Australian Christmas Postcards

We've had a look at some swell early twentieth century Christmas postcards already this month, including a few with images that seemed to have little do with Christmas. Well, the Australians of the 1890s-1910s took it one step farther and simply stamped Christmas wishes onto any random photograph to make holiday postcards (at least, it was pretty common; I don't have a representative sample, but there's certainly it was popular!). I suppose it makes some sense-- send a picture of the place you live along with your greetings, especially to someone living far away--but certainly it's a bit random, and delightful. 

And Merry Christmas to the Aussies, who get it before most of us, after all!

Selected from a larger Christmas card set by the State Library of Queensland (except two, from the Powerhouse Museum). Many thanks to Tania Schafer, curator of that set!

State Library of Queensland

Sutton's Beach, Redcliffe, c. 1908. Source

State Library of Queensland

Merry Christmas from Queensland, c. 1900. Source

State Library of Queensland

The post office at St. George, c. 1905. Source

The Streets of Sydney, 1888

Another series of candid snapshots of people out and about... this time in the 19th century [c. 1885-1890, actually; I averaged], and Sydney, Australia! The State Library of New South Wales, from which these are drawn, states these are probably taken with a hidden camera-- even better, eh?

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Out walking the pet duck. Source

Taking a ride on the sheep. Source

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Happy Australia Day

Australia is apparently the number 4 country for views of this blog, so how could I not celebrate their national holiday? Plus, of course, Aussies are awesome! :)

Australia Day float, Brisbane, 1947. Source

Tea float, Sydney, 1938. Source

Australia Day picnic, Brisbane, 1908. Source

Aerial view of Sydney at the opening of the Harbour Bridge, 1932. Source

The Sydney Harbour Bridge mid-construction, 1930. Source

Construction of St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, 1920s. Source

Angel Place in the rain, Sydney, 1930s. Source

Car being driven down the steps of Sydney Town Hall, 1920s... just because? Source

Collins Street, Melbourne. Source

Blue Mountains scenery, c. 1900. Source

A lookout in the Blue Mountains, c. 1900. Source

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, c. 1900. Source

A lookout near Wentworth Falls, c. 1900. Source

The beautifully named Bridal Falls, c. 1900. Source

Refugee Bay, Hawksbury River, New South Wales. Source

Rising mists, Govett's Leap, New South Wales, c. 1900. Source

Forest in Victoria. Source

Source [this and the next few (with one exception) are LIFE 'mystery photographs' without dates or specific locations; just Central Australia]

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Fresh milk for a wallaby, Queensland. Source

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A group of Aboriginals on the Murray River, South Australia, 1886. Source

A line of kookaburras, c.1900. Source

Woman in an Australian flag, c. 1920. Source