Issued to individuals as part of the war effort in rationing food post WWII.Printed rectangular piece of paper with red text showing squares for 16 rations. This card issued to a Mabel Kelly of Rutherglen.If this Card is found it must be returned at once/ to the Deputy Director of Rationing, Melbourne/ A 820163/ Issued to Mabel Kelly/ Address Rutherglen meat ration card, mabel kelly, wwii, homefront, shopping, world war two

Yields information about tram 19 in Bendigo and Mitchell St and its similarities with Ballarat.Agfa colour slides, white cardboard mount, photo by Keith Caldwell 11-3-1962 of: Bendigo 19 about to cross Pall Mall in Mitchell St with the Ezywalkin shoe store in the background and other shops. Tram has the destination of Eaglehawk and has a Briquettes advert on the front dash panel. Signs include Pye, Ezywalkin, A. G. Palmers, Edmonds, Monaghans, Astor Radio and R. White.on the slide stamped in red ink "SUS23102" and in ink "Bendigo 11.3.62 Caldwell" and other pencil markings.tramways, trams, bendigo, mitchell st, tram 19

Ballarat SEC 30 at corner of Sturt and Lydiard St. 24/9/1958. No. 30 has large triangles on front dash and showing destination of "Mount Pleasant". Has Town Hall in the background and shops on the south side of Sturt St. and tramway shelter. Town Hall clock showing 930, but no cars moving in Sturt St., all parked."No. 30 in Sturt St. Ballarat at Cnr. of Lydiard St." in ink and "24 SEP 1958" stamped in red ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, sturt st., tramway centre, town hall, tram 30

Set of 11 Kodachrome transparencies taken on 23/10/1965 in Melbourne. 1178.1 - W7 1020 (on route 9A, Northcote via St Georges Road) with a W2 536 (Deepdene) behind at the corner of Victoria Parade and Brunswick St. East Melbourne or Fitzroy. Has Eastern Hill fire station and ICI building in background. 1020 has front dash panel ads for Queens Bridge Motors and Bridgestone tyres. 1178.2 - W5 759 (route 19, North Coburg) and W5 807 in Elizabeth St. Melbourne at the intersection of Bourke St. with the State Savings Bank building in the background. 759 has side ads, one of which is for CASTROL. 1178.3 -SW6 903 crossing Brunswick St. in Victoria Parade, Fitzroy bound for Deepdene, route 45. Photo taken after tram has passed photographer. 1178.4 - W7 1019 (route 96, East Brunswick Blyth St.) and W7 1010 (route 88 East Preston) in Nicholson St at intersection with Victoria Parade. A Herald newspaper truck is alongside 1019. 1178.5 - W7 1040 (route 96, East Brunswick Blyth St.) in Nicholson St at intersection with Albert St. Has Princess Theatre in the background. (High res scan added 26/10/2008 - copy to FOHTD) .1178.6 - W6 974 (route 89 East Preston Bell St.) in Bourke St. about to turn into Spring St. Has buildings on the south side of Bourke St in background, including Southern Cross Hotel. Note trees in tubs and red phone box by Windsor Hotel. 1178.7 - as for same location as 1178.6 - SW6 967 (route 96) and W6 971 (inbound - route 90 - City Spencer St.) 967 has Lucas ad on front dash. 1178.8 - W7 1013 (route 88 East Preston) photographed from W6 991 in Bourke St at corner of Russell St. Has Normans corner store, Treadways and Foys in background. 1178.9 - W2 553 (route 1 East Coburg) at the corner of Elizabeth St and Bourke St. Has the Leviathan, Roger David and Ezywalkin shops in the background. 1178.10 - W6 991 (route 88) and W7 (route 96) in Bourke St. at corner with Elizabeth St. Photo taken from the GPO steps. 991 has ads for BIC pens and CASTROL. In background are the State Savings Bank, Halls Books and McEwans shops. 1178.11 - Line up of north bound trams (3 +) lead by W2 449and southbound in Elizabeth St at corner of Collins St. Has Flinders St. station building in the background. Hi -res image of .10 added 22-12-2018All have date stamp of "23 Oct 1965" in purple ink. All black ink unless otherwise noted. 1178.1 - "W7 1020 turning into Brunswick St. from Victoria parade, East Melbourne (followed by W2 536) 1178.2 - "W5 799 and 807 in Elizabeth St. Melbourne at cnr. of Bourke St." 1178.3 - "SW6 903 entering reserved track in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne" 1178.4 - "W7 1019 and 1010 in Nicholson St. East Melbourne at Victoria Pde intersection" 1178.5 - "W7 1040 Melbourne's last tram (to date) in Nicholson St. at Albert St. intersection." 1178.6 - "W6 974 in Bourke St. Melbourne, about to turn into Spring St." 1178.7 - "W6 971 entering Bourke St. from Spring St. Melbourne, passes SW6 967 outward bound for East Brunswick" 1178.8 - "W7 1013 (seen from W6 991) in Bourke St. Melbourne crossing Russell St." 1178. 9 -"W2 553 in Elizabeth St. Melbourne at cnr of Bourke St." 1178.10 - "W6 991 and W7 1005 in Bourke St. Melbourne at cnr of Elizabeth St." 1178.11 - "W2 449 leads a line of Peak hour cars along Elizabeth St. Melbourne (at Collins St. corner)"tramways, trams, melbourne, victoria parade, nicholson st., brunswick st., bourke st, elizabeth st, tram 1020, tram 536, tram 799, tram 807, tram 903, tram 1019, tram 1010, tram 1040, tram 974, tram 967, tram 971, tram 1013, tram 553, tram 991, tram 1005, tram 449

