The furriers Keitel were established in Australia early in the Twentieth Century. The business was initially in Port Melbourne in Beach Street and later in Lt Collins Street, Melbourne. In 1916, 1918, 1924, and 1927 there were newspaper reports of robberies at the business; an indication of the monetary value of furs in the past. There was an interesting connection to Jewish refugees to Australia reported in Australian newspapers in 1939, which relates to the Keitel family. OFFICER'S WIDOW A REFUGEE MELBOURNE, Wednesday. - A widow, whose husband was killed in action while a German officer in the Great, War, reached Melbourne in the Marella, a refugee from Nazi Germany. She is Mrs L. Fuchs, and on the wharf she met her, brother, Mr K. Feitel, a Melbourne furrier, for the first time in 40 years. Another, brother, Mr I. Feitel, travelled with her from Vienna. Mr I Feitel is a watchmaker, and has been in the business in Australia for about 50 years. He has brought with him an agency to establish here, for the well-known Swiss watchmaking company, Chaux-de-fonds. ESCAPED INTO HOLLAND. Having escaped from Germany into Holland, 80 refugees brought to Australia in the Marella were taken by Dutch ships to Batavia, where they Joined the Marella. Seven landed in Brisbane, 40 in Sydney, and 33 in Melbourne. There was only a few British subjects in the ship. The Jewish refugees include a cattle breeder, a lawyer for a Viennese bank, dentists, clothing , manu facturers, machinery experts, and general merchants. (Source: Evening New (Rockhampton, 4 May1939, p. 4) In 1947, Mr Kallman Feitel died and the business was carried on by his family.A fashionable fur stole created by a major furriers in Melbourne.Large brown lined mink fur stole. Label: K. Feitel, Furrier, 290 Lt Collins Street, Melbourne.furs, costume accessories, women's clothing, fur stoles

This coat was made by Kallman Feitel (1877-1947), an Austrian-born furrier who emigrated to Australia around 1899. His shop was situated at 102-103 Beach Street, Port Melbourne.Long dark brown astrakhan coat with a brown fur collar and brown silk lining. Embroidered in the lining near the hem is the monogram "M.E.C."Label, woven, gold text on brown: "K. FEITEL / MELBOURNE"fur coat, fur, astrakhan, kallman feitel, k feitel, 1940s

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

Large white fox collarfurs, costume accessories, arctic fox, women's clothing

Pale brown and white lapin fur collar with mallet shaped endsfurs, costume accessories, lapin - rabbit skins

Small lined rectangular brown fur stolefurs, costume accessories, fur stoles, fur collars

Narrow brown fur wrap comprised of three separate sable pelts including heads, feet and tailsfurs, costume accessories, stoles

Six dark brown fur pelts attached to form a single stole. The pelts include the animals’ heads, feet and tails. One head includes imitation glass inlaid eyes.furs, costume accessories, fur stoles, women's clothing

The collars can be dated to the 1920s, evidenced by a photograph of Gwen Steele (nee Kelly) wearing them on a trip in New Zealand in 1930. Items of fur clothing with provenance allowing a creation date of the 1920sTwo fur collars made of European marten fur. One collar is of Stone (Beech) Marten fur; the other of Baum (Pine) Marten.Handwritten Note on reverse of photo Photo taken in 1930 in NZ. Mrs Gwen Kelly, now Gwen Steele, wearing Stone Marten fur. Also Baum Marten fur about same date. (Weasel type animal with valuable fur - Oxford Dic.)fur collars, full body furs, stone marten fur collar, baum marten fur collar, furs - 1920s

Large fitted brown fur stole, held at the front with a hook and eyefashion & design collection - kew historical society, costume accessories, fur stoles

Fur cape belonging to the donors's motherFitted fur cape. Possibly mink.fashion & design collection - kew historical society, costume accessories, furs