Photograph probably for promotional purposes, of a "David Sowden & Sons" loom. Photograph was with other photographs in an envelope printed "David Sowden & Sons" among items from Yarra Falls MillBlack and white photograph showing a loom, 135 is painted on one of the loom cross bars.textile machinery weaving textile mills textile mills, yarra falls mill david sowden & sons, weaving looms, weaving machinery, textile machinery, weaving, textile mills

Used by the Powling Family.Used in the residence of the Powling familyMetal container for knife polish with a perforated lid for sprinkling. Contents now solid. Label on the front is green and red with an illustration of a manWord - "Wellington" above the illustration of a man Words- "knife Polish across the figure Words underneath - "John Oakley and Sons Ltd." "Wellington Emery Black Lead Mills London" Back of tin - directions for use and also information of productj.w.powling. port fairy, polish, knife, black lead

Grampians (Sunrise over the Saw Mills). Part of a collection of Photographs by Mr. O.G. Armstrong as commissioned by the Shire of Stawell for the Inter-colonial and Paris Exhibition in Melbourne in 1866. The Grampians were first sighted by Major Thomas Mitchell on the 11th of July 1836. Four days later he and a small party climbed its highest peak and named it Mount William. Owing to the lateness of arrival at the summit they had to spend a very cold and miserable night. Whilst in the Grampians, which he so named because of their likeness to his native Scotland. He collected about 150 plants and sent them to the Professor of Botany, John Lindley at the University of London. It is now known there about 900 different flowering plants in the Grampians, over one third of all those growing in Victoria. stawell industry

Product label in tones of red, blue and yellow showing printed text and a graphic of sheep under a gum tree. front: [printed] NO RUG TO EQUAL / THE / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / Ba-Ba / RUG / GUARANTEED / ALL WOOL / ABSOLUTELY THE BEST / FOR / WARMTH / WASHING / WEARING / & HEALTH / MADE FROM / PURE / AUSTRALIAN WOOL BY AUSTRALIAN MILLS / No. A W / Size: 72 x 60 / Weight lbsalbion mills, archives, wool industry, blankets, rugs, products, advertising, geelong, packaging, label, graphic design

This is an advertising leaflet issued by the Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co. This mill was established in South Warrnambool in 1910 with John Bennett the first Manager. The mill’s production increased during both World Wars with government contracts and wartime demands. In the 1940s the mill employed over 700 people. In 1968 the mill was sold to the multinational company Dunlop which in turn sold the business in 1982 to Onkaparinga Woollen Mill. In 1983 Onkaparinga was taken over by Macquarie Worsteds and in 1994 this group pulled out of Warrnambool. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill closed in 2000 after 90 years of operation. This leaflet is of interest as an example of the advertising mechanisms produced by the Warrnambool Woollen Mill when it was a locally run large-scale business in the city. The business was a dominant one in Warrnambool for many decades, employing many local people. The factory itself was a well-known landmark in the city. This is a sheet of buff-coloured thick paper folded in two places to make a six-page leaflet. The front page has an aerial black and white photograph of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill, two of the inside pages have 12 black and white photographs showing the processes in making woollen blankets and two other pages have advertisements for Warrnambool blankets and dress suiting material. Inside the folder is a sample piece of pink blanket with a card in red and cream colouring showing the factory’s guarantee. The sample has been glued to the paper. There is evidence of silverfish damage on both the blanket sample and the paper. ‘With the Compliments of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co. Ltd.’warrnambool woollen mill

Collector says: I'm intrigued to know why this 1930s & 1940s fashion of blanket - with panels of stripes on each end - only came in the colours of pink, baby blue and mint. Over the years I gathered many 'panel' blankets with labels from over a dozen different mills and yet they are all in these 3 colours only.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." Double sized blanket with mint stripes Made Expressly for Mark Foy's Ltd/Sydney/The Laconia Blanket/Guaranteed Odorless and Free From Filling/Made in Australiablanket, blanket fever, wool, laconia mills

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of No. 21 at View point terminus. Note tram stop arrangements, shelter and the Lake in the Background. The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "No. 21 stands at "VIEW POINT" terminus adjacent to where the line to "GARDENS via DRUMMOND St. Nth" comes in beside Lake Wendouree - Nov. '70 (Glen Mills)" See image btm2569p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11779" and written in ink on top edge "No. 18 Drummond St Ballarat"tramways, trams, are, film strip, wendouree parade, view point, tram 21