Colour print of Bendigo SECV Bendigo tram 3 travelling High St Eaglehawk towards the Eaglehawk Terminus. Photo taken after the tram has passed the photographer. On Kodacolor paper with a Kodak red ink stamp on rear. Tram has dash canopy lights, but no large white strip under the drivers windows. Photo not dated but appears to be at about the same time as 977, 21.11.1962. Has Eaglehawk Town Hall and Post office in background and shops along the south side of High St. Tram showing destination of "Eaglehawk". Tram has White Horse Whiskey ad and another on front dash panel and two roof ads. In photo are advertisements for "Hutton's Bacon" and "Sennett's Ice Cream" on shop roof advertisements.On rear top left hand corner "3"eaglehawk, bendigo, town hall., high st, tram 3

Set of four colour slides taken at Charing Cross Bendigo, Jan. 1969. .1 - Trams 30 and 28 travelling to North Bendigo and Golden Square respectively. Has the Beehive building in the background, along with W.M.I. Jones Chemist, Evelyn Amor shop, Dewars Whiskey rooftop advertisement. 28 has a SEC Briquettes roof advertisement. .2 - As above but with the front or bogie tram in the photo. Also has A. G. Treloar Optician's shop. Kodak cardboard mount slide, taken by Peter Moses, Jan. 1969. .3 - Close up photo of Birney No. 30, with 28 in the background. .4 - No. 28 leaving for Golden Square with the Plaza building, the Cenotaph, and the City Family Hotel in the background. Kodak cardboard mount slide, taken by Peter Moses, Jan. 1969.On the rear of all the slides "P. Moses" in black ink .1 - "Bendigo Charing Cross" and in red ink "19" .2 - "Bendigo three trams / Charing Cross" and in red ink "21" .3 - "Bendigo" and in red ink "23" .4 - "Bendigo Charing Cross" and in red ink "14". tramways, trams, bendigo, tram 28, tram 30

Photo of SEC Bendigo No. 6 crossing Mitchell St, north bound for North Bendigo, while a bogie tram waits to depart Charing Cross, east bound for Quarry Hill. Three SEC crew members standing by the front of the bogie tram and an inspector crossing the road near No. 6. Has part of the fountain in the view. Also in the photo are The Beehive building, and advertisement for Dewars whiskey and a shop front for "Ezywalkin" shoes. The bogie tram has a SEC roof advertisement "Electricity Best for cooking". Kodak cardboard mount slide, taken by Peter Moses, Jan. 1969.On the rear of the slide "Jan. 1969 Bendigo:" in blue ink, "P. Moses" in black ink and other side of the slide in red ink “22”.tramways, trams, bendigo, charing cross, tram 6

