MovieChat Forums > Picnic at Hanging Rock (1979) Discussion > Why Does This Story Take Place in the Ye...

Why Does This Story Take Place in the Year 1900?

posted 16 years ago by gnolti
22 replies | jump to latest

I can't help but think it is significant that these events take place at the start of the 20th century. While still essentially Victorian in setting and sensibility, it seems that the "turn of the century" would represent a symbolic opportunity to fall into some kind of time warp, in the space between the end of one era and the start of another.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

There, daddy, do I get a gold star?

[–] willjohn 11 years ago

The book is a novel written by Joan Lindsay in 1967. She may have chosen 1900 because on New Years Day 1901 Australia ceased to be a collection of colonies and became an independent Federation. 1900 was the last year the Australian colonies were governed by the UK.

That is only a possibility.

[–] enmasse 11 years ago

This is the most interesting thread on this particular board and, with nothing worth adding, I'm only commenting here to ensure it isn't purged just yet so it can be read by others who would benefit.