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Old Lolly Shop Collection
Image: Photograph - Elizabeth Cohen in her Lolly Shop
Source: Museum Victoria
Elizabeth and Henry Cohen opened their milk bar in Rathdowne Street, Carlton, an inner suburb of Melbourne, in 1939. Born in Australia, they were descendants of Jewish immigrants from Europe.
Just around the corner from the Lee Street Primary School, the shop was always crowded with school kids at lunch time. It was their tuckshop, and every Friday 'good' children were rewarded with a free handful of boiled sweets from the big lolly drum that Elizabeth kept behind the counter. The milk bar gradually took on an unofficial neighbourhood name of the Old Lolly Shop.
For adults the milk bar was a place to sit and talk, or to meet when strolling home from Sunday night dances at Monash Hall.
The milk bar was one of many small family businesses that became the mainstay of countless families and the heart of many suburban communities. After World War II, many post-war immigrants, especially those from southern Europe, embraced the opportunity to run a small business - butchers and tailors, greengrocers, restaurants, fish and chip shops and milk bars.
Often the whole family was involved in such businesses. As a boy, Alan Cohen collected bread, pies and cakes from nearby bakeries and delivered them by bike to his parents' milk bar.
The Cohens saw the neighbourhood change. Carlton's Jewish community was moving out to the middle suburbs, to be replaced by immigrants from Italy and Greece in the 1950s and 1960s. Then students and professionals moved in. Shopping trends shifted too: supermarkets multiplied, and schools ran their own tuckshops.
Elizabeth closed the shop in 1975. By that time she had served generations of Carlton children and their parents.
The museum collected what remained of the contents of the shop when the building was sold in 1992. The Old Lolly Shop Collection comprises around 100 items, including a cake display cabinet, ice chest and pie warmer, food safe, shelving, menu and a large collection of advertising signs.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 50) 107 items
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Ice Chest - Tyanko, circa 1939
Ice chest, made by Tyanko, circa 1939. Used at the Old Lolly Shop, Calrton North, from 1939. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdo ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 12 -
Menu Board - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North
Menu board used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1950-1975. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne Street, Carlton No ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 1 -
Pie Warmer - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, 1939-1975
Metal pie warmer, gas-fired. Used at the Old Lolly Shop, Calrton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne Street, Carlton N ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 5 -
Food Safe - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, 1939-1990
Wood and wire mesh, blue painted, food safe or meat safe. Used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, either in the shop or by the owners in the residence behind. The Old Lolly Shop was ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 6 -
Retail Sign - Fish Boats, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Celluloid retail sign for fish boats, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. The Old Lo ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Forresters Crumpets, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1996
Celluloid retail sign for Forresters crumpets, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. T ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Fresh Homemade Scones, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Celluloid retail sign for homemade scones, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. The O ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Home Made Pies and Pasties, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Celluloid retail sign for home made pies and pasties, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1 ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Display Cabinet - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North
Cake display cabinet of painted wood and glass. Used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdown ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Coca-Cola, circa 1970
Coca-Cola advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne ...
From: Moorabbin, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Hot Food Menu, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Celluloid retail sign for hot food menu, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. The Old ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Meat and Vegetable Rolls, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-66
Celluloid retail sign for meat and vegetable rolls, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 196 ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Pies, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Celluloid retail sign for pies, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. The Old Lolly Sh ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Signs - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Nine celluloid retail signs, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. Several of the signs became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. The Old ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 9 -
No Image Available
Linoleum - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, 1880-1992
Samples of linoleum removed from the shop floor and upstairs bedroom of the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, in 1993. Six layers were removed from the shop floor, and may date back to wh ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 0 -
Sign - Coca Cola, circa 1970
Coca-Cola advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne ...
From: Moorabbin, Australia Images: 1 -
Retail Sign - Nine Pence per Pound, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966
Celluloid retail sign, nine pence per pound, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1955-1966. The sign became obsolete with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. The ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Shop Scales - Computing Scale Co, Dayton, Ohio, circa 1910
Set of shop scales, graduated to 5 pounds, made by The Computing Scale Co., Dayton, Ohio, USA, circa 1910. Used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar ...
From: Dayton, United States Images: 1 -
Shop Scales - Computing Scale Co, Dayton, Ohio, circa 1910
Set of shop scales, made by The Computing Scale Co, Dayton, Ohio, USA, circa 1910. Used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizab ...