Negative No. N377 and black and white print made by a laser printer (stored in folder) of Ballarat No. 17 at the City Terminus, Sturt St. Tram has destination of "Victoria St." and a White Horse whiskey dash panel advertisement. Has the short tram stop/section pole adjacent to the tram. In the background has the SEC offices, "The Baby Shop", also Crockers and Tunbridge's stores. Note a Conductor can be seen walking across from the SEC offices to the tram. Date of photo on folder - 11/6/1960. Note: Reg Item 858 of Ron Fluck of 31/12/58 shows tram number to the side of the headlight while Wal Jack (Reg. Item 396) of 23/1/61 shows tram fitted with dash canopy lights. Original negative rescanned 24/5/2020 and image file updated.Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR39A" in red ink, "BA4" in pencil, date stamp of "5 Sep 1960" on front, and on rear date stamps "26 Sep 1962" and "6 Oct 1962".trams, tramways, city terminus, sturt st, tram 17

Colour photograph of Ballarat No. 18 at the View Point terminus in Wendouree Parade. Photograph has the conductor (and driver?) standing by the front of the tram, after the pole has been turned. Destination sign yet to be changed from View Point. Photo shows the tram stop arrangements with painted pole, "End of Section", "Cars Stop Here" sign, timetable sign and on the back of the pole a Section insulator connection box. Tram has two roof advertisements, SEC "Electric Cooking" and the Whites Florist Sturt St. shop advertisement and a "Pay as you Enter" sign. In the background is the Macarthur St. tram line. Photo dated 6/11/1962. On Kodacolor paper."60Ed" in blue ink, date stamp 6 Nov 1962" in red ink.view point, wendouree parade, tram stops, tram 18

Colour photograph of Ballarat No. 18 at the Junction between the View Point tram line and Sturt St. at Ripon St. North. Tram has destination of City and "Pay as you enter sign" by the front door. Tram has two roof advertisements, SEC "Electric Cooking" and Whites Florist Sturt St. shop advertisement. In the background is the Ripon St. tram line. Photo dated 6/11/1962. On Kodacolor paper."66Ed" in blue ink, date stamp 6 Nov 1962" in red ink.view point, sturt st, ripon st, tram 18

2467.1 - Vol. 4 No. 2, February 1949 of "Tram Tracks - The Electric Traction Monthly" of the Australian Electric Traction Association. Magazine consists of 16 printed pages with a 12 page supplement titled "Fifty Questions and Answers about trams in Australia". Has a single staple on the saddle. Incorporated within the magazine are articles or editorials on Tramways and Tramway Experts (Sydney and bus replacement), Interurban to St Kilda (conversion of VR St. Kilda line). General news items on Brisbane, Geelong, Launceston closure, Hobart, Bourke St routes, Perth, Adelaide, NSW, Christchurch, Overseas tramways and railways. Also has letters to the Editor, plans of a Birney tram for model makers and AETA Notes. Issue has advertisements for the Model Dockyard, ARLHS, The Hobby Shop, Barnes Tennis Centre, Fleet, Christie Model Railway Equipment of Sydney, Meadmore Model Engineering, Austral Bronze, Wattle Park, Traction Publications and Robilt "O" gauge locomotives. 2467.2 - Vol 4, No. 5 - May 1949 - 20 pages - red cover, 4th year, article by Peter Duckett with photos of Board members, "PCC Trucks here", MMTB advert for staff, news from Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne (applications for new Chairman to replace Mr. Bell), Bendigo, Perth, Christchurch, Wellington, Wanganui, Bourke St construction work (photo of poles), Brisbane tramway history, map of CBD Melbourne, Melbourne and Sydney suburban railways, AETA News. 2467.3 - Vol 4, No. 6 - June 1949 - 16 pages - green pages, tramways and private cats, news from Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Launceston, Hobart, article "Scrap Sydney Tams by 1960 - Newcastle this years say London experts", buses tackle football crowds (Sydney), Fremantle (Wal Jack letter), and Melbourne and Sydney suburban railways, AETA News. 2467.4 - Vol 4, No. 7 - July 1949 - 16 pages - tramways and the public, news from Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, appointment of R. Risson as new chairman, Perth, Adelaide, Launceston, tramcar solenoid brakes, National City Lines USA, and Melbourne and Sydney suburban railways, AETA News. 2467.5 - Vol 4, No. 8 - August 1949 - 8 pages - tramways and politics, photo of new points for Latrobe and William Sts, East Hills Line by C. C. Singleton, general tramway news, and advertisement for Robilt model railways. .2 to .4 added 15-2-2016 from the collection of Ian Stanley. .5 added 24-3-18 - from consolidation of Melbourne Tram Museum and BTM collections)trams, tramways, electric traction, aeta, australian tramways, mmtb, pcc, closure, sydney, newcastle, brisbane

