[Editor: This postcard, which incorporates a photo of the Pioneer Monument (Gundagai, NSW), including a statue of the dog on the tucker box, is believed to be from the 1950s. The postcard is undated.]
[Front of postcard]
THE ROSE SERIES P.8952 PIONEERS’ MONUMENT. Five Miles from GUNDAGAI.
Exclusive to Dog on Tuckerbox Kiosk
This card bears a royalty to Gundagai District Hospital.
COPYRIGHT
[Description: A photo of the statue of the dog on the tucker box (Gundagai).]
[Reverse of postcard]
“DOG ON TUCKERBOX”, GUNDAGAI
HISTORY OF THE 5 MILE
“Earth’s self upholds this monument
To conquerors who won her when
Wooing was dangerous, and now
Are gathered unto her again.”
This Monument is a tribute to the pioneers of Australia, and is the gift of the Citizens of Gundagai. The spot on which it stands was the famous camping ground of the bullockies, teamsters and settlers who followed close on the heels of Hume and Hovell from 1824. These hardy pioneers of Australia, facing the unknown made the first cart tracks which was to become the great Hume Highway, whilst passing on to the present great Riverina.
The discovery of gold in this district, brought a rush of thousands, and the ‘Five Mile Hotel’, the ruins of which are to be seen at the side of the present Kiosk, became the rendezvous of all classes, including bushrangers, some of whom danced at the hotel, and raced their horses at the race meetings held on the old Five Mile racecourse.
It was whilst escorting gold along this road that Sergeant Parry, of Gundagai, was shot by Gilbert, a member of the Ben Hall gang. Later, ‘Moonlight’ and his gang exploited the Gundagai district, and were eventually captured and tried at the present Gundagai Court House for the murder of Senior Constable Bowen.
The bodies of Sergeant Parry and Constable Bowen are buried side by side in the North Gundagai Cemetery.
[Handwritten text, in italics]
POST CARD
Arrived in Adelaide again. We are about to re. approach the Nulla. Will let you [know] intended date of arrival from Norseman,
Luv, Coz.
Source:
Original document
Editor’s notes:
Dimensions (approximate): 87 mm. (width), 145 mm. (height).
The right side of the postcard (regarding the front side, with photo) has been cut off; it is possible that the postcard was trimmed so as to fit it into a photo frame or an album.
luv = (vernacular) love
Norseman = a town in Western Australia, located 726 km. east of Perth and 185 km. north of Esperance
See: “Norseman, Western Australia”, Wikipedia
Nulla = (vernacular abbreviation) the Nullabor Plain, also known as the Nullarbor Desert, an area of arid and semi-arid country, located in south-east Western Australia and south-west South Australia
See: “Norseman, Western Australia”, Wikipedia
[Editor: Changed “Will let you intended date” to “Will let you [know] intended date” (the square brackets indicate an inserted word).]
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