My Favorite Postcards

Batman Bridge, Tamar Valley - Tasmania

Batman Bridge spans the Tamar River in the Tamar Valley which is situated in northern Tasmania.  It was built between 1966 and 1968 and was the first cable-stayed bridge in Australia.  The main span is 206 metrers long and A-frame tower 91 metres high.

Photography by Shayne Howe Smith

This unused postcard was given to me in 2018.

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I was hoping the bridge got its amazing name from the Batman comics or something cool... however, it is named after John Batman, (21 January 1801 – 6 May 1839) an Australian farmer, entrepreneur and explorer. 

Tasmania
Australia's Island State

There is no description on the back, however, I found out that the church is: Uniting Church, located in Ross, and the bridge is The Ross Bridge.

This unused postcard is from 2008. 

International Postcard Week
October 2-8, 2016

London Bridge Australia
Design is by Chris Carney

I have number 1 and 2 in a limited edition of 50 for this unused postcard.

The sender writes:
My husband Dick took the photo of London Bridge when we were on holiday in Australia.  Lots of people walked out to the far side.  Not for me - too much water and too high on the "bridge" and too narrow.  Shortly after we were there the 'bridge' part collapsed stranding people on the far side.  They had to be rescued by helicopter.  The noise when the rock gave way was horrendous, luckily no one was on the bridge when it went.  

Emu and Nest
Australia

The sender writes:
Dear Darrell:
I lost my list of addresses and found it only yesterday. Sorry not to have sent this from Australia
We had a fine trip but glad to be home.
-K.A.

This 'real photo' postcard is postmarked in 1938 within the USA.

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Emu breeding takes place in May and June, and fighting among females for a mate is common. The male does the incubation; during this process he hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are nurtured by their fathers.

Australia Platypus

Aahhh, what a life this is.
Photograph: Dave Watts

This is postmarked with the stamp you see on the front in 2009.
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Sydney Aquarium
Platypus

Photography by Darren Jew

This postcard is unused and from 2012.

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The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate hoax. It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. 

Greetings from Tallangatta
A Tallangatta Heritage Postcard

The township of Tallangatta was relocated 9ks west to allow the espnasion of the Hume Reservoir thus giving greater storage of water for the irrigators downstream. This was carried out in the early 1950's and made Tallangatta a unique town, being the only town in Australia to be moved in its entirity.

This postcard has a few spelling errors on it and is from 2015. 

Roadsigns of Australia

Kangaroos, Koalas, Camels, Outback Dunny (Outhouse), Crocodiles, Emus and Wambats

This postcard is unused and from 2007.

I love the outback dunny one!

 

Rottnest Island
Western Australia

The Basin is one of the most popular swimming beaches at Rottnest Islands.

Photography by Annette Kent

This is postmarked in 2013 with an Australia 1.70 Kookaburra stamp.

Narrandera N.S.W. Australia

Home of the world's largest playable guitar.
5.820m X 2.019m.
1991 at the Visitors Centre in Narrandera Park.

postmarked in 2008 with an Australia '1.35 Grose River Gorge New South Wales' stamp

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The Big Guitar has its place in the 1991 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the 'Worlds Largest Playable Guitar'.

 "Reaching For Above" by Jan Leon


Tobwabba Art tells the story of the Worimi people from the Great Lakes region of coastal New South Wales.  Tobwabba Art is a living portrayal of the rich and diverse culture of the Worimi people that has been passed down through the generations. Royalties from the sale of licensed products to to Tobwabba Art and benefit the Worimi community.

postmarked in 2012 with an 'Olympic Pole Vault' stamp from Australia

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Worimi people are Indigenous Australians.  They were said to be taller and stouter than those living around Sydney and were said to be more prone to laughter than tears.

The Kookaburras belong to the family of the Kingfishers and are native to Australia and New Guinea, but only the Australian one is famous for its unmistakable laughing call.  They feed on insects, snakes, frogs and other small animals.

unused, from 2012
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Here is a Kookaburra as a mascot for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 ...

Sydney 2000 Millenium card with Olly, Syd and Millie - Olympic Games Official Licensed Product - unused

here is some info on the characters...
Ollie, Syd and Millie, designed by Matthew Hattan, are three native Australian animals chosen as mascots for the Sydney 2000 Games. They represent earth, air and water. "Olly", a kookaburra, epitomizes the Olympic spirit of generosity and universal generosity (from Olympic); "Syd", a platypus, represents the environment and captures the vigor and energy of Australia and its people (from Sydney); "Millie", an echidna, is a techno-whiz and information guru, with all the facts and figures at her fingertips (from Millennium).

The wombat is one of the largest burrowing animals in the world.  It has a well developed brain and is playful and quick to learn.  Its diet consists of the native grasses and vegetation of its woodland habitat.

postmarked with a great Koala $1.20 Australia stamp! Jan. 2007

Sydney Aquarium

Moon Jellies
Photography by Darren Jew

This one is postmarked in 2012 with an Australian 'Dingo' stamp.

 Moree, New South Wales
Australia
Horseman taking in the view of an early morn.

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Moree is a large town in Moree Plains Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Mehi River in the centre of the rich black-soil plains and has a population of around 8, 100 people in 2006.

It is a major agricultural centre, noted for its part in the Australian cotton growing industry which was established there in the early 1960s.

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then, about 3 1/2 to 4 hours driving distance later is .........

Australia
Horseman taking in the view of an early morn.

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Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia and had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census.  It is located approximately half way between Sydney and Brisbane at the junction of the New England Highway, national route 15, and Waterfall Way.

both postcards are unused and from 2011

Australia ... A Big Country!

Map with United Kingdom & Ireland, Japan, United States, Europe, New Zealand, and South East Asia

postmarked in 2011, however the stamp is missing
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Because of the comment below, I added a map postcard of Europe to show how the above postcard left most of Europe off in their comparison ..

reduction de la carte murale de l'Europe

(from French to English: The reduction of the mural card of Europe)

postmarked in 2009 with 4 Netherlands stamps