Black and white photograph contained within Reg. Item 2488, page 55, of two ESCo Depot workers at the rear of the Wendouree Parade building. Has a handwritten caption by H.P. James. Featured in the photo are Alf Coulter and Arthur Thompson. Note Item Not formally Numbered. Image btm2507i2 shows position on page relative to items 2507 to 2512. High Res Images added 15/3/2011.Handwritten in Pencil under the photograph is "I can tell a story here to my liking. This is rear of Blacksmiths shop Tram Depot, Alf Coulter and Arthur Thompson with hammer. Now in the earlier years, the smithy Horse and early electric was against the Gregory St. frontage. I wielded the 12lb hammer to assist the then blacksmith, W. McGeachan? (red hair) 1905. I was sent to the horse trams to act as a temporary conductor but I stayed for some time as conductor, track cleaner and grooms assistant."tramways, trams, esco, blacksmith, depot

Demonstrates pictorial souvenir strips of photographs of Ballarat, both colour and black and white and yields information about Ballarat c 1940.Set of 10 small colour and 5 large black and white views of Ballarat printed on a folded strip, glued within a light brown colour light weight cardboard folder, titled "Pictorial Souvenir of Ballarat - Views in Colour". Booklet printed with an address area with title in red and kookaburras. Produced by Murray View, Gympie Queensland. The rear has a slit surrounded by red dashes on the rear cover that allowed the folder to be secured. Pictures are: Colour: 1. Statutory Pavilion 2. Sturt St looking west - with a tram in the bottom of the photograph 3. Victory Arch 4. Queen Elizabeth Benevolent home 5. Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens 6. Swans on Lake Wendouree 7. The Conservatory 8. Avenue of Fame (Prime Ministers) 9. Eureka Stockade 10. Cnr Sturt and Lydiard St, with a bus in the view Black and White 1. The State Building 2. Panorama from Black Hill 3. Old Curiosity Shop 4. Reflections - Botanical Gardens 5. Sturt St looking east - has a tram in the view, with 1930's SEC colour scheme. trams, tramways, sturt st, town hall, lake wendouree, memorial arch avenue of honour, memorial, gardens, lydiard st, eureka, tram 19

Yields information about the appearance of Sturt St at the time of Ballarat Begonia Festival, 1957 - the flowers in the medium strip, the tram and the shoppers in particular the women.Black and white photograph of Ballarat No. 14 west bound in Sturt St during the 1957 Begonia Festival with the Town Hall (with a Begonia Festival sign on it), and other buildings in the background. Has the Australian Mutual Life Building, the Odeon Theatre buildings. In the centre median strip, there is a large arrangement of flower beds and many women shoppers crossing the road, motor vehicles and a lady on a bicycle. No. 14 has the destination of Haddon St via Drummond Nth. Festoon lighting is strung out along the street.On rear in red ink "Ballarat Car 14 Sturt St B'rat Summer '57" and the stamp of Jim Seletto.tramways, trams, sturt st, begonia festival, town hall, shoppers, tram 14

Kodachrome Transparency - 35mm slide - cardboard mount, with one side with red border and words "Kodachrome Transparency / Processed by Kodak" top and bottom. Photo taken by Ben Parle 8/4/1958, date stamped onto slide. Has slide No. "7" stamped in red in top corner. Photo of Ballarat 30, inbound, Victoria St, at Main St intersection. Taken after Reg Item 2878. Buildings in the background are Stones Corner, Caltex and Mtheos Fish Shop. "Victoria St. Line" / "8-4-58"tramways, trams, victoria st, main st, tram 30

Kodachrome Transparency - 35mm slide - cardboard mount, with one side with red border and words "Kodachrome Transparency / Processed by Kodak" top and bottom. Photo taken by Ben Parle 8/4/1958, date stamped onto slide. Has slide No. "10" stamped in red in top corner. Photo of Ballarat 38, outbound in Main Road Ballarat near corner of Humffray St. Tram has the destination of Mt. Pleasant. Companies and shops in the image are: Atlantic Petrol, R.J. Henderson Hairdresser, W. N Symons Plumber. For high resolution scan see btm2882.tif See also Reg Item 7599 for an earlier photo of this area, gives the name of the plumbing shop as W. N. Symons."Mt. Pleasant line" / "8-4-58"tramways, trams, main st, main road, atlantic, tram 38

