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. Physician - years-of-bliss blankets - (woman on telephone in bed under red blanket)Physician - years-of-bliss blankets - just feel the difference!/Wonderfully warm, without weight…soft and fluffy after countless washings…made from the most luxurious wool in the world….and guaranteed for 20 years/Physician/Luxurious Woollen Blanketsblanket, blanket fever, wool, physician, collins bros, geelong, advertisement, australian women's weekly

Collins Bros Pty Ltd.COLLINS BROS. PTY. LTD. WOOLLEN MANUFACTURERS GEELONG FASHIONABLE SHADES FAST TO LIGHT ON PHYSICIAN FLANNELS (gold lettering)fashion, collins bros mill pty ltd, dyeing

Awl used on the Kacoonda carder.textile machinery textile production, collins bros mill pty ltd, carding, textile machinery, textile production

Probably a Fire Extinguisher sign from Collins Bros Pty LtdProbably a Fire Extinguisher sign from Collins Bros Pty LtdF.E.woollen mills, collins bros mill pty ltd

Between the 1920’s and 1950’s the YWCA, Blue Triangle and local committee of representatives organised an Inter House Athletics Day for Girls in Geelong and Melbourne. Local Geelong business, such as the surrounding woollen mills, business firms and church clubs would form teams of seven women to compete in a variety of sports such as bowls, basketball, hockey, cricket and soccer. Events such as these were organised to encourage women to participate in competitive sports and network with other women in the workforce.Four black and white photographs of the Collins Bros. and Holeproof Basket Ball Team. Two photos are of teams, two of play.sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Shop sign for Hannams advertising Physician blankets and Bradmill sheets.Cardboard display sign, painted yellow with black, blue and dark red text. Bottom line of text painted on bright orange card which is pasted to the yellow sign. Staple holes at lower right edge.PURE NEW WOOL / PHYSICIAN BLANKETS / AND BRADMILL SHEETS / AVAILABLE AT HANNAMSadvertising, collins bros mill pty ltd, sign, hannams

Card of cloth samples, part of Collins Bros collection.weaving mills, botany worsted mills

Cloth sample book of Botany Certified Fabrics contains 36 different coloured cloth samples, part of Collins Bros collection.weaving mills, botany worsted mills

Set of 'Physician' blanket samples produced by Collins Bros Pty Ltd.Set of 'Physician' blanket samples produced by Collins Bros Pty Ltd.Physician Blankets Manufactured by Collins Bros Pty Ltd Established 1874 PHYSICIAN Made in Australia Mothproofed Pure New Wooltextile design, textile mills, collins bros mill pty ltd, label

Drench funnel.sheep drenching, collins bros mill pty ltd, funnel

Blanket labels for Physician blankets.Red text and red and black image of woman lying in bed (printed) on white background. 'Holes' around edges used for stitching onto blankets.Physician standard chill-proof pure wool blanket made in Australiaweaving, collins bros mill pty ltd

Part of Collins Brother Collection.Framed and glazed photograph - Collins Bros Cricket Club Premiers 1921/22.textile mills sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport, textile mills - sporting teams

Part of Collins Brother Collection. Depicts the Collins Bros Marnock Vale B cricket team who were premiers in 1929-30. R.E. Wheeler A. Wells C. Norton W.H. Stewart, Captain C.W. Ayling L. Pattie P.C. Barling / J. McHugh D.C. D'HelinCollins Bros Marnock Vale B Cricket team, premiers 1929-30.Collins Brothers / Marnock Vale B Cricket Team / Premiers 1929-30 / G. Morris, Delegate W. Crawford, Treasurer J.M. Jamieson, Secretary G. Lynch, Scorer) / N. A. Pattie C.H. Henry B.N.M. Collins R.W.L. Henry T.J.A. Stapleton K.G. McCaskill / R.E. Wheeler A. Wells C. Norton W.H. Stewart, Captain C.W. Ayling L. Pattie P.C. Barling / J. McHugh D.C. D'Helin Lockwood Studiostextile mills sporting teams, textile mills staff, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport, textile mills - sporting teams, textile mills - staff

Photograph of Collins Bros and Physician Blankets trade display. Part of Collins Bros Collection.trade fairs trade display, collins bros mill pty ltd, trade fairs, trade display

Plastic screw top lid.Twist to lock Twist to unlock E-MIL C14collins bros mill pty ltd

Cup, G.I.C.A. Simmonds Cup won by Collins Bros B.C.C. Runners-up 1939-40.G.I.C.A. Simmonds Cup won by Collins Bros B.C.C. Runners-up 1939-40.sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Cup, G.I.C.A.. G. Simmonds cup B Section Premiers won by Collins Bros. B 1941-42G.I.C.A.. G. Simmonds cup B Section Premiers won by Collins Bros. B 1941-42sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Cup, G.I.C.A.. Wt Wiggs cup A Section premiers won by Collins Bros. B 1942-43.G.I.C.A.. Wt Wiggs Cup A Section premiers won by Collins Bros B 1942-43.sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Sporting trophy cup, G.I.C.A. W.T Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros. 1936-37.Trophy, large electro plated nickel silver cup, ornate handles and stem, on bakelite base. Engraved on side of cup.G.I.C.A. / W.T Wiggs / Discipline Cup / won by / Collins Bros. / 1936-37sporting teams textile mills - sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, textile mills - sporting teams

Cup, G.I.C.A.. Wt Wiggs discipline cup won by Collins Bros. B 1938-39CIGA W.T. Wiggs Discipline Cup Won by Collins Bros B 1938-39sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Cup, G.I.C.A.. WT Wiggs discipline cup won by Collins Bros.collins bros mill pty ltd

Sporting trophy cup, G.I.C.A.. W.T. Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros. 1939-40.Sporting trophy cup, G.I.C.A.. W.T. Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros. 1939-40.G.I.C.A.. W.T. Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros. 1939-40sporting teams textile mills - sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, textile mills - sporting teams

Cup, GICA WT Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros 'B' 1941-42.GICA WT Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros 'B' 1941-42sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Cup, presented by Wardrop "My Tailor" G.I.C.A.. runner up Collins Bros 'B' season 1940-41Presented by Wardrop "My Tailor" G.I.C.A.. runner up Collins Bros 'B' Season 1940-41sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Gala day cup 1932 for best decorated lorry won by Collins Bros basket ball girls.Geelong Gala 1932 Best Decorated Lorry won by Collins Bros Basketball Girls Jewellers & Opticians Phune 1576 E.G. Stott & Sons 98, Moorabool St. Geelong Next Suttons cornersporting teams textile mills textile mills, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, textile mills

G.I.C.A. presented by Wardrop "My Taylor" won by Collins Bros 'B' runners up 1938-39.G.I.C.A. presented by Wardrop "My Taylor" won by Collins Bros 'B' runners up 1938-39sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

G.I.C.A. WT Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros 'B' 1940-41.G.I.C.A. WT Wiggs Discipline Cup won by Collins Bros 'B' 1940-1sporting teams, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport

Shield from the Blue Triangle Association presented to the Collins Bros 'A' team, premiers 1932.Blue Triangle B.B. AssnCollins A Premiers 1932 M. Chapman M. Whelan M. Palmer M. Nehill I. Fairbrother K. Nehill O. Doddssporting teams textile mills textile mills, collins bros mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, textile mills

Glazed earthenware vessel.collins bros mill pty ltd

Glazed earthenware vessel.collins bros mill pty ltd