Historical information

This photo shows a large paddock of beet (sugar beet) growing on a flat paddock, probably on the Snowy River flats. The fertility of the Snowy River flats is legendary. Although almost any crop could be grown, in the early years, because of the poor transport from this remote region of Victoria, only crops that could be stored, usually dried crops such as maize, could be produced. After the railway was constructed to Orbost in 1916, other crops could be produced and send by the Railways to Melbourne. Associated with crops such as sugar beet was the need for a huge amount of hand-labour, particularly for harvesting. Sugar beet was usually sent to a factory in Maffra.

Significance

This photograph is significant because it is rare, and shows a field of sugar beet growing on the Snowy River flats, Orbost, in the 1930s. It shows the flourishing of agriculture in the inter-war period, and following the construction of the Railway to Orbost.

Physical description

This is a small b/w photograph, printed as a postcard. It shows a large paddock with a crop growing and a woman wearing a dress standing in the middle of the paddock with the crop around her legs.

Inscriptions & markings

SNOWY'S BEET, March 10th 1938.