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. Two blanket labels, framed, on blanket backing Castlemaine Pure Wool/The Laconia Blanket/Guaranteed All Pure Wool And Odorless/Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, sampler, labels

James Dearing was the head gardener for Benjamin Nathan, who owned Rippon Lea between 1909-1935. Dearing is believed to have worked for the Nathan Family at their previous home in High St., Armadale. He is understood to have left the employment of the Nathan's in about 1914-1915.Decorative prize certificate awarded to Mr James Dearing, head gardener to Benjamin Nathan, by the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria on the 11th February 1909, for "1 new or rare Plant". Certificate is made of white paper mounted on to cardboard. Decoration and text are very similar to RL 0448- the certificate is a cream coloured cardboard with printed text and decoration in green ink. The decorations consist of: a shield with a lion and a horse on either side, at the top of the certificate; a sheild with a kangaroo and an emu on either side, with advance Australia below, on the bottom of the certificate. On either side of this are two circles, the right circle consists of flowers, the left circle consists of fruit. Surrounding all this are various flowers and foliage filling up the space inside the border decoration.Handwritten in ink: Mr James Dearing Head Gardener to/ Mr Ben Nathan Armadale/ 1 new and rare plant/ Dendrobium Nobile .........../ WR.............. Vice/ James R a Milligan/ 11' February 1909rippon lea, dearing, james, nathan, benjamin, royal horticultural society of victoria

Part of the Zakrzewski Collection of spinning wheels donated to the National Wool Museum by Mr Wlodzimierz Zakrzewski. For many years, Mr Zakrzewski collected, researched and repaired spinning wheels from all over the world. This spinning wheel is Australian and is made from Queensland Kauri pine. It dates from c.WWI and was designed by someone inexperienced in spinning wheel design, but who was able to solve the problems encountered in an innovative way. For instance the flyer and bobbin mechanism were made from the sort of bits and pieces that would have been found laying around a workshop. The wheel was acquired from a private home in Glen Iris, from the owner who knew nothing about it.Spinning Wheelhandicrafts - history, spinning wheels, highlights of the national wool museum: the zakrzewski spinning wheel collection - exhibition (28/07/2001 - 02/12/2001), zakrzewski, mr wlodzimierz

Attached George Gross Biography. Vogue Australia|With more than 40 years in the industry,- George Gross is one of Australia's best known fashion designers. Designing his own. label for the last 35 years, Gross is renowned for his glamorous evening wear, corporate and race wear ranges. Embodying style and sophistication, Gross has dressed celebrities the world over in his eponymous label.|With his first creation - a sequined shift, at the tender age of 16 George still believes 'every collection starts with the fabric and is all about the cut and proper finishing. The looks and silhouettes change every season but not dramatically, it is more that they evolve from season to season.'|The George Gross label was first conceived in Adelaide by Gross and his business partner Harry Watt. As designer, both were working for other fashion houses and saw a gap In the market for elegant evening wear, suiting and separates. Joining with his twin sister Kathy, the three began with a small Adelaide store and expanded to include more than 500 retailers worldwide at the height of their business.|Inspired by real women, Gross showcases his love of colour, cut and quality with each collection. His aim is to create sensuous clothing that women of any age, shape or taste look fabulous wearing. Attributing his longevity to a desire for experimentation while also listening to his customers' needs, Gross designs the fabric prints and only uses the best quality natural fibres from Europe.|Gross and Watt have won 13 Australian fashion design awards between them and both work closely with charities throughout Australia. Working primarily with Breast and Prostate Cancer Research, George organises parades around Australia, especially in their home town of Adelaide.|Gross now has seven stand alone stores, nine concession areas in David Jones department stores and numerous wholesale clients Australia wide. Having finished summer 2009, George is now working on winter 2010, his 73rd collection with many more to come.Three piece Grey - brown pin stripe pants suit. Fully lined pants, shaped waist band. Zip front & turned up cuffs. Jacket fully lined, wide reveres, single breasted, one button. Two pockets. Tailored waistcoat, 5 buttons. Two imitation pockets. Stretched lace backGeorge Grosscostume, female

