Historical information

Postcard shows cable trams, horse drawn carriages and pedestrians in Swanston St looking towards the Town Hall. Before the telephone, postcards were often used to send brief personal or business messages to others in Melbourne or further afield. There were eleven postal deliveries each week (two on weekdays, one on Saturdays) and postcards were cheaper than telegrams.

Significance

Yields information about Swanston St and the use of postcards for short messages.

Physical description

Black and white postcard with title and detailed personal message on front; on rear are postcard markings, stamp and handwritten delivery address.

Inscriptions & markings

On front 'Swanston St east side from Morrells Hotel, Melbourne'. Covering the space occupied by the sky, is a long closely hand written personal message written in ink which is mostly illegible. On rear in ink is the destination address written in large clear letters (London England), postcard markings, 'The V.S.M.Series' and a stamp.