EVERY once in a while, a rare gem finds its way back to the old Carlton ground, reminding you of the long and illustrious history synonymous with this football club.

So it is with this original mounted photograph of the team to tour Adelaide in June 1884. The photo, carrying the name of the touring players and officials, was graciously donated to the club’s archive by Jodie Cramer by way of her father Don Merritt, the most recent custodian of the 135 year-old item.

An impassioned Blues devotee for more than 70 years, Don acquired the photograph from an acquaintance in Lake Boga about three years ago, but is unsure how that person originally came to be in possession.

Regardless, Don was in no doubt that the photograph was deserving of a new home.

To quote the man himself: “The photo belongs to the club. The club is where it belongs”.

Twenty-two Carlton players including the captain Jack Baker boarded the SS Adelaide at Sandridge Pier Port Melbourne at 1.00pm on Wednesday, June 18, 1884. Also aboard were the Honorary Secretary MB Hearne and officials including EM Brooks and Messrs Conway and Morgan.

The touring part disembarked the steamship at Port Adelaide on the following Friday, and were greeted by South Australian Association delegates and several prominent Port Adelaide players.

From their hotel they were escorted by carriage to Kensington Oval and greeted by the mayor of Kensington and Norwood. Champagne and light refreshments were then provided, several toasts were made, and McArthur, Hearne, Conway and Baker each responded.

The team, 1884.

After 30 minutes of football practice the tourists were chauffeured around the suburbs and returned to their hotel, the Crown and Sceptre, early in the afternoon. Later, they viewed the match between Port Adelaide and Norwood on Adelaide Oval.

The gruelling Carlton itinerary took in four matches in ten days – South Adelaide on June 21, Adelaide Juniors on the 25^th , Norwood on the 28^th and Port Adelaide on the 30^th.

The visitors defeated South Adelaide 5.13 - 2.9 at Kensington Oval, on a day in which a local correspondent reported “their (Carlton’s) followers certainly stood first, and were far too good for the Souths”.

With the match against Adelaide Juniors postponed due to inclement weather, Carlton met the Adelaide Suburban Association combine at Kensington Oval on the 22^nd, a contest in a quagmire which resulted in a 3-goal tie.

On the 28^th, the Carlton team again took to Kensington Oval, this time to play Norwood – a team captained by the former Carlton footballer A. E. “Topsy” Waldron captained Norwood. The visitors got up by a goal, 4.11 - 3.11, and in the evening toasted the triumph at Benhamo’s Circus’ Gala Night.

Jodie Cramer proudly displays the 1884 Carlton touring team photograph donated to the club by her father Don.

The players rounded out the tour by knocking Port Adelaide over at the Kensington Oval, 4.8 - 2.16, and after the match were entertained at a dinner at the Crown and Sceptre Hotel hosted by local politician E. T. Smith.

Prior to their departure, the tourists were guests of His Worship the Mayor Mr. W. Bundey JP at the Town Hall. After being taken on a tour of the Hall, they duly proceeded to the port and boarded the Melbourne-bound Adelaide.

An unnamed correspondent for the Adelaide Observer noted: “As the vessel moved away from the wharf, flying the Union Jack at the fore in honour of the Duke, hearty cheers were exchanged between the Carlton men and the Port footballers, with their partisans”.

On Wednesday, July 2, 1884, Carlton team members disembarked the Adelaide in the city. Three days they fronted up to Geelong on the MCG.

Perhaps the taxing tour had taken its toll by then, as the old dark Navy Blues found themselves on the receiving end of the most comprehensive hiding in their 20-year history – 11.7 to the Pivotonians’ 9.15.