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
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| Dover Publications "60 Great Travel Posters" "Australia in the Sun" by Percy Trompf, c. 1935 |
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?
ReplyDeleteI 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!
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!
DeleteHi there. Lovely poster. They still use these style posters all over the UK railways to advertise seaside towns. I think they're just lovely
ReplyDeleteAngeline
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.
ReplyDeleteI love old travel posters! Loved the movie 'Australia' too (even though the critics didn't!)
ReplyDeleteI do too, and would be wonderful to be a serious collector of the old ones.
Deletei love your post--i am always learning something, friend!!
ReplyDelete"Back at you," Thank you!
DeleteI'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).
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to read the rest of the verses. Now when I hear it in my mind, it won't be the same.
Deletepercy trompf is the greatest! cool post!
ReplyDeleteThank 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).
DeleteThrough 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!
ReplyDeleteIt was not on my "bucket list" before, but now it is.
DeleteI love old travel posters! Neat!
ReplyDeleteThe Write Soil
Thanks, Dawn, for stopping by. The challenge is energizing--I enjoy the comments especially.
DeleteAustralia is on my bucket list, so this post was just perfect. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with the rest of the challenge!
ReplyDeleteHi from Nagzilla bloghopping A to Z
Thanks, Nagzilla. Good luck to you as well.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I lived in Australia for ten years. Loved it there!
ReplyDeleteAmy, did you swim and surf everyday? To me, it would be an adventure to live there.
DeleteHello! I'm a new follower from the A to Z Challenge. Nice to meet you! :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Australia. Just love old posters!
ReplyDeleteCynthia from The Sock Zone
Nice to meet both of you. The Challenge is always fun, like being at a great party and meeting so many new people.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about other places. So many cultures waiting to be discovered, so many places to be explored and so little time. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteLovely post. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.
Also, thanks for visiting my blog!
you can ad my sigh to yours. Not enough time. . . .Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteIt 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.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
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.
DeleteWhat a great post & theme! I'll certainly be back for more :)
ReplyDeleteHappy AtoZing
Jemima at Jemima's Blog
Thank you, JP! Happy A-Zing to you too. I am off to visit your blog.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Google, they have all the verses and the background. Thank you for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteCool idea- love the posters! Happy A-Zing!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Just got back to checking Australia. Hope you are having fun with the A-Z.
ReplyDelete