Note from collector: I would stack plain blankets of the same base colour and arrange them by shade to make up a colour palette. It showed how particular colours were in fashion in the early decades, based mostly around depths of pastel pinks, mints, lemons and baby blues with brighter colours arriving in the 1960s then the browns and oranges in heavier tones in the 1970s. 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, dusty pink blanketGodfrey Hirst/Pure Wool Pelage Blanket/Mothproofed/Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, godfrey hirst, geelong

Collector says: "This pair of Physician blankets was found at the Mission op shop in Blackburn South. I remember having such a lovely chat with the solo staff member there as we shared some blanket appreciation, a regular occurrence when rehoming a relinquished blanket."Collector's note: "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 blanket, corn and bluePhysician Blankets/Pure Virgin Lambswool/Mothproofed/Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, physician, collins bros, geelong

VX 27898 Corporal Thomas John Morris Thomas (Tom Thomas) donated several items to Cranbourne RSL. He served in the Australian Corp Signals in WWII both in Australia and overseas. He was born at Womerah on 9/11/1906 and died at Koo Wee Rup 16/06/1984. He enlisted at Yarram on 1/7/1940 and was discharged at Royal Park on 9/3/1945.Brown card with black line drawing of a cruise liner, the H.T Queen Mary. Black printed text beneath."H.T. QUEEN MARY / YO HO! YO HO! YO-HEAVE-O! / Cpl Thomas (handwritten) / having passed the Portals of my Realm on the Tenth day of January 1941 is now permitted to enjoy all the Privileges and Perquisites thereof being now a TRUE SEA DOG and thuswise entitled to Spit to Wind'ard Drink his Grog Neat and Have the Full Freedom of FIDDLER'S GREEN whensoever ifsoever howsoever He doth it visit. / Witnessed / R. B. IRVING, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R. / Commodore / LIEUT-COL. R. F. MARLAN / Officer Commanding Troops. / GIVEN Under My Fin Tail and Trident this aforesaid day at Our COURT OF THE FOUR WINDS AND THE SEVEN SEAS / NEPTUNE / OMNIA MARUM REX / PRO BONO PUBLICOUSE" ht queen mary, queen mary, wwii, omnia marum rex

Metal plate commemorating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. Plate is edged in red with gold embellishment. Image of Queen Elizabeth in centre of plate.Portland Ware, made in England. The Metal Box Company Limited. H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh.

This medal commemorates the coronation of King George VI and Elizabeth as monarchs on the British throne, to be held on May 12th, 1937. The medal is one of over 300,000 distributed to school children as a memento of the occasion. The obverse shows the busts of King George VI and Elizabeth facing left. The reverse shows Victoria's Coat of Arms, the official heraldic symbol, with the Southern Cross on a shield, above it is a kangaroo facing left and holding a crown. The supporting figure on the left holds an olive branch of 'peace' and the supporter on the right holds a cornucopia horn of 'plenty', together representing the text on the ribbon between them 'Peace & Planty' symbol of 'prosperity'. On May 7th, 1937 each school child in Victoria, Australia, received a medal commemorating the upcoming coronation of King George VI and Elizabeth, to be held on May 12th, 1937. medals totalling 318,200 were distributed to scholars in 2,781 Victorian schools. Each school received a letter from the Governor, Lord Humingfield, detailing the significance of the occasion. Lessons on the day focused on the meaning behind the medal, and children recited their Allegiance to the King, saluted the flag bearing the Union Jack and Southern Cross, and sang Australila's then National Anthem "God Save the King", which today is sung as the Royal Anthem. The medal is significant for connecting Victoria, and Australia, to the British Commonwealth and the sovereignty of the British throne, in Australia's post-Federation years. It shows the importance placed by the Government of Australia in educating the generation of students in 1937 about Australia's place in the Commonwealth and the history of Australia. The history of the medal is socially and politically significant, reflecting the evolution of changes in Australian society.Medal or medallion, bgilt rass, with claw and ring on top. The obverse has the bust of a female and male, co-joined, and the reverse has the Coat of arms of the State of Victoria, which includes a kangaroo above a shield and a supporting figure on either side of the shield. Inscriptions are on both sides of the medal. The medal commemorates the coronation of their Majesties, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, on May 12th 1937.Obverse, around the circle: "KING GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH" Reverse, around the circle: "TO COMMEMORATE THEIR MAJESTIES' CORONATION / MAY 12TH 1937" Reverse, within the Coat of Arms: "VICTORIA" "PEACE & PROSPERITY" flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, medallion, medal, commemorative, king george vi and elizabeth, 1937, 12-05-1937, students in victoria, schools in victoria, 7-5-1937, victoria's coat of arms, peace & prosperity, british monarch, british throne, british commonwealth, numesmatics, coil, student, victorian student

The celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24 was renamed Empire Day in 1903 after her death in 1901. It was celebrated throughout the British Empire, including in Australia. Ballarat schools marched in procession with a salute at the Town Hall before attending church services at their respective churches. By the late 1950s the celebration became Commonwealth Empire Day the reference to Empire being dropped by the 1960s.These form part of a large family collection of bookmarks and local & family history items at Hymettus Cottage, home to the same family for the past 127 years in 2024. They have a well documented provenance and a known owner forming part of a significant and representative historical collection that reflects Ballarat's local history from a family perspective. They contribute to our understanding of social and family life in twentieth century Ballarat and providing interpretative capacity for family, local, and social history themes. These four bookmarks are from 1951-1954.Three Empire Day cardboard bookmarks each featuring an illustrated crown, with crossed Australian and British flags, each bookmark trimmed in gold. The first is simply for Empire Day and two commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 1953 Royal Visit respectively.nil,empire day, royal visit, bookmarks, empire day movement, melbourne, coronation year 1953

Ballarat School of Mines Students' Magazine, 1953White front page soft cover with burgundy inscriptions on front cover. This magazine recognised the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and reproduced a portrait of the Queen.staff, sports, her majesty queen elizabeth ii, mr hillman, mr gillespie, i. burger, n. leckie, b. singleton, mr treadwell, mr fairbank, j. mcneil, b. smith, ann mitchell, janice wilton, eleanor tozer, j. beattie, b. macdougall, mr bryan, mrs alf. watson, mr hans fumberger, mr w. r. richards, cliff restarick, russell ewins, kevin whiter, mr w. carlyon, mr k. treloar, mr c. livitsamos, arthur faneco, jim john, barbara ngip, jim tinney, jean dean, neville spiers, stewart rowe, max stevens, barrie smith, elaine walton, jim sawyer, bruce flavel, ron ingleton, john bethune, john blackburn, john boag, jim brokenshire, john carmichael, ray kibby, alec kinnane, noel meagher, norm ludbrook, graham searle, ron sheppard, ryrie mccallum, queen elizabeth ii, coronation

The snuff box is rectangular with a red base, gold trim and clasp around box and lid edges with an enamelled lid. The lid depicts in full colour and detail the Royal College of Anaesthetist's coat of arms on a white enamel background. The box has its own custom-made box of blue board and velvet with the maker's mark printed in gold on the inside of the lid. The original enamel box was presented by the Royal College of Anaesthetists to Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate her opening of the College in England on the 8th of July 1993.Enamelled on front. "Presented to Her Majesty The Queen BY THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ANAESTHETISTS" Enamelled on inside of lid. "To commemorate the opening of the College by Her Majesty on 8th July 1993"enamel, snuff box, commemorative, replica, facsimile

This copy of the book is personally signed and dated by the Curator of the first Warrnambool Museum, which was also the Warrnambool Public Library. This copy also has many hand written notes in the margins. This little book is one of only 1000 books published of the original Queen's Jubilee Edition. It spans fifty years of the history of Warrnambool from the time that the first Government Land Sales commenced. It also deliberately coincides with the 1887 celebrations of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year of her ascension to the British Throne. The book is an invaluable reference for researchers of local Warrnambool history and has been used as a textbook and reference book for local students. After the closure of the Warrnambool Museum, the book was held by the Warrnambool City Council until, in 1974, it was transferred to the newly established Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. The author, Richard Osburne, (1825-1895) was born in Australia. He moved to Warrnambool in 1847 as the first local Journalist. In 1851 he founded the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper which he operated until the end of 1880. Osburne was much involved in civic and community affairs of the town, and he set himself the task of recording the history of the city's early pioneers. In the introductory pages of the book the author refers to himself as "The Father of the Warrnambool Press". Only 1,000 copies of this edition of the book were printed. In September 1980 a facsimile edition was printed with the addition of illustrations from the period, an index and relevant annotations by local historian T.A. Wicking (Tom Wicking). This later book was named the Premier Town Edition, due to Warrnambool being awarded the title of Premier Town in Victoria in 1979-82 by the Premier of Victoria; it also received the inaugural award in 1959 and a later award in 1988-91.This book has strong significance for being signed in 1887 by Joseph Archibald, the Curator of the first museum and library in Warrnambool, the Warrnambool Museum. It is also significant for the annotations added to many of the pages, perhaps for the Facsimile edition that followed many years later. This book is rare. It is one of only 1000 copies printed, and one of three in the Collection of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. The book was dedicated to the early colonists as well as to the new arrivals by the writer, Richard Osburne, who entitles himself as "The father of the Warrnambool Press". The content of the book is invaluable as a reference for Warrnambool and District's local history in its early colonial and pioneering days. It provides the information that helps in an understanding the foundation that the city was built on, connecting the people of today to the pioneers of the past.The History of Warrnambool: Capital of the Western Ports of Victoria, From1847 up to the end of 1886 (when the first Government Land Sales took place) Author: Richard Osburne, "Proprietor of the Warrnambool Examiner from 1851 to the close of 1880" Publisher: The Chronicle Printing and Publishing Company Limited Date: 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) (Roman numerals are covered in tape) Edition: Original: Queen's Jubilee Edition Black fabric covered hardcover book with embossed gold titles on spine and front cover. Inscriptions include stamps and handwriting. It once belonged to the Warrnambool Public Museum and is signed by the first Curator, Joseph Archibald, in 1887. The first fly page has a message to the readers, as shown in the Inscriptions of this record. Many of the pages in this book have handwritten notes in the margins and within the text and some of the lines are crossed out.Handwritten: "Warrnambool Museum" Signed: "J Archibald / 1887" Stamped: "WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC MUSEUM" Printed on fly page: "PRICE, FIVE SHILLINGS" First fly page: "THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE EDITION. TO OLD COLONISTS AND YOUNG AUSTRALIANS, OR NEW ARRIVALS, THIS HISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE CAPITAL OF WESTERN VICTORIA, IS DEDICATED AS INTERESTING AND USEFUL, BY "THE FATHER OF THE WARRNAMBOOL PRESS" RICHARD OSBURNE."warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, the history of warrnambool, richard osburne, osturne's history of warrnambool, queen's jubilee edition, 1847-1887, warrnambool history, the chronicle printing and publishing company, capital of the western ports of victoria, first government land sales, warrnambool examiner, five shillings, warrnambool's first reporter, warrnambool public library, 1887, 1979, premier town, premier edition, queen's jubliee, queen victoria's jubilee, western ports of victoria, 1847, government land sales, chronicle publishing and printing co., 1000 copies, t a wicking, old colonists, young australians, new arrivals, rise and progress, capital of western victoria, interesting and useful, the father of the warrnambool press

