Historical information

While the caption on this postcard says 'Gembrook', Menzies Creek does not run to Gembrook; it diverges from Woori Yallock Creek at Butterfield Reserve in Emerald and then runs to the town of Menzies Creek. This makes it more likely that this photograph is from Emerald or Menzies Creek, with the annotation on the reverse suggesting it was near Butterfield Reserve and therefore in Emerald. It is part of Melbourne's V.S.M. (Victoria Stamp Market) Series, printed in Prussia, Germany alongside several similar hand-coloured postcards in our collection. This postcard is believed to originate from c. 1905, but the image itself - depicting a gold washing bath on Menzies Creek - might be older. Gold mining in Emerald was most popular in the 1850s and 60s. However, gold mining on Menzies Creek reopened in the 1890s depression, which is a more likely source of this photograph.

Significance

This postcard is significant for its relative uniqueness as a colourised depiction of Emerald's gold mining history.

Physical description

This item is a hand-coloured photographic postcard. The reverse has empty message, stamp, and address sections, with a small handwritten annotation in pencil and printed publication information. The photograph is accompanied by a printed caption in the bottom-left. It depicts a creek running through a wooden trough, surrounded by greenery - trees, shrubs, and ferns, in particular. The paper is slightly yellowed.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse, Caption: "Gold Washing Bath, Menzies Creek Gembrook"
Reverse:
Handwritten Annotation: "Menzies Creek near Butterfield Park / GOLD"
Printed Label, Vertical: "Printed in Prussia"
Printed Label, Horizontal: "V.S.M. Series, Melbourne"