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." Salesman's Wool sample card containing samples of wool at different stages of processingJohn Taylor/With Compliments from Onkaparinga/Woollen Co.Ltd/Adelaide, Sth Aust. Mills Lobethal and Thebarton, S.A/Always insist on Onkaparinga Rugs.Blankets.Worsteds.Melanges.Woollens and Flannelswool, blanket fever, advertisement, onkaparinga, sample

Original Jacob Pitman architectural plan of the Dennys Lascelles bluestone woolstore dated 1 March 1871 mounted in a wood frame under glass. Titled "Wool Warehouse, Moorabool St, Geelong for Messrs C.J. Dennys & Co., Basement Plan No. 2."Wool Warehouse, Moorabool St, Geelong for Messrs C.J. Dennys & Co., Basement Plan No. 2wool stores, pitman, mr jacob, dennys lascelles wool store

Original Jacob Pitman architectural plan of the Dennys Lascelles bluestone woolstore dated 1 March 1871 mounted in a wood frame under glass. Titled "Wool Warehouse, Moorabool St, Geelong for Messrs C.J. Dennys & Co., Ground Floor No. 3".Wool Warehouse, Moorabool St, Geelong for Messrs C.J. Dennys & Co., Ground Floor No. 3wool stores, pitman, mr jacob, dennys lascelles wool store

Original Jacob Pitman architectural plan of the Dennys Lascelles bluestone woolstore dated 1 March 1871. Titled "Wool Warehouse, Moorabool St, Geelong for Messrs C.J. Dennys & Co., Plan Elevation in Moorabool Street".Wool Warehouse, Moorabool St, Geelong for Messrs C.J. Dennys & Co., Plan Elevation in Moorabool Streetwool stores, pitman, mr jacob, dennys lascelles wool store

Book of wool samples created for/used by the Gordon TAFE in Geelong. This book comes to us from the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts who have closed down. This item was transferred from them to the NWM.Black cardboard covered book containing pages with attached wool samples and descriptions. Each page has a waxy paper covering with it. Pages are blue with gold coloured pins/tacks at the corners.

The National Wool Museum accepted a donation from Brian Licence in 2022 of several mementoes relating to his career in the wool industry. This Wool Classing Exercise Book was written by Brian in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1960-62. Brian studied Wool Classing and worked for a decade in this profession before moving to Melbourne which required him to change careers.This Wool Classing Exercise book begins with a grey cover and a blue and silver metal binder. It has the number “240” handwritten in white pencil at the centre of the cover and “Brian Licence Animal Husbandry” written in blue ink on the top right corner. Internally, the book is handwritten with occasional hand drawn images. This work is completed on yellowed pages with faint blue lines, for assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about basic animal husbandry for sheep that a Wool Classer may need to know while in a shearing shed. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes 60 years ago. This includes information about: - Dentistry - Skeletal - Blood Circulation - Breathing - Internal parasites The book has 50 completed pages of handwriting on both front and back. Handwritten, white pencil. Centre of cover. “240” Handwritten, blue ink. Top right corner of cover. “Brian Licence. / Animal Husbandry” gordon institute geelong, 1960s sheep farming, wool classing, sheep dentistry, sheep skeletal, sheep blood circulation, sheep breathing, sheep internal parasites

Mady by Jean Inglis in 1986 for Geelong Show. Wool was hand spun, hand woven and hand dyed. Outfit was put together by a Geelong based dressmaker and was only worn once during the parade at the Show. Size 12. Earliest Date: 1986Cream coloured wool jacket. One button. Label attached with safety pin. Three buttons on cuff of each sleeve. White lining inside. Part of a Chanel style suit.