Commemorative mugMinorCommemorative drinking mug. White with Red writing and red poppiesWe Will Remember themred poppies with "in flandres fields" poem in gold writing2

Red covered auction catalogue of Complete Sluicing Plant, Electric Generating Plant, Pumping Plants, Electrical Equipment, Buildings, Etc of the Eureka Lead Gold Sluicing Co. (Ballarat) N. L. on Thursday 3rd July, 1947 at the Plant, Ballarat East. Catalogue contains Conditions of Sale, 291 Lot numbers arranged in sections, e.g. Outside Engine House, Engine House, Outside Producer House, Transmission Line, At Sludge Pump, At Assay Office, Blacksmith's Shop, Assay Office and Pump Plant at Brown Hill. One catalogue has sale prices in pounds, shillings and pence beside each lot.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - eureka lead gold sluicing co (ballarat) n l, j h curnow & son pty ltd, the prahan telegraph printing co

Brown paper bag used to carry groceries in. Printed on the bag in red and blue is: We Shop Tuckerbag Supermarkets and Save $ $ $ Australian Owned!business, retail, tuckerbag supermarkets, john jones collection - tuckerbag supermarkets bag

The item is a hard cover book recording stock in 1889 for T.J. Connolly, Ironmongers, Sandhurst. Each handwritten page lists goods by location, quantity, description, prices with price total at the bottom of each page. Locations include shelves, floor, yard, factory, paint shop. Pages 1 to 175 have been numbered by hand. An alphabetical index list types of stock from pages 158 to 164. Pages from number 165 to the end of the book are blank. The hard cover is patterned and shows some wearing at the corners and front and large patches of wear on the back. The spine edge is red with considerable wear at the top and bottom. The front cover has a paper rectangle stuck to the middle, with an ornate printed border and "Stock 1889" handwritten inside the border. The pages are bound together with string. This item is part of the Margaret Roberts Collection.The front cover has a paper rectangle stuck to the middle, with an ornate printed border and "Stock 1889" handwritten inside the border. A list of numbers is handwritten inside the back cover. The first six numbers are crossed out. Ticks and crosses sit beside some of the numbers.margaret roberts collection, ironmongers, forest street, bendigo businesses

The item is a hard cover book recording stock in 1890 for T.J. Connolly, Ironmongers, Sandhurst. Each handwritten page lists goods by location, quantity, description, prices with price total at the bottom of each page. Locations include shelves, floor, yard, factory, paint shop. Pages 1 to 164 have been numbered by hand. An alphabetical index list types of stock on unnumbered pages after page 165, followed by blank pages. The hard cover is patterned and shows some wearing at the corners and front and minimal wear on the back. The spine edge is red with considerable wear at the top and bottom. The pages are bound together with string. This item is part of the Margaret Roberts Collection.There are ink spots on the front and back cover. A list of numbers, titled "Prices required" is handwritten inside the back cover. A piece of paper is stuck inside the back cover, listing items to be added.margaret roberts collection, ironmongers, forest street, bendigo businesses

The 'Copy Shop' in Walpole Street, Kew was located in the former Masonic Hall. It was a community operated facility. The 'shop' was designed for use by groups to run off leaflets or newsletters. It also served as a community space where people could drop in for a coffee and leave leaflets and information about events in the City of Kew. Two polaroid photographs, Thea Sartori in a red jumper is in both photographs. The woman in the pink cardigan is Aileen Cahill. Both photos were taken at the 'Copy Shop' in the old Masonic Hall [demolished] in Walpole Street. front: "Copy Shop"copy shop - walpole street - kew (vic), community facilities -- city of kew, masonic hall -- kew (vic.)

