Image notes
The photographer is named on the back as Stanley R Beer, the Strand, Sydney and the postcard was not posted or written on.
Dating Evidence
Vehicle number plates were first issued in 1910 following the Motor Traffic Act 1909. From 1910 to 1937, serials on registration plates for cars were all-numeric, running from 1 to 274-000, while serials on plates for lorries consisted of the letter L followed by up to five numbers. All plates from 1910 to 1924 consisted of black characters on a white background, with the state abbreviation added in 1912. In 1924, the colour scheme for car plates was reversed, so that they consisted of white characters on a black background.
The motor cars include model T Fords which ceased production in 1927 and remained in use for years after. Rego plates in the photo are 654, 16444, 18242, 18428. Plate 654 was issued in 1911, the 15-999 series plates began in 1919, the 18-999 series commended in 1920.
The Railway Hotel in the distance, across the railway line, was bought by Mrs. Emily Gearin in 1910 which she had extensively remodelled and enlarged in 1919, the name Gearin's Hotel appears on the frontage. This may have been part of the changes of 1919.
George James the butcher owned 40-46, the building on the right, it was built in 1904.
The Katoomba Wine Cafe, also on the right, operated from pre-1920 through the 1930s.
T Lawrie & Co Estate Agents is just visible on the extreme right, they are listed in the 1929 Post Office Directory, with the Katoomba Wine Cafe.
The 1922 Country Trades Directory lists the Katoomba Wine Cafe, prop. LP Goldstein and Lawrie and Kitchen Estate Agents.
The vacant land between the Wine Cafe and Lawrie's office would become the site of the Katoomba Fish and Oyster Cafe, a building which still stands, formerly Aroney's Cafe and which bears a date on the parapet of 1921.
The telephone poles on the far side of the street show the newer square configuration of the cross arms used from c1900, the cross arms are all on the same side of the pole, this was used after c1908.
Look closely and you will notice a soldier in the foreground, in what appears to be Light Horse uniform with leather leggings and slouch hat, with his back to the camera. The local mounted contingent was the 12th Light Horse, recruited at Liverpool in March 1915, which served on Anzac, Egypt and Palestine until returning home in July 1919. Australian troops on active service took leave in Cairo or London, only wounded or demobilised men returned home.
The clothing shows a range of styles, with age differences evident among the men and women, as well as occupation differences in the men's wear. By the time war broke out in 1914, skirts had shortened slightly, and by 1915 the skirt was several inches above the ankle, widening at the hem to ensure more freedom of movement. Although the short skirt was not a creation of the war, war-time hurried this movement along since a more practical form of dress was considered desirable for women.
Note also the men on the extreme right and in the middle of the road in light coloured suits, and the motorist in a driving coat chatting to the women. The period 1910 to 1919 was a particularly interesting time for menswear, young men no longer wanted to look older than they were - they no longer wanted to resemble their elders. They were influenced in their style of dress by the competitive spirit of sport. Those who wore suits often chose the 'dandy' look, with a two or three button single breasted jacket with high, nipped waist and unpadded, naturally sloping shoulders, with narrow cuffed trousers, cut short above the ankle, revealing boots or shoes with slightly raised heels. The alternative for those who opted not to wear suits was the 'tradesmen's' attire. This consisted of corduroy trousers, or overalls with heavy shoes, a bulky sweater or an oversize smock.
Conclusion: circa 1918
Format: B&W photograph printed on post card, no. 6 in a catalogue or work sheet. Stanley R Beer Studio, Strand, Sydney.
Licensing: Attribution, non-commercial, share alike, creative commons.
Repository: Blue Mountains Library -
library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/
Part of: Local Studies Collection PF 2936
Provenance: Beverly Hvass from her grandfather Karl Hvass, a master cabinet maker who, with his father Edvard, travelled around NSW doing work in banks, shops and offices. The post card was probably collected when he was working in Katoomba around 1920.
Links:
Federation costume
www.eurekacouncil.com.au/Australian-Culture/Australian-Fa...
Dating old photographs from lightpoles
telephonecollecting.org/lightpoles.htm
Vehicle registration plates of NSW -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_New_...