This hank of knitting yarn was manufactured under the brand name 'Sun-glo' and was produced by F.W. Hughes Pty Ltd at the Alexandria Spinning Mills in Sydney.Sun-glo 2 ply wool produced by F.W. Hughes Pty Ltd at the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney, NSW, c.1950-60.Sun-glo / Shrinkproof / WOOL / SUPER / 2 / PLY / AN / ALEXANDRIA / MILLS PRODUCT Guarantee / SUN-GLO WOOL / has been / manufactured by a / NEW PATENT / PROCESS / It is guaranteed / UNSHRINKABLE for / the lifetime / of the / Garment. / MANUFACTURED BY / F.W. HUGHES PTY. LTD. / AT THEIR / ALEXANDRIA SPINNING MILLS SYDNEYknitting handicrafts - history textile mills textile mills, f.w. hughes pty ltd alexandria spinning mills pty ltd, knitting, handicrafts - history, textile mills

Carl Wehl and Son Bark Mill, located in Taylor Street Stawell. The coloured photo depicts what remains of the building in Taylor St. Stawell. The mill has not been used for many years. The original factories were on Stawell Flat. Carl Wehl a native of Hanover, Germany came to Victoria in 1861. Carl Wehl was at Pleasant Creek in 1872 when he started business as a wool scourer and tanner. By 1880 his business of tanning wool scouring discontinued, and he commenced trading, (mongering) in Bark Milling. The Mill was described as being the largest of its kind outside Melbourne,Two photographs of a weather board building with corrugated iron roof. One black & white photo and an enlarged photo of the building when used as a Bark Mill. The coloured photo obviously more recent as the writing has faded and can just be made out on the front of the building. One of the original colour photos is missing (152-2). A disused railway line can be seen in the foreground. Sign on the door "Depot Wimmera." Stawell Bark Mill C. Wehl & Son. Merchants.stawell

Dust cover has a drawing of a child dressed in a coat and cap holding an Australian flag. He appears to be witnessing a parade of some sort. Hanging in the background are flags of various other nations.non-fictionLooking back on education in Victoria.education, victoria, history, text-books, curricula, schools

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of No. 38, crossing Albert St, southbound, with Destination of Sebastopol. Photo taken after tram has passed photographer. Has the Anglican Trinity church in the background. The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "About 1/2 mile from the terminus the line crossed to the west side of the road. Here car No. 38 outbound bowls across the asphalt. - Nov. ' 70 (Glen Mills)" See image btm2576p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11786" and written in ink on top edge "No. 38 Sebastopol line Ballarat"tramways, trams, are, film strip, albert st, sebastopol, tram 38

Photograph 1994 of milling machine manufactured in Port Melbourne by O.C. Schumacher and now in the Bark Mill Museum, Swansea, Tasmania, a former flour millDetails in blue ink on back: 'Bark Mill Museum Swansea East coast Tasmania 1994'business and traders, industry - manufacturing, o c schumacher

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of Tram 12 bound for Gardens, photographed across the median strip plantation near Dawson St. with St. Peters Church in the background. The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "The wide Avenue of Sturt St. was the central spine of the Ballarat system -all routes traversed it for at least part of its length. Here No. 12 "GARDENS" bound, is seen through the foliage of the centre plantation in Sturt St. -Sept. '71 (Glen Mills)" See image btm2567p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11777" and written in ink on top edge "No. 12 Sturt St Ballarat"tramways, trams, are, film strip, sturt st, st peters, tram 12

The Warrnambool Woollen Mill was established in 1910 in South Warrnambool by a local company, with the building erected on a site that formerly housed another woollen mill destroyed by fire in 1882. The Warrnambool Woollen Company operated successfully for many years with over 700 employees in the 1940s and a good national reputation for quality goods. It made blankets and other woollen goods and was the first company in Australia to manufacture electric blankets. In the 1960s the mill was sold to the Dunlop Company and for the next thirty years it was bought and sold several times, finally closing in 2000 after 90 years of operation. The woollen Mill was built on a site which was in easy access to the railway line which operated along the original tramway line from the town to the jetty. It is possible that this land would have been used for parking during the period of 1950's to 1970's which was a successful period of manufacturing and trade for the Woollen Mill. A link between an important infrastructure and one of Warrnambool's most important industries.Four page folded document cream in colour . Printed form with diagram of the land in question coloured in pink . Seals of both Victorian railways and Warrnambool Woollen mill are stamped beside signatories on page 3. Dated 30th April 1952. Signed R Naylor for the Warrnambool Woollen Mill and two unreadable signatures for Victorian Railways.warrnambool, warrnambool woollen mill, warrnambool railways, lease victorian railways and warrnambool woollen mill

Agfa plastic mount (blue base, white cover) of a photograph of No. 21 or could be 27 taken from the Ballarat (Ballarat East) Fire Station tower. Photo taken Nov. 1970. Has the sign of the AMPOL service station in the foreground. Has destination of Special. Tram at the intersection of Main St and Barkly Street. One of a set of 20 slides made by the Association of Railway Enthusiast Provincial Tramways film strip. Reference Item 2560 details the ARE Film Strip and provide references to other slides. Photo Glen Mills Slide rescanned at 3200 dpi 25-10-2020, jpg replaced, tiff file retained. This file was scanned in 2003 and may show colour changes."BAS 69" in pencil.tramways, trams, mt pleasant, barkly st, main st, tram 21 or tram 27

