Worked at Pleystowe Mill, Queensland 1925 to 1965Historic Narrow Gauge Industrial Railway - Pleystowe Sugar Mill, Queensland, Australia2' Gauge 0-4-2 Saddle Tank Steam Locomotive wrought iron frame Builders Number 1559hudsell clarke, locomotive, 2', steam, puffing billy, narrow gauge

Builders Number 4767 Used for steam engine driving instruction at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology build date of approximately 1884 +/- 1 year. worked out from http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/mills/burmamill22.htm Donated by The Royal Melbourne Institute of technology in 1969 Of Interest : The Vertical and Horizontal Tangye engines on display are of the design that won a Gold Medallion at the Paris Industrial Exhibition of 1878.Historic - Industrial Steam Engine EquipmentSteam Engine - Cast Iron (painted) Steel (raw) Bronze (Raw) Timber (Oiled)Tangye Birminghampuffing billy, steam, rmit, tangye, horizontal engine

1863 was the last steam locomotive built by Hudswell Clarke for the Colonial Sugar Refining Co (CSR). It was also the last steam locomotive imported Australia for use on the Queensland Cane fields It originally worked at the Victoria Mill at Ingham ,Queensland and was named "CORONATION" it was latter transferred to Macknade Mill where it was numbered "9"Historic - Industrial Narrow gauge Railway - Steam locomotive - CSR - Colonial Sugar Refining Co. - Victoria Mill, Ingham, Queensland, Australia Steam Locomotive - 2' gauge 0-6-0 tender locomotive made of iron, steel 1863coronation, puffing billy, no9, hudswell clarke, 1863, steam locomotive, victoria mill, csr - colonial sugar refining co.

Builders Number 3354 Build for Inkerman Mill Queensland in 1951 Displayed at the British Industrial Fair at Castle Bromwich, England 1951 prior to delivery to Australia Weight: 10 Tons Known at Inkerman mill as "LI'L TOOT" Major Ernest E. Baguley (1863–1948) was a British engineer.- In the years leading up to the First World War, Baguley served in the Territorial Army and became Second-in-Command, 6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, rising to the rank of Major. He served in France from 1914 to 1915. Baguley (Engineers) Ltd After the War there was a decline in the production of road vehicles (probably due to competition from other manufacturers) and an increase in the production of railway equipment. The name of the company was changed from Baguley Cars Ltd to Baguley (Engineers) Ltd on 10 April 1923. Following a dispute with their partners Drewry Cars. Ltd, Baguley (Engineers) Ltd went into decline and entered liquidation in 1931. Most of the plant and effects, including Major Baguley's own Baguley car, were sold at auction on 10 November 1931. E. E. Baguley Ltd Major Baguley was a great survivor of WW1 and, he set up a small repair business for Baguley products at Clarence Street, Burton-on-Trent. A new company, E. E. Baguley Ltd, was registered on 30 April 1932 and was soon building locomotives again. In 1934 E. E. Baguley Ltd moved to larger premises at Uxbridge Street, Burton-on-Trent. The company merged with Drewry to form Baguley-Drewry Ltd in 1962.Historic - Industrial Narrow Gauge Railway Diesel Mechanical Locomotive - Pioneer Sugar Mills - Inkerman Sugar Mill, Home Hill, Queensland, AustraliaRail Mine and Plantation (RMP) 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical 2' Gauge - " LI'L TOOT " Builders Number 3354 Steel (Painted)RMP / 3354 "LI'L TOOT"rmp, diesel, mechanical, locomotive, 2', 2' gauge, puffing billy, inkerman, li'l toot, industrial narrow gauge railway, e. e. baguley ltd, pioneer sugar mills - inkerman sugar mill, rail mine and plantation (rmp)

Ordered by Langwill Bros., & Davies Ltd Melbourne Used for saw milling, dam constructions and log haulingFoden Traction Engine This engine is a compound traction engine built by Foden Ltd of Sandbach England in 1914 – builders number 4525. This was ordered by Langwill Bros and Davies Ltd of Melbourne and was used by Mr F Orr on his farm at Bullarto South Victoria. On the farm it was used for many agricultural purposes and was used at times as a stationary engine to run a wooden thrashing machine. The unit was last used on the farm in 1947 and put aside on the farm with a “museum” of other old agricultural tractors and machinery. Mr Orr gave us the engine as an exhibit for the Menzies Creek Museum of Puffing Billy in the 1960s. At that stage he was an elderly gentleman of 97 years and maintained a great interest in his farm which had been in his family’s hands for three generations at that stage. His grandfather had cut the farm from the bush. The traction engine in its youth was used to go around other farms in the district and went as far away as the Wimmera and Mallee farms thrashing crops of wheat, barley and oats. It towed the wooden thrashing machine behind it on its trips to these farms on hire to the farmers. Foden Compound Traction Engine Built by Foden Ltd., Sandback, England in 1914 to the order of Langwill Bros., & Davies Ltd., Melbourne, it was used on a farm for sawmilling, dam constructions and log hauling. Donated by F. Orr of Bullarto South, Victoria. Foden Compound Traction Engine - made of Steel (Painted)Foden foden, traction engine, steam, puffing billy

