated 1 March 1902, Koroit.