Green Woolheadgear, c1970, army

Trousers Wooluniform, 1950, army

Wool PutteesN179-19042 /Made in Australia/ Regimental No./Name

Wool embroidery

The P.S Australien was built in 1897 by Richard Wilson, of Moama. In 1937 the vessel was used to tow boilers, winches and derricks to the banks of the Murray River to aide in the construction of Locks 6,7,9 and Yarrawonga Weir. The barge is viewed from the rear, as the rudder can be seen, and shows the enormity of the loads of wool which a barge could carry. The two vessels are tied together and appear to be moored at a small pier.The P.S Australien is one of the oldest paddle steamers built at Echuca. It was a working vessel during the construction of the Yarrawonga weir in the 1930s which was the beginning of the irrigation system which enabled the Agriculture Industry to become such a prominent part of the Murray-Darling River Basin social history. A paddle steamer and a barge, loaded with wool, are seen docked together on a river. There is a small wooden jetty leading to the bank where gum trees are growing.p.s australien, yarrawonga weir, echuca paddlesteamers, murray river paddle steamers, wilson, richard, wool industry

Presented to Jean Inglis as a prize for winning the textile competition at the 1988 Royal Melbourne Sheep Show. Her entry was a hand spun, woven and dyed wool suit for the Fashions for the Eighties parade competition. Earliest Date: 1988Dark blue felted wool sash with yellow text attached. Test reads "THE AUSTRALIAN SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION INC. / 1988 WEEKLY TIMES MELBOURNE SHEEP & WOOLCRAFT SHOW / WOOLCRAFT COMPETITION"

Typical US Army cold weather cap used in Korean War and post-Korea eraRepresentative US Army cap. This type of clothing was issued to Australian troops during the Korean War Olive Drab cotton and wool peaked Field Cap with imitation alpaca fold-down ear comforters, ends secured by cord. Cotton identification label sewn to liner. Wear instructions cotton label sewn to liner. CAP, FIELD, PILE, O.D., MQ-1 Size 7 ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS MFG. CO. Dated 13 Jan. 1951 Q.M. 9532-OI-10070 Pur.Desc. 1 Nov. 1950 Stock No. 73-C-16376-45 NYQMPA ALPACA 60% WOOL, 40% COTTON LINING 80% WOOL, 20% COTTON plus - wearing instructions "CAP, FIELD,PILE,OD, M-Q1" (sic)

Ribbon awarded to Mr Charles Wilson Peel of 'Callenondah' at Gnawarre. Mr Peel ran a superfine merino stud. This ribbon is from the Geelong Agricultural & Pastoral Society Show in 1960 and was awarded Champion for Sample of Merino Lambs Wool.Red, white and blue wool ribbon with yellow tassels on short ends. Yellow stitched/stamped text. Text divided over the three coloured panels which are stitched together with a white thread.

Ribbon awarded to Mr Charles Wilson Peel of 'Callenondah' at Gnawarre. Mr Peel ran a superfine merino stud. This ribbon is from the Geelong Agricultural & Pastoral Society 1959 Show and was awarded Champion for Sample of Merino Lambs Wool. Red, white and blue wool ribbon with yellow tassels on short ends. Yellow stitched/stamped text. Text is divided across the three coloured panels which are stitched together with white thread.

Wool and spinning department, R S & S mill.Wool and Spinning Department/ Called Mules - centre section - so called because they/ worked like mules all day without stop ROBERT POCKLEY/ PHOTOGRAPHER G Kidmantextile machinery textile mills - history textile mills - staff textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, spinning machinery, textile machinery, textile mills - history, textile mills - staff, textile mills

Fred Moylan OAM born in Melbourne 1923, founded Moylan Woolen in 1950, at the beginning of an extended period of prosperity for the Australian wool industry. Moylan Woollens initial main focus was in the wholesale wool trade. In 1958-1959 the business diversified into angora farming and distribution. In 1967 the company merged with Debenhams Australia to form Debenham and Moylan Woollen Co Pty Ltd, later in 1980 the company was sold to Richard Allen. Moylan was a key business figure in the formation of the Australian Wool Bureau and Woolmark. He was awared the Member of the Order of Australia in 1997 for his contribution to the Australian and international wool industry. Source: Publication Moylan Woollens produced by the RMIT University Textile Resource Centre. Seven page single sided printed report with black typed text on cream paper.THE WOOL SITUATION 1970 / By F. H. MOYLAN B. Com. / Managing Director, / The Debenham & Moylan Woollen Co. / Pty. Ltd. / 153 Flinders Lane, / MELBOURNE. / 3000.frederick moylan, the debenham & moylan woollen co. pty. ltd, report, wool, industry

