Dating, again

THE NEXT JOURNAL ISSUE IS ABOUT TRAVEL – HERE AND OVERSEAS AND OVER MANY DECADES. And as usual we would like to date them more precisely.

Peaks and plateaus of Victoria, 47 page booklet, 18 cm, circa 191-. Collection of M. Aitken.

The publisher

Some official tourist publications are issued by tourist authorities. Looking at some Victorian brochures, the issuing body was the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau. This type of organization was well underway in July 1906 when a manager was appointed and the name of the organization used in newspapers of the day. But it took a couple of years to get underway, according to The Herald (Melbourne), the bureau opened on Thursday 3 December 1908,

TOURISTS’ BUREAU
RAILWAY INQUIRY OFFICE OPENED TO-DAY. 3 December 1908

Those people who have been in the habit of making inquiries regarding railway matters at the office appointed at the Princes Bridge station should re-

remember in future that the Railway Inquiry Office has been combined with the Victorian Government Tourists’ Bureau, which was opened to-day at the corner of Collins and Swanston streets. The Bureau will be under the control of Mr J. C. Royce, who will have a thoroughly efficient staff to assist him. The Bureau has been neatly fitted up and the building has been renovated throughout. Along the walls are to be hung a line series of pictures of notable Victorian holiday resorts, such as Mount Buffalo, Mackey’s Look Out, views of the southern coast, Buchan Caves and the Lorne district. A special office has been set apart entirely for inquiries relating to tourist business, such matters on coaches, steamers, hotel accommodation, etc., and facilities generally for reaching any particular part of the State will be completely explained by the staff in charge. In the Tourist Department there will be two large writing tables and materials provided for the use of the public who wish to send away correspondence. Files of the daily and weekly news papers will be available. A special switchboard has been added for telephone inquiries, which will be promptly attended to. An inner room which also opens on to the Queen’s Walk, will be entirely devo ted to the purpose of land settlement. Plans and full information of all lands for settlement will be forthcoming. The new Bureau will certainly be of great assistance to trippers or holiday makers, as well as to intending settlers.

From the point of view of our dating, this means that they are unlikely to have been produced before 1906 and more likely not before 1908 when the Bureau opened.

Bad news, the Tourist Bureau stayed at that corner until 1938

CITY LAND DEAL
New premises for the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau will be included in a new building at 272-274 Collins street on a site adjoining the west side of the new Hotel Australia. The property was sold yesterday at a price believed to be about £90,000. Argus (Melbourne), Saturday 28 May 1938, page 3

And it opened in November 1939.

Other clues

We will have to find joy elsewhere with either a train expert who might be able to advise when lines opened or through the advertising, and in particular the addresses of the businesses.

Here are the links to three editions available online at the State Library of Victoria.

191-, 44 pages, front cover with paintings, no back cover, text about travel continues on the back cover, and no advertisements find here.

Promoting ‘Cheap travels near the bottom of the page and a visit to an early macaroni factory

191-, 47 pages, extra pages are advertising, same front cover with paintings, the back cover has advertising, the last page of text has the symbol for the Victorian Railways Printing Branch find here.