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Summary:: This is a colour postcard of the Exhibition Building showing the south west facade of the building and the gardens in the foreground, post 1905. It shows an electric light, urn and fence within the garden. The postcard, which was sent to Mrs L Frestone, 14 Duckett St, West Brunswick, was printed by Robert Jolley. Robert Jolley began postcard production in Melbourne around 1900.

The Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, which opened to visitors on 1 October 1880. By the early 20th century, picture postcards of the Exhibition Building were a popular Melbourne souvenir.

The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Australia until 1905.
Description:: A colour tinted photograph of the Exhibition Building showing the south west facade with gardens and shrubs in the foreground. The postcard is tinted light blue, pink and green. On the reverse there is a handwritten inscription and address in purple ink. There is no date or stamp.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from Trustees of the Royal Exhibition Building (REB), 1991

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	88 mm (Height), 138 mm (Width)

Tagged with:	correspondence, exterior views, royal exhibition building, souvenirs, buildings, postcards, civic mementoes
Themes this item is part of:	Royal Exhibition Building Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING
Secondary Classification:	Revenue
Tertiary Classification:	souvenir postcards
Inscriptions:	Obverse, text: 11. EXHIBITION BUILDING/ MELBOURNE; RJ Reverse, text: POST CARD; EMPIRE; FOR CORRESPONDENCE; STAMP Reverse, handwritten: To Lizzie/ From Minnie; Mrs L Frestone/ 14 Duckett St/ W Brunswick
Publisher:	Robert Jolley, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, post 1905 The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Britain until 1902 and Australia until 1905.
Place & Date Depicted:	Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, post 1905
Addressed To:	Mrs L Frestone, post 1905
References:	See Cook, David. 'Picture Postcards in Australia 1898-1920' pp138-139 for info on Robert Jolley.