Great White Fleet 'State Entertainments' souvenir postcard 1908

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W.T. Pater & Co.

1908

Overview

Colourful postcard depicting the visit of the American 'Great White Fleet' to Australia in 1908. There are many patriotic motifs from both countries portrayed on the card.
An American eagle is perched on a flag pole bearing the American 'Stars and Stripes' flag. It has a pink sash billowing either side of its mouth which reads 'State Entertainments'. Below the American flag is a stylised, gold bordered depiction of the Australian blue ensign, around which are several floral emblems including wattle, gum blossom, waratah and flannel flower.
There are two elongated vertical shields on either side of the central flags, with dates and events in Sydney listed on the left and Melbourne on the right.
The publisher's iniitials, 'W.T.P.' are printed in a diamond shaped border on the lower right of the card and the word 'Copyright' on the lower left corner.
There are four raised, circular, green coloured blemishes on the card which may be where it has been previously glued.
The reverse of the card has an inscription which is dated '19/8/08'. The writing is difficult to decipher. The card has not been used postally and bears no stamp.
The publisher's details also appear on the reverse.

Historical information

The Great White Fleet was the name given to the group of United States Navy battleships that completed a journey around the globe from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, by order of President Theodore Roosevelt.
It comprised 16 white-painted battleships divided into two squadrons, along with various small escorts.
The fleet visited three ports in Australia - Sydney, Melbourne and Albany - before departing on the next leg of their journey to Manila.

This particular postcard lists the events being held in Sydney and Melbourne during the visit of the fleet to NSW and Victoria in August and September 1908. It is dated 19 August 1908 on the reverse, so was produced in advance of the arrival of the fleet to provide information about upcoming 'State Entertainments'.

W.T. Pater & Co. was a Melbourne-based publisher active around 1905–1914, best known for producing postcards and books, including illustrated topographical views and travel accounts.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00833

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Postcards

Souvenirs

Themes

Defence > Navy

Social History

Transport

Material

Card

Ink

Width

139 mm

Height or length

88 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front of postcard at centre top:

"STATE
ENTERTAINMENTS"

Inside left hand shield:

"SYDNEY EVENTS
THURSDAY, AUG. 20 - Arrival of the fleet;
Aquatic demonstration; Official visits.
Night - Governor-General's Dinner.
FRIDAY, AUG. 21st - Official landing of Ad-
miral and staff at Farm Cove; Land-
ing of officers and sailors, Farm Cove
and Woolloomooloo; Day Procession
through city; Public receptions of fleet
at Domain; Entertainment to officers,
sailors at luncheon at Mrs. Macquarie's
Point. Night - Official dinner by the
State Governor, Commonwealth Thea-
tre Parties.
SATURDAY, AUG. 22nd - Railway excursions
by State Government; State Gover-
nor's Garden Party; football match;
baseball match; Fire Brigade Demons-
tration. Night - Admiral's Dinner; Fire-
works Display; Venetian Carnival.
SUNDAY, AUG. 23rd - Church Parade.
MONDAY, AUG. 24th -Review in Centennial
Park; Luncheon for American Navy;
March to Hyde Park of Commonwealth
Naval and Military Forces; March
through city of Mounted Troops. Night:
Continental in the Domain, provided
by the State Government.
TUESDAY, AUG. 25th - Gymkhana at Show
Grounds, including Naval and Military
sports, sheep shearing and wood-chopping,
buck-jumping, boomerang-throwing
&c Night - Lord Mayor's Reception;
Commonwealth Government enter-
tains officers, sailors and marines at
theatre.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26th - Public Schools' De-
monstration; Regatta."

Inside right hand shield:

"MELBOURNE EVENTS
MONDAY, AUG. 31st - Official landing at
St. Kilda Pier. Officers and sailors at
Port Melb.; Procession to Exhibition
Building. Night: Commonwealth Gov-
ernment Banquet; Torchlight Process-
ion through city.
YUESDAY, SEPT. 1st - Excursions to Ballarat
and Mirboo North, Gippsland; Agricul-
tural Show; State School's Demonstra-
tion on Exhibition Oval; Football Match
M.C.C. Night: Reception by Lord Mayor
in Town Hall; State Gov't entertains
officers and men; Mayor and Coun-
cillors of Prahran give Smoke Night;
Freemason's Welcome.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2nd - Excursion to Ben-
digo; Agricultural Show; Races Flem-
ington. Evening: State Government en-
tertains Admiral & officers, Exhibition
Building; Smoke Concert for sailors at
Melb. Town Hall.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3rd - Review at Fleming
-ton; Commonwealth Gov't entertains
officers and sailors at luncheon; Agri-
cultural Show. Night: Commonwealth
Gov't entertains officers & men at Ex-
hibition Building; Fire Brigade's Dis-
play; Melb. Club dinner to officers;
City Newsboys' Ball, Melb. Town Hall.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4th - State Gov't entertains
Admiral, officers & men at Exhibition
Building; Regatta on Hudson's Bay;
Baseball and Lacrosse matches, M.C.C.
Night: State Gov't provides Fireworks
Display; Hawthorn Lacrosse C. Ball."