Historical information
View looking west across Main Road towards the Greensborough Hotel built 1925 and adjoining shops. A Ford Model Y 4dr Saloon Registration 83-961 is parked in Main Road outside the shops. Visible are Ryan Bros Butchers, State Electricity Commission of Victoria, Dispensing Chemist, Ray Trinham Grocer & Ironmonger Ryan Bros Butchers sold their shop to new owners in December 1938.
This glass plate negative was used to manufacture postcards (1:1 printing) for commercial sale by the Rose Sterograph Company and its subsidiaries.
George Rose founded the Rose Stereograph Company in 1880 and was joined by Herbert (Bert) Cutts in the early 20th Century. The pair formed a lifetime working partnership and strong personal friendship. Assisted by George’s two sons, Herbert George and Walter, and later by Neil Cutts, the Rose Stereograph Company continued its operations for more than 140 years.
The company was initially built on stereographs, but as cinema took over and stereographs fell out of fashion, the Rose Stereograph Company developed Australia’s first commercially viable photographic postcard business. Specialising in postcards of iconic historical moments and significant landmarks, The Rose Stereograph Company became a staple of the Australian travel industry.
Significance
This remarkable collection of glass plate negatives, transparencies, and postcards – arguably Australia’s most significant photography collection outside of public hands – has been passed down through the generations, surviving war, relocation, and the harsh Victorian climate. The historic Rose Stereograph collection is the culmination of George Rose’s dream of capturing and preserving precious moments in time and remains the legacy of the Rose and Cutts families.
It is with great sadness that the Cutts family says goodbye to a collection that spans five generations and 140 years. The Cutts family understands that for these historically important pieces to rest with one family is to deny others the pleasure of their custodianship.
Physical description
Glass Plate Negative Size: 9 x 13.9 cm
Inscriptions & markings
Greensborough Hotel, Greensborough, Published by W. M. Butterworth No. 5
Subjects
- postcard,
- travel,
- rose stereograph company,
- glass plate negative,
- greensborough,
- main road,
- w. m. butterworth,
- greensborough hotel,
- ford model y 4 dr saloon,
- dispensing chemist,
- grocer and ironmonger,
- ray trinham,
- ryan bros butchers,
- state electricity commission of victoria,
- peter and elizabeth pidgeon collection
References
- Federated Builders' Association of Australia & Master Builders' Federation of Australia. (1907). Hotels and Their Making WHAT AUSTRALIA LACKS, Building : the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant Article on the architectural design attributes of the hotel (illustrated)
- GREENSBOROUGH (1938, December 16). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 2 Ryan Bros Butchers shop sold Dec 1938 GREENSBOROUGH (1938, December 16). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 2. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56848742 GREENSBOROUGH (1939, January 20). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 4. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56962584
- Advertising (1933, April 28). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 6 State Electricity Commission of Vicoria operated an office and showroom from the building on Main Street at least from April 1933
- NEW HOTEL AT GREENSBOROUGH (1923, July 25). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 12 Hotel to be demolished and new hotel built
