Historical information

This embroidered tray cloth is a souvenir of Warrnambool and may have been made to remember a holiday or as a gift.
Embroidered silk postcards sent by soldiers in WW1 to their families back home, were an early example of embroidered souvenirs.
In peacetime, tourists would buy embroidered teatowels, badges, scarves or hankies etc as souvenirs of their trip or to give to friends or family. These items often featured local land marks, flora or fauna, maps or emblems of a particular region.
This example appears to be handmade using a plain tray cloth with a punctured border ready for the maker to add her own embroidered design and crocheted edge - rather than using a mass produced prestamped design.

Significance

This item is a significant example of an Australian handmade embroidered souvenir designed and made as a remembrance of Warrnambool. It is also a significant example of Australian Women's domestic handcraft.

Physical description

Rectangular cotton tray cloth with the words "Greetings from Warrnambool" embroidered in lazy daisy stitch using an orange variegated cotton. A simple stem and leaf design in green stem stitch runs through the letters and the gently curved edge is finished with a white cotton crocheted border.

Inscriptions & markings

GREETINGS / FROM / WARRNAMBOOL