From: Dayton, United States Images: 2 -
Sign - Black Magic Chocolates, circa 1950
Black Magic Chocolates advertising sign, circa 1950, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 31 ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Peter Stuyvesant Cigarettes, circa 1970
Shop advertising sign for Peter Stuyvesant cigarettes, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Chocolate Box - Darrell Lea, 1978
Chocolate box made by Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty.Ltd., Sydney, Australia, 1978. Placed on display at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, presumably in 1978, after the shop had close ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Chocolate Box - Red Tulip, 1981
Chocolate box for Red Tulip chocolates, made by Red Tulip Chocolates Pty.Ltd., 1981. Displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, presumably after the store closed in 1975. The Old ...
From: Prahran, Australia Images: 0 -
Sign - Cadbury's Peppermint Cream, circa 1970
Cadbury's Peppermint Cream advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen a ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 4 -
Sign - Cottee's Passiona, circa 1950
Cottee's Passiona soft drink advertising sign, circa 1950, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Billy Bunter Pies, circa 1960
Metal shop advertising sign with legs, for Billy Bunter Pies, circa 1960, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and H ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Tarax Soft Drink, circa 1970
Shop advertising sign for Tarax soft drink, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. Tarax soft drinks were originally made by the Taraxale Brewing Company, an independe ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Viscount Cigarettes, circa 1970
Paperboard shop advertising sign for Viscount cigarettes, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry ...
From: Highett, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Cottee's Big Boy Lemonade, circa 1970
Cottee's Big Boy Lemonade advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 1 -
Sign - Cadbury's 'Caramello' Chocolate, circa 1970
Paper board shop advertising sign for Cadbury's 'Caramello' chocalate, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizab ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Chocolate Box - Darrell Lea, 1970s
Chocolate box made by Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty.Ltd., Sydney, Australia, 1970s. Displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run b ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 0 -
Sign - Wrigley's Chewing Gum, circa 1960
Metal shop advertising sign for Wrigley's chewing gum, circa 1960, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Co ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Lolly Jar - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, 1960-1975
Lolly jar used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North, from 1939 to ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 0 -
Commercial Refrigerator Fascia - Warburton Franki, circa 1939
Wooden and metal framed refrigerator fascia, with laminated countertop. Made by Warburton Franki, circa 1939, and used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, 1939-1975. The Old Lolly Sh ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Sign - Freddos Chocolate, circa 1970
Freddos chocalte bar advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 0 -
Sign - Cadbury's Chocolate, circa 1970
Paper board shop advertising sign for Cadbury's chocolate, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henr ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Chocolate Box - Ferrero Mon Cheri, 1983
Chocolate box for Ferrero Mon Cheri chocolates, 1983. Placed on display at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, presumably in 1978, after the shop had closed in 1975. The Old Lolly Shop ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sign - Streets 'Coffee Rococo' Ice Cream, circa 1970
Cardboard shop advertising sign for Streets 'Coffee Rococo' ice cream, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizab ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 0 -
Shelving - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1939
Shop shelving used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, and probably made in 1939. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne Stree ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 6 -
Chair & Step - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1939
Wooden chair and step, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. Probably made around the time the shop opened in 1939. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth a ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 2 -
No Image Available
Dispenser Stand - Eta Nuts, circa 1960
Eta Nuts dispenser, circa 1960, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne Street, Carlto ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sign - Cottee's 'Big Boy' Lemonade, circa 1970
Paperboard shop advertising sign, Cottee's Big Boy Lemonade, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and He ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sign - Ice Blocks, Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1950s
Ice blocks advertising sign, circa 1950s, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sign - Eta Salted Peanuts, circa 1970
Eta Salted Peanuts advertising sign, with packet of nuts attached, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Eliz ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Chocolate Box - MacRobertsons Selection Box, circa 1970
Chocolate box for MacRobertsons Selection chocolates, circa 1970. Displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henr ...
From: Ringwood, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sign - Streets Banana Polar Choc, circa 1970
Street's Banana Polar Choc ice cream advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Hen ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Display Stand - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, circa 1939
Wodoen display stand used in the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, from circa 1939 to 1975. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Sign - MacRobertson 'Snack' Chocolates, circa 1970
Shop advertising sign for MacRobertson 'Snack' chocolates, circa 1970, used at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Hen ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Money Drawer - Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North, 1939-1975
Money drawer, originally located under the counter of the Old Lolly Shop, Cartlon North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rathdowne ...
From: Carlton, Australia Images: 0 -
Sign - Fanta, circa 1970
Fanta soft drink advertising sign, circa 1970, displayed at the Old Lolly Shop, Carlton North. The Old Lolly Shop was a milk bar opened and run by Elizabeth and Henry Cohen at 314 Rath ...
From: Carlton North, Australia Images: 2