Belliss & Morcom Ltd, Patent Self Lubricating Engine , Birmingham It was used to operate the Fairfield No. 2 Mill Paper Making machine by a rope and pulley drive.Historic - Industrial Twin Cylinder Engine - stationary engine used to operate the Australasian Paper and Pulp Co Ltd. - Fairfield No. 2 Mill Paper Making machine by a rope and pulley drive.Twin Cylinder Engine - stationary engine made of steel, wrought iron, brassBelliss & Morcom Ltd, Patent Self Lubricating Engine , Birminghamtwin cylinder, engine, stationary engine, industrial stationary engine, puffing billy, fairfield no. 2 paper mill, australian paper manufactures ltd, belliss & morcom

Flat Belt Driven MillHistoric - Industrial - Flat Belt Driven MillMade from iron.flat belt driven, mill, puffing billy

Sugar Cane Truck "1076" Gauge 2'0" A four wheel truck of simple construction typical of many hundreds used on the canefield tramways of Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Donated by Moreton Sugar Mill, Nambour, Queensland in 1965Historic - Industrial narrow Gauge railway - sugar cane truck used at Moreton Sugar Mill, Nambour, QueenslandWooden Truck with Winch 1076 puffing billy, sugar cane truck, industrial narrow gauge railway, moreton sugar mill

Malcolm Moore No. 1013 Four wheel Diesel Rail Tractor Gauge 2'0" Malcolm Moore rail tractor (Builder’s Number 1013) It was built for the Australian Army in 1943. It was sold to the Inkerman Sugar Mill in Queensland around 1948 for hauling cane and shunting at the works. This rail tractor was originally powered by a Ford side valve V8 petrol engine. It was purchased from the Inkerman Mill of Pioneer Sugar Mills in 1982. Historic - Industrial narrow gauge Railway - Diesel Rail Tractor - used by the Australian Army and Inkerman Sugar Mill in QueenslandDiesel Rail Tractor made of iron and wrought irondiesel rail tractor, puffing billy, inkerman mill, industrial narrow gauge railway, gauge 2’0”, inkerman sugar mill, australian army

Historic - Industrial - Timber Mill Saw BladesHistoric - Industrial - Timber Mill Saw BladesTimber Mill - Packet of Round Saw Blades made of steelHandle with Care A MSS Product 551 771 MI Melbourne Saw Manufacturing Co. PTY 107 Northern Rd West Heidelberg Vic. Ph 45-4133 puffing billy, timber mill saw blades, melbourne saw manufacturing co.

Hard back book of short stories and essay by Edmund Gosse.m. zola, book, edmund gosse

Game token, nineteenth century, brass imitation Spade Half Guinea. On short length of chain. Thin, with milled edge. On the obverse is a central effigy of King George facing right, surrounding legend "GEORGIUS I [?] DEI GRATIA"... On the reverse is a central shield. The legend is 'WCB. ET. CO. DG. REX F.O. B.I.R.M./1790".(As above)game token

Aerial view of the Lake Bolac Flax Mill, circa 1960. Note the pump housing in front of Guy Rance's home, the polluted water entering the lake from the pipeline and the stooks of flax to the left of the road opposite the Mill.lake bolac, flax mill, 1960, rance

The image compilation provides a historical record of old landmarks in the Sunshine area, and also provides images of what the sites look like in recent times.A4 size display book containing older pictures of landmarks in the SUNSHINE locality, plus recent images of the same sites. Images range from the 19th Century to 2010.sunshine hospital, civic halls, churches, fire brigade, schools, hotels, harvester works, kororoit creek, swimming pools, sportes grounds, john darling flour mill, explosives and munitions factories

CLUNES KNITTING MILL WAS ORIGINAL THE SOUTH CLUNES SCHOOL. SITUATED ON TALBOT ROAD CLUNES - LATER SCHOOL CLOSED AND PUPILS WERE TRANSFERRED TO NORTH CLUNES SCHOOL..1 BLACK AND WHITE POSTCARD PHOTOGRAPH OF CLUNES KNITTING MILL AND EMPLOYEES STANDING IN FRONT OF BUILDING .2 REPRODUCTION COPY OF THE ABOVE PRINTED ON MATTE PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER.1 Hand written in blue ink on reverse; Clunes knitting mill employees, by May Grant also printed circular stamp in purple ink "Printed by H. Maddicks Daylesford"photographs, schools, 136 knitting mill, south clunes school

