Historical information

Postcard shows small oval shaped photograph of Collins St framed by a green drawing of timber posts with a kookaburra and magpie on top. The photo shows cable trams and many pedestrians in Collins St.

This message is time critical as this soldier is likely off to the European war and writing to his wife, sweet-heart or sister. 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.

The troopship HMAT Ballarat mentioned in the text departed Melbourne for Port Suez on 18/2/16 and Plymouth on 19/2/17, so the postcard author was likely on one of these two departures. As the Ballarat approached Plymouth with 1150 troops on board, it was sunk by a German U-boat on 25/4/17 yet everyone survived.

Significance

Yields information about Collins St, The Block and the use of postcards for short messages.

Physical description

Partially coloured postcard with title on front and detailed personal message but no delivery address or stamp on rear.

Inscriptions & markings

On front 'Collins Street Melbourne'. On rear: postcard markings, 'Printed in Melbourne' and hand written personal message written in ink from a departing soldier, which includes ' Dear Mary ... We fall in at 5 o'clock tomorrow morning. Reveille sounds at 3 o'clock. You had better not come down to see me off. It's rather early ... the Ballarat is a good boat. I will write from next port .... Jack'