Collector says: "I can still recall one of my earliest childhood memories, of my nana's bright aqua shoes against the checks of our family travel rug on summer picnics. Maybe that's when this collection planted its seed in me - 40 years later I start my first blanket collection after stumbling across old Onkaparinga travel rugs. I would go to a vintage market in Collingwood every month and almost always found a good one, amassing enough for the entire household. Everyone had their favourite, even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one just for him."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."Plaid travel rug, double-sided , fringed , brown and orangeThe Seal of Quality/"Onkaparinga" /Pure Wool/Manufactured in Australia by Onkaparinga Woollen Co.Ltd/Owner___wool, blanket, blanket fever, travel rug, onkaparinga

Lily Martin went to Zerko's Business College Melbourne. Two year course achieved 140 words per minute. Zerko's got her a job in 18 monthsSmall brown book entitled Pitman's Pocket Shorthand DictionaryL Martinbooks, reference

not knownA common sight in shop and house windowsBrown card with gold lettering - 'Room To Let' - border in goldRoom To Let, W.H. Banks 120 Brunswick Street, Fitzroysigns, to let

Ladies brown stockings, seamed, with fully fashioned heel and toe.costume accessories, female

Brown leather riding leggings/gaiters with two straps and buckles.costume accessories, footwear accessories

Brown painted metal sheep with black nose and black feet.Proprietary/Britains Ltd.,/Copyright/Made in Englandtoys, general

Worn by Donor's grandmother at Bethley Ridge near Maryborough. Unique style of embroideryApron - Brown Hostess - Lace Edged. Embroidered in fine woolcostume, female working

One brown woollen stocking with two white bands at top.costume, female footwear

Paper booklet in two shades of brown containing knitting instructions.P+B Knitting Made Easy 1941 Edition Patons + Baldwinsbooks, reference

Has been used as a hot water bottle.Stone ginger beer bottle. Light brown glaze on top.R. Harrison Spring St Fitzroy| Celebrated Ginger Beer Brewed.domestic items, containers

Donor's favourite toy as a baby in 1965-1966.Small brown doll in a crawling pose wearing a blue jumper.

Edward francis Camm was born in 1904 at Dargo Victoria. Lance corporal who enlisted on 14 July, 1940. 1 green and 1 brown dog tags on leather strap VX44154 Camm EFedward camm, wwii, dogs tags

Pte George JENKIN Donated by John WATTS, Heather BROWNING;craft, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Outside wall plaque, brown in colour with gold colour lettering

Large brown, glass bottle with stepped neck to accomodate cork.

Typically worn by boys on their backs while riding a bicycle to schoolBrown leather satchel with two leather straps and gold buckles

This tape has not been played but from the label it is a recording from 1976, of 30 seconds duration about Legacy. Possibly it is an advertisement.As the content is unknown so significance is not known, though it is assumed to be promotional material for Legacy from 1976.White cardboard box with a light brown spool with video film.Label, client - Legacy, product - Bill Roycroft, key no - lab 1/30, record date - 25-8-76. As arranged by Tony Charltonlegacy promotion, advertisements

Brown Langley Ware Bendigo Pottery jug with leadless glaze.Bendigo Potterydomestic equipment, containers, jug

Inside helmet inscribed with Pearce and manufacturers label "Staggs Australia" .Goggles inscribed with Jenkins 36936

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Pale brown woven simulated fur coat by Otex of MelbourneLabel: BY OTEX MELBOURNE / WOVEN SIMULATED FUR / TYBER / ONLY NATURE CAN COMPETE / SIZE 12otex melbourne, fur coats, faux fur, fashion -- 1960s, fashion design

Large size pale brown ermine stole with tails at ends.costume accessories, furs - ermine, women's clothing

One of a number of 'real photo' and commercial postcards created by or owned by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew. The postcards are part of a larger collection of photographs, postcards and publications donated to the collection in May 2021.Postcard/s produced by the Rose Stereograph company in brown coverpostcards -- melbourne (vic.), christian-washfold collection

Family tree and Infromation inc. Photographs. THe Henderson Family were Early settlers in the Stawell Area.Blue Card Cover with Black Print and Brown tape on spineDescendants of William Henderson 1826-1909stawell