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF OLD CAMP HOTEL, TALBOT ROAD, CLUNES. PHOTOGRAPH FROM MR. E. SEMMENS, CRESWICK COLLECTION.BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OLD CAMP HOTEL TALBOT ROAD ABOUT OPPOSITE OLD SCHOOL, WHICH LATER BECAME INTERKNIT KNITTING MILL.local history, photography, photographs, hotels, old camp

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 1880. THE WINDMILL ON CORNER OF PADDOCK STREET AND SMEATON ROAD OPERATED A FLOUR MILL FROM 1870 TO ABOUT 1883 BY JOSEPH WHYTE.A FADED BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF PORTION OF CLUNES SCHOOL NO. 1552, WINDMILL AND DWELLING ON SCHOOL HILL.local history, photography, photographs, schools -1552, flour mill

Used at Brintons Carpets Fellmongers Road factory. Acquired on closure of factory. (Used for Brintons Wilton Loom?)W7210 Page 1 of a history of Brintons Carpets. Page 2 of a history of Brintons Carpets. A list of catalogues/items in the Brintons Collection donated after closure of Fellmongers Road factory in July 2008.Made in England Ramsey McDonald Pty.Ltd. Melbourne 6/83 28textile machinery textile industry textile mills weaving weaving mills, brintons australia pty ltd brintons pty ltd (geelong), geelong, victoria, textile machinery, textile industry, textile mills, weaving, weaving mills

Photograph probably for promotional purposes, of a "David Sowden & Sons" loom, No 198. Photograph was among items from Yarra Falls Mill.Photograph, black and white, probably of a "David Sowden & Sons" foot driven loom, No 198.198 FROM/ A DOBSON/ Photographer/ 8 SALTAIRE ROAD/ SHIPLEY/ ALL NEGATIVES KEPTtextile machinery weaving, yarra falls mill david sowden & sons, weaving looms, weaving machinery, textile machinery, weaving

Photograph probably for promotional purposes, of a "David Sowden and Sons" loom. Photograph was with other photographs in an envelope from Yarra Falls Mill.Photograph, black and white, of a "David Sowden & Sons" loom.FROM/ a DOBSON/ Photographer/ 28, SALTAIRE ROAD/ SHIPLEY/ ALL NEGATIVES KEPTtextile machinery weaving, yarra falls mill david sowden & sons, weaving looms, weaving machinery, textile machinery, weaving

Photograph shows members of the Bubb family cutting ironbark logs in the Anglesea forest for their sawmill. The sawmill was established after WW2 to provide work for his sons. The sons who worked at the mill were Arthur, Harold (aka Jimmy), and Robert all of whom are buried at Bellbrae cemetery. As well as providing timber for their own use, Bubbs' timber was used in many homes around the Anglesea and Bellbrae areas.The Bubb family was a prominent pioneer family in the Bellbrae district.Black and white photographbellbrae victoria pioneer families

Advertising sign for the Physician Blankets Manufactured by Collins Bros Pty Ltd. Black and white photograph showcasing the Physician Blanket advertising road sign above a two story building in a landscape format. The road and moving cars are in the foreground.Front centre - Physician Chillproof Blankets. Sign Rear - Physician Brisbane (?) (?) Signwool, woollen mills, wool manufacture

Note from collector: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special. Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Double-sized mint and cream diamond blanketAn All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, godfrey hirst, diamond blanket

Note from collector: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special. It was hard to let go of this one!Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Queen sized diamond blanket , lemon & grey "An All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, godfrey hirst, diamond blanket, geelong

Note from collector: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special.Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Double-sized, pink and mint diamond blanket"An All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, godfrey hirst, diamond blanket, geelong

Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special. Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Diamond blanket, mint and lemon"An All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, diamond blanket, godfrey hirst, geelong

Note from collector: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special.Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." King-sized, pink and mint diamond blanket, ribbon edgedName tag 'O'Malley' sewn above label/"An All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, diamond blanket, godfrey hirst, geelong

Collector says: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special. Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." King sized Diamond blanket, pink, mint and lemon Mothproofed/Godfrey Hirst/Pure Wool Pelage Blanketwool, blanket, blanket fever, diamond blanket, godfrey hirst, geelong

Collector says: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special. Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Godfrey Hirst diamond blanket in pink, grey and lemon"An All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, diamond blanket, godfrey hirst, geelong