Advertisement in the Gazette for 'Grantham' Mitcham Road, Mitcham, former home of Stanley Walker of Australian Tesselated Tile Co.Advertisement in the Gazette for 'Grantham' Mitcham Roadgrantham' mitcham road, mitcham, walker, stanley, australian tesselated tile co. pty ltd, real estate

Document used prior to computerisation. Customer completed the form, then presented it to the bank teller, who then passed over money to customer. Form allowed customers to withdraw money from passbook account, statement account or home loan/MISA a/c.Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Pink on white background. Red logo and writingcommerce, banking

Mitcham residents and the Nunawading and District Historical Society have joined the growing list of objectors to a proposed 16 unit development at the corner of Mitcham Road and Meerut Street on the site of one of the few remaining historical homes in the area. The house was built in 1934 by Stanley and Helen Walker. Mr Walker's family was owner and operator of the Australian Tessellated Tile Company, an important industry for Mitcham and Victoria. The house was recognised in the 1994 City of Nunawading Heritage Survey Project and was classified as being of high local significance,Mitcham residents and the Nunawading and District Historical Societymitcham road, mitcham, meerut street, walker, stanley, helen, arrowsmith, valda, daly, peter, seamer

A Luther College Year 10 essay which researches the history of George Maxwell Walker (1924 - 1944). A pilot with the R.A.A.F. who spent much of his flying days with the British R.A.F. At the time of his death his squadron was carrying out anti-submarine patrols and internal security in and around the Middle East. He was the son of George Walker and grandson of Edgar and Myra Walker, owners of Australia Tesselated Tile Company. The George Walker family lived in Harrison St, Mitcham. The home is on the City of Whitehorse Heritage planning overlay.A Luther College Year 10 essay walker, george maxwell, royal australian air force, royal air force, world war, 1939 - 1945, war memorials

Residents in Mitcham are fighting to save one of their suburb's historic homes. More than 60 objections have been received by the City of Whitehorse Planning Office to an application by Metrospan Developments to build 16 double storey units at 456 - 460 Mitcham Road, Mitcham. The proposed development is on part of the historic Walker Estate.Luther College Year 10 History assignment Residents in Mitcham are fighting to save one of their suburb's historic homes. walker estate, hogg, tony, australian tesselated tile co. pty ltd, allan, peter, buckingham, helen, rigo, anthony, metrospan developments

A valuable collection of pottery and tiles collected by Nunawading Historical Society and traced to the early history of the potters' art in Nunawading. At present the collection is stored under the home of a society member who is moving. The council are debating whether to display the collection in the Council Offices foyer or whether the request should come from the Historical Society.A valuable collection of pottery and tiles collected by Nunawading Historical Society and traced to the early history of the potters' art in Nunawading. pottery, nunawading historical society, australian tesselated tile co. pty. ltd, city of nunawading, mitcham, cox, george

The demolition of the historic Box Hill Primary School is to go ahead following the failure of an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to keep the National Trust classified primary school. It was decided it would have cost too much to preserve. Whitehorse Council has approved the building of a $10 million nursing home and hostel. Cutting from Whitehorse Gazette.The demolition of the historic Box Hill Primary School is to go ahead following the failure of an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to keep the National Trust classified primary school. box hill primary school, moorfields nursing home, box hill, national trust of australia (victoria)

Purchased at a fete by Pat Richardson in the 1990sWidely used in Australian homes to protect milk from insects until the advent of bottled milkWhite crocheted milk jug cover, with blue glass beads at regular intervals around edge to weight the coverdomestic items, food storage & preservation, handcrafts, crocheting or crochet work

Given to Pat Richardson by her mother, Vera McDowell in the 1980s. Original source unknown.Widely used in Australian homes to protect furniture surfaces and as decorative items until circa 1960s, although still used with traditional/antique furnitureWhite cotton bobbin lace round doyley with concentric separate patterns, including a butterfly motif, with undulating edging completed with the same bobbin lace edging.handcrafts, lacemaking, domestic items, ornaments / decorative