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of Ballarat Trams bogie No. 35 and four single truck cars in the storage loop, or City Loop at the east end of Sturt St. No. 35 has a "Bray Raceway Trotting Friday Night" on the front of the tram. The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "At the east end of Sturt St., about 200 yards from "CITY" was "CITY LOOP" - a storage facility used to hold cars for peak loadings and emergency use. -Nov. '70 (Glen Mills) See image btm2562p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11770" and written in ink on top edge "Lydiard St. Ballarat"tramways, trams, are, film strip, city loop, sturt st, tram 35

Sepia photgraph on a postcard of Flour Mill Fall, Sunbury, with the weir, washed away.Writing on Front: Mill Fall Sunburypostcards, flour mill fall, sunbury, mill fall, george evans collection

A4 copies of Landata Victoria Historical Search documents - Vol 5781 Fol 1156174.Leslie Mills is now the proprietor of an Estate in Fee-simple subject to the Encumbrances notified hereunder ... 10 acres or thereabouts, together with a right of carriage way over Grandview Grove (later Bemboka Road), Warranwood, Victroia. Transfers include Alexander William Brown of Tooradin, Farmer - 29th October, 1945, (died 25th June, 1957), Probate granted 28th January, 1958, to Alfred Hart Brown of Dandenong, Estate Agent, and Harry Britten Elms of Cardinia, Gentleman (*** See Probate details below) Oliver Burgess, Grandview Grove Ringwood, Florist - 14th May, 1964, Privatus Proprietary Limited, St.Kilda Road, Melbourne - 27th October, 1977, John Patrick Kelly, Company Director and Yvonne Gloria Kelly, Married Woman, joint proprietors, 10th September, 1980 *** Inventory of Real Estate Assets (for Probate purposes 4/10/1957) detailed in Family Genealogy record for A.W. Brown includes: "Grandview Grove, Ringwood Land containing 10 acres or thereabouts situate in Grandview Grove Ringwood being part of Crown Section 20 Parish of Warrandyte County of Evelyn and being the land described in Certificate of Title Volume 5781 Folio 174 on which is erected a 7 room house, a bungalow, shed and 2 glass houses valued by E. Miles, Ringwood - £5077-0-0

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of No. 21 or could be 27 taken from the Ballarat (Ballarat East) Fire Station tower. Photo taken Nov. 1970. Has the sign of the AMPOL service station in the foreground. Has destination of Special. Tram at the intersection of Main and Barkly Streets. The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "Another 1/2 mile or so saw the "Mt PLEASANT" line turn sharply from the Midland Highway and head towards its terminus in the southern suburbs. - Nov. '70 (Glen Mills)" See image btm2564p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11772" and written in ink on top edge "12 Mt Pleasant Line Ballarat"tramways, trams, are, film strip, mt pleasant, barkly st

The Sunnyside Woollen Mill (or Ballarat Woollen Mill) was designed by Henry Richards Caselli.Colour photograph of a red brick woollen mill at Ballarat, known as the Sunnyside Woollen Mill, or the Ballarat Woollen Mill. It includes two remnant elm trees from the Ballarat Woollen Mills Avenue of Honour.ballarat woollen mill, sunnyside woollen mill, mount pleasant, chimney, ballarat woollen mills avenue of honour

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." " 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." Checked blanket, pink, blue and lavenderClan Murray series of Challenge/Lambswool 'Perma-nap' blankets/All pure wool/Super Grade blanket, blanket fever, wool, challenge woollen mills

Note from collector: 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 brown, green and blue checked blanketEagley Blanket, Pure Woolblanket, blanket fever, wool, eagley woollen mills, victoria

Note from collector: 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 plaid blanket, brown, lemon, tan and mint100% Pure Lambswool/Gibsonia/Exclusive To All Foy and Gibson Ltd. Stores/Famous Since 1868blanket, wool, blanket fever, gibsonia, foy and gibson ltd

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.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, pink, grey and lemonThe Celebrated Waverley Blanket/100% Pure Wool/"The Best for Rest"/Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, waverley

Used at Foster Valley Mill for P.A. system and to broadcast music through the mill.Used at Foster Valley Mill for P.A. system and to broadcast music through the mill.

The architect of the Ballarat Woollen Mill was Henry Richards Caselli.Colour photograph of a red brick woollen mill at Ballarat, known as the Sunnyside Woollen Mill, or the Ballarat Woollen Mill. ballarat woollen mill, sunnyside woollen mill, mount pleasant, chimney, henry richards caselli

Made in 1942, this blanket has spent 60 years in the Belgrave Heights Convention Centre in the Dandenongs. It was provided for camping and accommodation by the BHC.Grey woolen blanket with 3 blue stripes. Large stain. Eagley Mills 1942 label in bottom right corner. Blue edging along the two short sides.Eagley / MILLS / 1942