A Treasure Trove of Australian Toys

The project aims to explore the history of Melbourne and Australian toy manufacturing from around the 1920s-1950s, and its relationship to children’s play through a significant toy collection. Critically, the project aims to document the knowledge and memories of the collector in relationship to the collection, before this knowledge is lost.

The project will entail the research and documentation of a significant collection of 1920s-50s Australian toys, assembled by a local collector who has bequested the items to the Museum. Museum staff made a selection of artefacts, focusing on locally-manufactured toys – these items need documenting through primary and secondary research and through the recording the substantial knowledge and memories of the collector. There is also an important research archive collected by the collector which requires research and organisation.

The student will produce a substantial research paper, potentially even thesis, which explores through the collection, themes of Melbourne and Australian toy manufacturing and retailing, as well as how the collection reflects the influences of gender, environment and socialisation of children’s ‘toy’ play. The theoretical discussion will be accompanied by a detailed inventory of the collection, documenting as much information about the provenance of individual objects as possible. This will involve an oral history interview (and transcript) with the collector, which will also record his own story as collector and toy enthusiast. Finally, the study would include an assessment of the accompanying archive, which would have provided a key research source for the project.

Undertaking a relevant degree in history, museum studies/art curatorship, etc; substantial research experience, interest in working closely with objects and archival material; oral history component; ability to work independently and off-site.