Postcard - 'A Peep at the Exhibition Building', Southern Facade, Exhibition Building, Melbourne, circa 1905

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Summary:: This is a colour postcard of the Exhibition Building showing the dome and part of the southern facade of the building with the lake and gardens in the foreground circa 1905. The postcard is addressed to Mrs Laughton, 105 Commercial Road, Footscray, but is not dated.

The Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, which opened to visitors on 1 October 1880. On 9 May 1901, it hosted the opening of the First Commonwealth Parliament of Australia. 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 dome and part of the southern side of building with the lake and garden in the foreground. The view looks across the lake towards the building. The building is partly obscured by trees and garden. On the reverse side there is a handwritten message in black ink. There is no stamp or date.

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	87 mm (Height), 138 mm (Width)

Tagged with:	civic mementoes, correspondence, royal exhibition building, souvenirs, buildings, postcards, exterior views
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: A Peep at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne,/ Victoria; 109 Reverse, text: POST CARD; This part may be used for Correspondence.; ADDRESS ONLY TO BE HERE.; Put stamp here; B 135/841; No. 4. Reverse, handwritten: Dear Mrs Laughton/ Just a line to ask you/ to send me Aggie's/ address Alf said in his/ last letter to write to you/ he does no know hoping/ you will not think that I have/ got a cheak to ask you also/ hoping you are all well/ also the children./ Yours Lil.; Mrs Laughton/ 105 Commercial/ Road/ Footsgray
Date Made:	Australia, circa 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, circa 1905
Addressed To:	Mrs Laughton, Footscray, Victoria, Australia, 1905