The Axminster Carpet Loom has been set up as a focal point in the centre of the National Wool Museum. The loom was originally built by Brintons in England around 1910 and was initially operating in Geelong in 1960. Brintons designed and built most of their own looms and ancillary equipment. When superseded in 1975 the loom was donated to the Melbourne College of Textiles for weaving training. The College has now donated the loom to the National Wool Museum and Brintons engineering staff has restored it to full working condition. This loom is known as an Axminster gripper loom. The gripper system was invented by Brintons in 1890 and operates using a gripper shaped like a birds beak. This grips the yarn, the yarn is then cut and the gripper swings down to place the tuft into the woven backing. This particular loom also uses a jacquard system for weaving colours. In jacquard weaving, punched cards are used to instruct the loom as to which colour to use. The system was invented by Joseph Jacquard, a silk weaver from Lyon, and was introduced in 1804. It revolutionised pattern weaving as it had the capacity to create intricate patterns through the use of the cards. By 1833 there were approximately 100,000 power-looms used in Great Britain that had been influenced by Jacquards invention. Joseph Jacquard died in 1834. Charles Babbage was later to adapt Jacquards punch-card system to produce a calculator that was the forerunner of todays methods of computer programmingAxminster carpet loom featuring over 1000 Jacquard punch cards and over 100 bobbins of different colours of wool.loom carpet wool, geelong woolbrokers' association, geelong, auction

Mt Beauty Higher Elementary School commenced in 1953 as the need for a secondary school grew with the increase in population due to the Kiewa Hydro Scheme. It became the Mt Beauty High School in 1964. The blazer was worn as part of the winter uniform.Historical: Education in Mt Beauty commenced relatively late so there was less of a tradition. The decision to adopt a uniform is of interest to compare with other schools and the times.Pure wool dark green flannel pocket cut out from a Mt Beauty High School blazer. Emblem is machine stitched and has a yellow wattle decoration outside a yellow frame. Across the top of the frame in yellow 'High School", across the bottom of the frame "Mount Beauty", the 2 sides of the frame are hollow. Inside the frame is a stitched picture with a light blue sky, royal blue mountains with white peaks and a white curved path leads towards the mountains with light green 'paddocks' either side. Inscription on back in yellow and white.Pinehurst / Blazer (in white) / Styled by Stamina / The "Doctor" / Pure Wool Flannel (in white) blazer, school, high school, uniform, mt beauty, emblem, education, clothing, winter

A nylon wool mixture sleeveless singlet with drawstring at neck that was possibly worn by George Reed when a patient at Heatherton Sanitarium c1950 "1909 'Consumption' or Tuberculosis was an infectious, debilitating disease. The main treatment of this ailment was a long period of rest, fresh air, sunshine and good food, so what better place to build a ‘Sanatorium’ than in the rural area they called Heatherton and affiliate it with the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum. After World War II c1947, the Commonwealth Government Health Department took over the Heatherton Hospital to deal with tuberculosis when it became a major problem in Australia. This was during the time when the Government conducted X-Ray surveys on a state by state basis. It was compulsory at that time for everyone to have a chest X-Ray. " ( KCC History Website 2020 , A.Bennett) Heatherton Sanitarium, situated in the City of Moorabbin, was the main rehabilitation hospital in Melbourne for patients suffering from 'Consumption' or Tuberculosis in 1909-1978 A wool / nylon mixture sleeveless Singlet with drawstring at neck that was used by George Reed at Heatherton Sanitarium c1950, Back neck ; ( ? Ward bed) 108Bclothing, singlets, underwear, heatherton sanitarium 1950, consumption, tuberculosis, rehabiltation, tb vaccine c1960, chest x-rays 1950, melbourne benevelont asylum cheltenham, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire reed george, dairy farms, fruit orchards