Official Print of H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II

RAN Queen Elizabeth Gilt Textured Fieldbadge/buttons, 1953+, ran

Black and white photograph of Queen Victoria Statue.bendigo, streetscape, queen victoria statue

Coloured photograph of the 1964 float "Easter Queen".bendigo, institutions, sandhurst boys centre

Coloured photograph of the 1965 float "Queen of Hearts".bendigo, institutions, sandhurst boys centre

Slide. Bendigo Easter Fair. A Dairy Queen.slide, bendigo, bendigo easter fair., bendigo easter fair.

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

Collector says: Once I had gathered a dozen or so blankets, I started noticing the many different labels; where they were made, by who, the logos and fonts used. Then the labels became a thing, then the blankets had to have a label to join the collection. My favourite labels are by Physician, they had at least 4 different labels over the decades but the best has to be the Lady In Bed logo. Physician, Onkaparinga, Eagley and others matched the colour of the label to the colour of the blanket - a nice touch. Strangely, Castlemaine labels were always sewn on the back of the blanket where all the other mills sewed theirs on the front. To this day I always roll or fold a blanket with its label on display.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 checked blanket, aqua and orange Laconia/Make "Goodnight" a Certainty/Pure Lambswool/Made in Australia wool, blanket, blanket fever, laconia

Collector says: Once I had gathered a dozen or so blankets, I started noticing the many different labels; where they were made, by who, the logos and fonts used. Then the labels became a thing, then the blankets had to have a label to join the collection. My favourite labels are by Physician, they had at least 4 different labels over the decades but the best has to be the Lady In Bed logo. Physician, Onkaparinga, Eagley and others matched the colour of the label to the colour of the blanket - a nice touch. Strangely, Castlemaine labels were always sewn on the back of the blanket where all the other mills sewed theirs on the front. To this day I always roll or fold a blanket with its label on display.Collector says: "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 checked blanket, pink and cream An Onkaparinga 100% pure wool production. In emblem: Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, onkaparinga

Collector says: "This pair of Physician blankets was found at the Mission op shop in Blackburn South. I remember having such a lovely chat with the solo staff member there as we shared some blanket appreciation, a regular occurence when rehoming a relinquished blanket."Collector's note: "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 checked blanket, corn and bluePhysician Blankets/Pure Virgin Lambswool/Mothproofed/Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, physician, collins bros, geelong

Collector says: "I would stack plain blankets of the same base colour and arrange them by shade to make up a colour palette. It showed how particular colours were in fashion in the early decades, based mostly around depths of pastel pinks, mints, lemons and baby blues with brighter colours arriving in the 1960s then the browns and oranges in heavier tones in the 1970s.Collector's note: "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 blanket, soft pastel pinkWarranted 100% Pure Wool/The Famous "Doctor" Regd/Blanket Made in Tasmania/in Emblem "K&K" (first K mirror image)/Regdwool, blanket, blanket fever, the famous doctor, kelsall and kemp, tasmania

Sent to Mrs A Terrill from son Dave while he was at army camps 1915, and from Bertie, Father of Dave.Postcard showing Queen Victoria Statue, Bendigo"Printed in Germany"

Silver Napkin ring with Queen's school crest.

Three badges worn by CEGGS/Queen's Prefects.

Three badges worn by CEGGS/Queen's Prefects.

Three badges worn by CEGGS/Queen's Prefects.