Historical information

This postcard shows a photograph originally captured by Nicholas John Caire (1837–1918), a prolific photographer living in Melbourne at the turn of the century and capturing much of southeast Victoria with dry plate photography. The original photograph, labelled 'Bush Hut' and held by the National Gallery of Victoria, had a slightly wider angle of the hut included. A 'Selector' was a landholder after the late-19th century who was allowed to 'select' a piece of crown land, apply for a license to occupy it. In Victoria, Selectors would buy half of the land for £1 per acre, and pay rent on the other half for seven years; after this period, if they had made certain improvements to the land (fenced it, built on it, and grown crops on at least 10% of it) and had paid off the balance of the purchase price, the land would become theirs permanently. This system was designed to limit the numbers of 'Squatters' - settlers occupying land without government permission - and make it more feasible for poorer small farmers and labourers to acquire land. However, a Selector's life was often difficult due to the risk of having land unsuitable for crop farming, and opposition from powerful 'Squatters' whose occupied land was being redistributed.

The postcard was part of the A.G.J. Series, which included many Australian sights including other photography from Caire. It was published by A.G.J. in Saxony.

Significance

This postcard depicts a home in the region built in a style common for the time. The Selection system exemplified by this image was in force throughout the region.

Physical description

This black and white postcard depicts a wooden bush hut surrounded by trees, with a man seated in front of his home. There is a label below the picture, and text on the reverse denoting the postcard (with the Post Card titles struck out by three straight lines) and a pencil illustration of a leaf. The reverse is divided in half by a vertical line, with one side intended to carry the address and the other a message.

Inscriptions & markings

Front-Left, Below Image: "Copyright."
Front-Centre, Below Image: "A Selector's Home, Dandenong Ranges."
Reverse, Upper Left: "Printed in Saxony."
Reverse, Centre: "POST CARD / $12 / ADDRESS ONLY"
Reverse, Right: "AFFIX / STAMP"
Reverse, Lower Left: "A. G. J. Series."