white rectangle badge with black letteringSolomons supports wool pure new wool

Photo album detailing the process involved in the Jumbo Wool Auction Service. This process was developed by Grazcos, a company who advanced innovations for shearers and wool farmers before amalgamating with Dalgety in the early 1990s. Grazcos was a well-known name to source a competent shearing team, or as a destination for wool in need of bulk classing. The Jumbo Wool Auction service was designed to process wool more efficiently through volume. 63 traditionally dumped farm bales of wool would fill a typical shipping container. The Jumbo Wool Auction Service enabled 108 farm bales to fit into the same container. This brought reductions in the costs of handling, selling, storing, and shipping of wool. This photo album details this process; from classing to shipping. This photo album was a draft copy produced for review before the production of mass-produced advertising flyers. 12-page hard cover photo album. Internally colour images and printed text have been stuck behind a protective plastic onto paper. The backing paper has many distinctive orange and grey horizontal lines. Printed text is in black ink. Colour images are 2 x 3 inches with rounded corners. Images and text are numbered 1 to 16 detailing the process of the Jumbo Wool Auction Service developed by Grazcos.wool auction, wool processing, grazcos

Items issued to Mavis Keillor, refer Cat No 3402 for her service details.1. Jacket - Polyester/Wool, Navy Blue with Black buttons. 2. Skirt - Polyester/Wool, Navy Blue. 3. Belt - Polyester/Wool, Navy blue with black buckle. 4. Cap - Polyester/wool, Navy blue, embroidered RAAF Insignia.1. Embroidered wings each shoulder. Metal badges each sleeve - wireless. 3 stripes embroidered in light blue cotton. Blue and red, 3 stripes lower left sleeve.wraaf uniform, ww2

The 41 alphabetic and numeric visual signalling flags (including substitute and answering pennants) have either square or pointed ends. They are made of bunting, a coarse fabric of worsted (open yarn wool) in various colour combinations. Some of the flags are marked with inscriptions, for example “B”. Attachments to the flags include hemp rope and metal clips. Each flag has its own galvanised canister and lid, each of which is painted grey and marked with a letter, number or word. The flags were used for communicating messages to passing ships. Knowledge of visual signalling was mandatory for all lightkeepers and all lightstations maintained a set of flags. Although used for centuries, visual flag signalling formally developed in the nineteenth century and was published internationally as a system in 1857. By the early twentieth century it had developed into an effective means of conveying all kinds of short range visual messages. The signal flags and canisters at Gabo Island form a complete set and are not historically linked to the lightstation and their provenance is unknown. It is known however that they originate from a lightstation in Victoria and for some years were on loan from AMSA to the Queenscliff Maritime Museum, where they were held in storage and not displayed. Three of the six lightstations that Parks Victoria manages have sets of signal flags in their collections. Forty navigational signal alphabet flags & numeral pennants. Flags are made of wool.

Display board was once property of Port Macquarie Historical Society & Museum, but they de-accessioned it in 2016 before donating it to the National Wool Museum. Reason for de-accession was that it no longer fit with their collection aims, nor was it relevant to their location. Item appears to have been made in 1963, or at least using wool samples from 1963. Wool samples were grown by a S.F. PICKER at 'BIGGA' in New South Wales. No further information was given by donor.Light brown timber framed display board with glass cover. Light brown backing board with 25 wool samples taped to the board, each with a paper lable with printed text. Main label reads -WORLD RECORD PRICE / 1963...468d / SUPER FINE MERINO. / COUNT. 74/80. / GROWN BY. / S.F. PICKER. BIGGA. / N.S.W.-wool samples, wool sorting, wool breading

Army Trousers ,wooluniform, 1944, army