A Wilson 'T2000' metal tennis racquet, with double shaft; yellow plastic shaft casing & gold whipping. Handle wrapped with brown leather. Net anchored to metal wire wrapped around head frame. Yellow plastic butt cap with white label featuring 'W' logo in red. White plastic reinfrcement strip fixed around crown. Adhesive label inside shaft states: STRUNG WITH PRIDE & TLC/SOUTH COAST TENNIS & GOLF SHOPS. Materials: Metal, Plastic, Adhesive tape, Nylon, Adhesive label, String, Leathertennis

The two-storey red brick with concrete detailing hall building, according to Vaughan (1960) was the 'meeting place for very many lodges in the various degrees of Freemasonry. The first lodge to be established was the Pentalpha Lodge, No. 90'Rare colour photo of a significant hall in Kew, now demolished and replaced with a carpark.35mm colour transparency (slide) of the former Masonic Hall in Walpole Street, Kew. The two-storey red brick with concrete detailing hall building, according to Vaughan (1960). In from of the building is an A-frame sign advertising the Kew Historical Society which at that time (c.1980) shared the building with other organisations under the banner of 'The Copy Shop'. freemasonry -- kew (vic.), masonic hall -- kew (vic.), walpole street -- kew (vic.)

Plaque, bronze, rectangular with polished bronze border and relief lettering and brown textured background. The plaque commemorates the opening of the pedestrian plaza development Elsternwick Place by the Mayor of the City of Caulfield, Cr B. Rudzki J.P. on the 24th of July 1982. The plaque is warped due to installation on a rock, and the reverse has brown and red discolouration and rust.Inscription: Elsternwick Place / This Pedestrian Plaza Development / Was Opened By / His worship the mayor of / The city of Caulfield / CR. B. Rudzki, J. P. / On 24th July 1982. / The opening marked the completion / of the first stage of an overall / Improvement programme for the / Elsternwick shopping centre / Mayor and councillors / City of Caulfield / Arrow Engraving & foundry co. Melb

Red Cross in street procession of floats. In Main Street in front of R.J. & L.A. Heslop Shop and Electricity Showroom.stawell medical

This item is part of the Di Reidie collection. Diane Reidie was a much loved volunteer and President of Brighton Historical Society from 1999 until 2016. Originally from New Zealand, Di and her family lived in Male Street, Brighton for many years. A vibrant and energetic person with a zest for life and a gift for bringing people together, Di was a friend to many in the Bayside community and active in local community organisations. Her tireless work as President of BHS saw her named Bayside Citizen of the Year in 2008. As a seller and collector of vintage clothing, she was passionate about fashion history; one of her many enduring contributions to BHS was her extensive work in preserving, developing and promoting the Society's costume collection. In 2018-19, Di donated more than one hundred items from her personal vintage clothing collection to the Society. The collection, which includes clothing, hats, handbags and shoes from local and international designers, is representative of Di's wide-ranging interests, colourful personality, creativity, humour and love of fashion and travel. In 2006, as Di prepared for a trip to New York City, fellow BHS volunteer Liz Gay gifted her a copy of the book “Alligators, Old Mink and New Money” by vintage clothing dealer and former fashion model Alison Houtte. Between 1995 and 2015, ran the vintage and second hand clothing store Hooti Couture at 321 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, and after reading the book Di was inspired to seek out the shop. During her visit she met Alison, who autographed her book, and purchased this kimono jacket from the store.Pure silk black kimono with red silk lining. The kimono features floral and leaf motif machine embroidery in pale pink and green."Made in Japan"hooti couture, alligators, old mink and new money, kimono, alison houtte, vintage clothing, di reidie, 1960s

This dress belonged to Bayside woman Wendy Young, who bought it around 1980 from Melbourne designer Prue Acton's Toorak shop for about $300. She recalled, "It was one of her off the peg creations, but I never saw it on anyone else... she made limited runs, especially as this is hand painted silk." The belt has been signed by Acton.Sleeveless bias-cut dress of watermelon pink silk featuring red and gold hand-painted abstract designs. The dress features a Mandarin collar with a button fastening at the throat. A matching silk belt with tapered ties wraps around the waist.The belt features two signatures in gold paint: "Prue" and "P Acton"prue acton, 1980s, melbourne designers, wendy young

Note from collector: I love the generous size and thickness of Albany blankets and know someone who collects from this Mill only. The colour shades and combinations Albany used are still so gorgeous. From Western Australia. 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. " Checked blanket, blues and creamAlbany Woollen Mill/Blanket/All Pure Wool/Emblem: A, Albany blanket, blanket fever, wool, albany, albany woollen mills