Monday, April 1, 2013

A is for Australia; the Golden Age of Travel Posters

Before we begin this challenge, we all thank Arlee Bird, or Lee for being the guru and founder of this special challenge.  And since his name begins with "A," today is an appropriate day to do this.



During the early years of the 20th Century, with the advent of rail travel and steam ships that crossed the Atlantic and Pacific,  an unprecedented era of travel was born and was clearly seen in the travel posters of that time.  Art, architecture, scenic historic places were featured on these posters to lure and entice you to visit "those faraway place with strange sounding names."

Australia has both an ancient and recent past history that is as diverse as the country and would require many, many paragraphs to even touch the highlights.  One fact stood out in my research:  In 1914 the male population of Australia was less than 3 million, yet 400,000 men volunteered to fight in World War I.  They also fought in the ill-fated battle of Gallipoli.  Australia lost 60,000 men in World War I, with many,many wounded.  

Waltzing Matilda is known as the unofficial national anthem of Australia and is a song about a tramp who camps by a creek and steals a sheep.  To avoid capture, he drowns himself.  In my distant past, I remember singing this song in Girl Scout Camp, but never beyond the first verse, so researching this song was a revelation.

I think this poster captures the spirit of an early Australia.  You feel as if you are under a tree in shadow, watching a sheepherder with only one dog manage a huge sheep herd.  It feels hot, but perfect for an adventurous spirit.

More information about Australia can be found on many web-sites.  Here is one:  www.pandora.nla.gov.au 



Dover Publications "60 Great Travel Posters"  "Australia in the Sun" by Percy Trompf,  c. 1935

33 comments:

  1. Hi from A-Z! How amazing, I am an Aussie girl and live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and am your first comment for the challenge. What are the odds?
    I must say thanks for choosing Oz as your first post on behalf of my fellow Australians!
    We don't all live a life of sheep and cattle stations anymore, the Chinese are starting to buy them all up or unfortunately the farmers are closing up and moving on! Soon the sheep and cattle stations will be a thing of the past. How we will find food, is yet to be seen. Most likely buy it back from the Chinese! Only joking! Have a great A-Z Challenge!

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    1. What are the odds? How perfect. I learned so much just researching this post. Now I have to visit this amazing place. Thank you for being the first!

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  2. Hi there. Lovely poster. They still use these style posters all over the UK railways to advertise seaside towns. I think they're just lovely

    Angeline

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  3. Hi Angeline. There are more to come. The posters from the UK in times past. I have a great one for L for London. Thank you for visiting.

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  4. I love old travel posters! Loved the movie 'Australia' too (even though the critics didn't!)

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    1. I do too, and would be wonderful to be a serious collector of the old ones.

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  5. i love your post--i am always learning something, friend!!

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  6. I've always wanted to know more about Australia. Someday I may visit there. I used to have to sing "Waltzing Matilda" in grade school. I thought it was fun (as did most of the kids).

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    1. I was surprised to read the rest of the verses. Now when I hear it in my mind, it won't be the same.

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  7. percy trompf is the greatest! cool post!

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    1. Thank you for mentioning Percy Trompf. In my research, I read that his work was instantly recognizable in Australia and much admired in Britain and the US. His dates are (1902-1964).

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  8. Through various blog challenges I've been able to get a glimpse of what it would be like to travel to Australia. Such a beautiful place!

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    1. It was not on my "bucket list" before, but now it is.

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    1. Thanks, Dawn, for stopping by. The challenge is energizing--I enjoy the comments especially.

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  10. Australia is on my bucket list, so this post was just perfect. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with the rest of the challenge!

    Hi from Nagzilla bloghopping A to Z

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  11. Thanks, Nagzilla. Good luck to you as well.

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  12. Very cool! I lived in Australia for ten years. Loved it there!

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    1. Amy, did you swim and surf everyday? To me, it would be an adventure to live there.

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  13. Hello! I'm a new follower from the A to Z Challenge. Nice to meet you! :)

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  14. I would love to see Australia. Just love old posters!



    Cynthia from The Sock Zone

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  15. Nice to meet both of you. The Challenge is always fun, like being at a great party and meeting so many new people.

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  16. I love reading about other places. So many cultures waiting to be discovered, so many places to be explored and so little time. Sigh.

    Lovely post. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

    Also, thanks for visiting my blog!

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    1. you can ad my sigh to yours. Not enough time. . . .Thanks for stopping by.

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  17. It almost seems like that poster was an inspiration for the film "Australia." Except they had cattle, methinks. It's been awhile since I watched it. Such a neat poster! But you know me, it appeals to the history geek in me, and especially to the frontier geek that lords it over the rest of them.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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    1. Perhaps it was and cattle replaced the sheep. The artist is well known in Australia, so it would be possible that they used this poster. These posters do reflect the history of the time. If you read the "B" entry, you might be intrigued by the towers -- there is a story there, a mystery. Thanks for stopping by, Shannon.

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  18. What a great post & theme! I'll certainly be back for more :)

    Happy AtoZing

    Jemima at Jemima's Blog

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  19. Thank you, JP! Happy A-Zing to you too. I am off to visit your blog.

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  20. You have me wanting to check out that tune again. My memory had it about an injured soldier. Don't recal the sheep. Love the poster for a, B, and C.

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  21. Check out Google, they have all the verses and the background. Thank you for stopping by.

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  22. Cool idea- love the posters! Happy A-Zing!

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  23. Thank you. Just got back to checking Australia. Hope you are having fun with the A-Z.

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