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.Collector says: "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 and cream An Onkaparinga 100% pure wool production. In emblem: Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, onkaparinga

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. "Fringed travel rug, teal and brownAn Onkaparinga 100% pure wool production. In emblem: Made in Australiawool, blanket, blanket fever, travel rug, onkaparinga

Red paper booklet with three metal staples on spine on left side. Front cover has black text at top reading -WOOL HAND BOOK / AND WAYBILLS-. Below is an image of a rams head. Below, in decorative font is text that reads -Goldsbrough, / Mort / & Company Limited-. Contact details and services provided are also listed on the front cover. Back cover has an image and addresses of warehouse storage locations. Inside are four white pages of instructions on how to use the booklet, as well as tips on the inside of the front and back covers. There are several yellow lined pages upon which the owner can record the wool bale details with carbon paper. Several pages have been used/removed from this booklet. There is a foldout map inside the back cover.wool growing, wool production, wool auctions, wool bales, wool sales, mrs robyn adams, wool transport, goldsbrough, mort and company limited, elder smith goldsbrough mort limited, dalgety and company limited elder smith goldsbrough mort limited

Donated by Mrs Robyn Adams, daughter of Victor Clyde- a wool grower in North East Victoria. Mr Clyde used this waybill booklet to record the details of wool bales which he sold through Goldsbrough Mort. The front yellow carbon paper slip indicated a sale of wool in 1946.Red paper booklet with three staples on left side spine. Front cover has an image of a rams head above decorative text reading -Goldsbrough, / Mort / & Company Limited-. Company address and services are also listed on front cover. Back cover has an image and addresses of warehouse storage locations. Inside front and back covers are instructions and tips on how to use the booklet. Several yellow lined pages are included inside, some of which have been removed. These pages are used to record bale details with carbon paper. There is a small, handwriten word on th front cover above the word MELBOURNE.wool growing, wool production, wool auctions, wool sales, wool transport, mrs robyn adams, elder smith goldsbrough mort limited

Original photograph held by J.Norris, Butcher Street Echuca. Thought to be approximately 1910.Photograph shows very low river level. Barge is loaded with wool bales moored at closest river bank. Barge could be in the process of loading. Barge is between bank and the paddle steamer. Deck hand can be seen in fore ground holding a long pole. Steering wheel is visible on the barge.Black & white photograph which shows 2 paddle steamers & a barge rounding a bend in the Darling River. Barge is loaded with wool bales. Water level is not high: bank slopes clearly visible.On back of photograph is written "Jane(?) in Darling River. Norris collection."darling river; paddle steamers; river trade; wool production on darling river; river transport; barges; low river;

Images were taken by a staff member of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Mill in Newtown, a MR. Norm Holroyd. The photos were taken between the 1960s-1970s. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. Upon his death, the album went to his daughter, Judie Holroyd, who has donated them to the National Wool Museum.A collection of 38 black and white images, each individually mounted on cardboard backing, showing scenes of various stages of fabric production at the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Mill in Newtown. Each individual image page has 4 holes on the left side so it can be stored in a folder. Folder is not included in the donation.Numberswoolen mill wool production loom

A collection of original documents used by and written about the Kanematuse Organization, a wool business based in SydneyOne large bound book entitled 'F. Kanematsu & Co. Ltd. Private Code For Wool'. Stapled faded sheets of paper with a typed story on them, 18 pages from 1908. A printed copy of the PFA Quarterly Magazine from 1921, 5 pages. A small grey booklet entitled 'Origin of Kanematsu Organization in Australia', 16 pages. 'Japanese Wool Buying?" verse from July 26, 1957, two loose leaf sheets of faded paper held together with a paperclip.wool buying, returned soldiers and sailors mill, geelong, woolen mill, wool production, loom

"Skinner's wool trade directory of the world 1971-1972"wool brokering textile industry textile production wool processing, wool brokering, textile industry, textile production, wool processing

"Woolclassing" - A J T Marshall, 1967.woolclassing sheep - anatomy shearing textile production wool brokering, woolclassing, sheep - anatomy, shearing, textile production, wool brokering

Collector says: I adore these bright blankets with their labels depicting summer times. For most blanketeers, the Laconia Mexicana is a bit of a holy grail - for the label just as much as the blanket. Laconia made the Mexicana in 1964 and I suspect the Waverley and Onkaparinga came afterwards.Collector says: "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, red, blue, orange, yellow. An Onkaparinga 100% pure wool production. In emblem: Made in Australia. Name tag sewn below label: R M. Shiltonwool, blanket, blanket fever, onkapringa

"Skinner's Wool Trade Directory of the World 1969-70" - Thomas Skinner & Co. (Publishers) Ltd, England.wool processing textile industry textile production, wool processing, textile industry, textile production

This card is the first in a set of 16 information cards produced by the Stamina Clothing Company re: Australian Woollen Mills as give aways. It looks at merino sheep and wool production in Australia.Card no. 1 from the Crusader Mills information card set, c.1945-55. Verso of card no. 1 from the Crusader Mills information card set, c.1945-55.No. 1 The beginning of the story of Crusader Cloth.wool growing merino sheep - history, australian woollen mills pty ltd stamina clothing company, wool growing, merino sheep - history

"Sheep Liaison Notes" no. 26, December 1962. 'Wool Production' issue. Produced by the Agricultural Research Liaison Section of CSIRO. Limited circulation publication produced for extension officers in State Departments.W.R. MONTGOMERYwool growing, csiro agricultural research liaison section

"Sheep Liaison Notes" no. 28, April 1963. 'Wool Production' issue. Produced by the Agricultural Research Liaison Section of CSIRO. Limited circulation publication produced for extension officers in State Departments.W.R. MONTGOMERYwool growing, csiro agricultural research liaison section