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, pink, lemon and violetAlbany Woollen Mill/Blanket/All Pure Wool/Emblem: A, Albany blanket, blanket fever, wool, albany, albany woollen mills

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

Albany Woollen Mills, 1954.Albany Woollen Mills, 1954textile mills - history textile design, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, textile mills - history, textile design

Albany Woollen Mills, 1968Albany Woollen Mills, 1968textile mills - history textile design, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, textile mills - history, textile design

Collector says "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. Please refer to the following worksheet for a full breakdown of the collection." Checked blanket, pink, blue and creamAlbany Woollen Mill/Blanket/All Pure Wool/Emblem: A, Albany blanket, blanket fever, wool, albany, albany woollen mills

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." 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. " Tan and brown plaid fringed travel rug. Albany Woollen Mill/Travel Rug/All Pure Wool/Emblem: A, Albany blanket, blanket fever, wool, rug, albany, albany woollen mills

Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a Bright and Happy New Year/ from/ The Directors, Management and Staff/ of / Albany Woollen Mills/ mAlbany and Freemantle Millstextile mills - management, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, lau, mr alexander - alexander lau pty ltd

Folded card brochure with printed blue text on the back and front. Fabric samples attached with hand written text on the inside.front: [printed] ALBANY / FASHION SUITINGSsamples, fabric, brochure, albany woollen mills, school uniforms

Folded card brochure with printed blue text on the back and front. Fabric samples attached with hand written text on the inside.front: [printed] ALBANY / FASHION SUITINGSsamples, fabric, brochure, albany woollen mills, school uniforms

Folded card brochure with printed blue text on the back and front. Fabric samples attached with hand written text on the inside.front: [printed] ALBANY / FASHION SUITINGSsamples, fabric, brochure, albany woollen mills, school uniforms

Four page paper fold out brochure with colour photograph on the front and printed black text on other pages. Image shows a woman wearing a pink short sleeved jumper with a cat on her lap.front: [printed] PRICE / 3d. / ALBANY / Knitting / Albanella Crochet / BUST 32-36 inches / 4-5 ozsknitting, pattern, fashion, knitwear, albany woollen mills

Four page paper fold out brochure with colour photograph on the front and printed black text on other pages. Image shows a woman wearing a black and white striped jumper with a fountain in the background.front: [printed] PRICE / 3d. / ALBANY / Knitting / Two Colour Sweater / ALBANY 4-PLY FINGERING / Bust 32 36 40 inches / Main Colour 14 16 18 ozs. / Contrast Colour 3 3 3 ozs.knitting, pattern, fashion, knitwear, albany woollen mills

Four page paper fold out brochure with colour photograph on the front and printed black text on other pages. Image shows two children wearing grey, yellow and purple knitwear, one child is using a yo-yo.front: [printed] ALBANY / KNITTING WOOLS / Girl's Sweater and Windcheater / ALBANY SCOTCH KNIT / CHEST .... 24 26 28 30 ins. / SWEATER ... 10 11 13 15 ozs. / WINDCHEATER . 10 11 13 15 ozs. / PRICE 3d.knitting, pattern, fashion, knitwear, albany woollen mills

Four page paper fold out brochure with colour photograph on the front and printed black text on other pages. Image shows a woman seated in a garden setting wearing a blue cardigan.front: [printed] Albany / PRICE 3d. / SISTER SET / ALBANELLA CROCHET / Bust 32-40 inches. Jumper 9-11 ounces / Cardigan 13-15 ounces / ALBANY / designed by / V O G U Eknitting, pattern, fashion, knitwear, albany woollen mills

Four page paper fold out brochure with colour photograph on the front and printed black text on other pages. Image shows a woman wearing an orange cardigan with black gloves and black headwear.front: [printed] Albany / PRICE 3d. / JACKET in 2 LENGTHS / ALBANY 4-PLY FINGERING / Bust 32-40 inches Hip Length 19-21 ounces. / Waist Length 17-19 ounces / ALBANY / designed by / V O G U Eknitting, pattern, fashion, knitwear, albany woollen mills

Produced by the Albany Woollen Mills. Western Australiatextile industry - history wool marketing, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, textile industry - history, wool marketing

Letter from Dr Phillip Law, Director, Dept of External Affairs, Antarctic Division, to the manager of the Albany Woollen Mills, 1959, regarding the use of "Albany" grey single blankets.P G Law AL/29.3.59woollen mills, albany woollen mills, blankets, lau, mr alexander - alexander lau pty ltd law, dr phillip - c. of a. - dept of external affairs, antarctic division