SERIES: Views From A Trip Around The World
ILLUSTRATIONS: Bushrangers; The Esplanade, St. Kilda; Government House of Melbourne; Collins Street East
SIZE: 5" x 3"
DATE: 1891
LITHOGRAPHER: Joseph P. Knapp, N.Y.
CONDITION: Fair, I'd say. The front of this card is just a bit soiled, but the back has a considerable amount of brownish glue staining and residue. The card also has several thumb bends, as well as creases across the lower right corner.. (Please see scans.)
MULTIPLE ITEM SHIPPING DISCOUNT: I will ship up to 4 cards for the single base shipping charge shown. For purchases of more than 4 cards, the shipping charge will increase by just a small increment for every 4 additional cards.
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REVERSE TEXT: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
Melbourne, the Capital of the Colony of Victoria, and the most populous city of Australia, is situated at the head of the large Bay of Port Philip, on its northern bend, known as Hobson's Bay, about 500 miles southwest of Sidney by land, and 770 by sea. Along the shores of the bay the suburbs extend over 10 miles, but what is distinctively called the "city" occupies a site about three miles inland, on the north bank of the Yarra River. The aspect of Melbourne from the sea is far from prepossessing. The shipping suburbs of Sandridge and Williamstown occupy the alluvial land at the mouth of the Yarra, the district being low and flat and covered with factories. But the city itself is quite different, its situation being relieved by numerous gentle hills which show off to great advantage its fine public buildings. The streets are wide and well kept, and the universal appearance of prosperity, activity and comfort, under its usually clear blue sky, impresses the visitor pleasantly.
The two hills of East and West Melbourne constitute the city proper, the valley between them--once occupied by a densely wooded little stream--is now partly filled in and forms the busy thoroughfare of Elizabeth street; parallel runs Swanston street, and at right angles to this, and parallel to the river, are Bourke, Collins and Flinders streets--the first being the busiest in Melbourne, the second containing the most fashionable stores, and the third, facing the river, being devoted to maritime purposes. The principal streets are wide, and between them are narrower ones, occupied by warehouses and business premises. A circle of populous suburbs surrounds the city, all lying within three miles of the general Post Office. Within a radius of five miles are another system of lesser suburbs. There are many elegant and spacious public buildings. One of them, used by the law courts, stands on a hill of W. Melbourne, and has a cupola similar to that on the Capitol at Washington. The Observatory contains an equatorial telescope which for some years was the largest in the world.
Population 1889, 445,220.
