In a unique insight into the early 20th century history of Tumut, Gundagai, Adelong, Yarrangobilly village, Yarrangobilly Caves and Kiandra districts, author Dr David Lindley presents more than 150 rarely seen picture postcards.

Photographed by some of Australia’s best scenic photographers, postcards were immensely popular, their postage was only one penny and there were up to three mail deliveries a day in some towns and cities. Postcards were the nearest thing to immediate communication.

Text accompanying these postcards was penned by locals, commercial travellers and visitors and included items of historical interest, exchanges reflecting conditions on the land and attitudes of the day. Some were penned by the district’s early pioneers, reflecting on the isolation of their communities. This book documents a talented group of hitherto forgotten local stationers, newsagents, other traders and commercial photographers who published their own postcards.

These postcards give a delightful and intriguing snapshot of life in rural communities before the advent of modern electronic communications.