The Rose Series of postcards

There’s not a lot to be found online about a photographer called George Rose and his impressive body of work within Australia and elsewhere.

I have selected a sample of the thousands of the Rose postcard series accessible online at the State Library of Victoria. These are out of copyright due to the uncertainty of the date they were taken.  Most are tagged c 1920-1954.  Here’s a link to photographs taken in Melbourne in the Olympic year of 1956 which are still in copyright and as such cannot be reproduced here.

Another source of these rich images is the work of Ron Blum who has collated George Rose’s work into two books and a CD.

At the foot of Deany’s Steps – Port Campbell   I think the emulsion damage adds to the charm of this one.

St Kilda from the Pier

Aerial View of Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell  The inset colour photo via Wikipedia shows the collapse of one of the stacks in 2005.

The State Library of Victoria holds over 7000 images (here) from the Rose Series. Other libraries have their own collections relevant to their state. Many of the photographs were taken by others after the deaths of George (in 1942) and Walter (George’s son and proprietor until he pre-deceased his father) in 1940.

The Argus – 21 January 1942

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