Historical information

This image shows part of a street procession moving along Main Street Bacchus Marsh. The location is in front of the Mechanics Institute building. Two connected tricycles can be seen in the foreground. The Bacchus Marsh Express on 9 April 1904 described an ANA Sports day procession which included "two tricycles which were used for an ingenious travesty of a motor car". The same report also described two characters mounted on horses who were dressed as 'Beefeaters'. Beefeaters, are officially known as Yeomen Warders. They are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London in England. They originated in 1485 and the ceremonial style of dress most associated with them resembles that worn by the man on horseback in this image. The two Bacchus Marsh 'Beefeaters identified by the Express in 1904 were C. Fagg and P.A. McFarlane giving a clue to the identity of the man on horseback in this image. The style of people's clothing in the picture suggests it is from around the 1890s or 1900s, and the presence of the Tricycle suggests it could be 1904. The event associated with the street parade is not known for certain. But from descriptions in the Bacchus Marsh Express in the 1900s it appears it is part of the Bacchus Marsh branch of the Australian Natives Association (A.N.A,) annual sports festival which was held over the Easter period.

Physical description

One digital file acquired from State Library of Victoria.
One print copy for BMDHS collection reproduced from digital file.
BMDHS Location: Photo Album - Entertainment and Recreation