Penny Wooden, circa 1805–1810
Image: Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Penny Wooden
This is one of the oldest dolls in Australia. It is made of wood. The face is painted.
How was this doll made? Can you make a doll like this? How is it different from dolls used today?
Wooden boxed domino set, circa 1860
Source: Museum Victoria
Domino set
These dominoes are made of bone and wood. They were made a long, long time ago. The dominoes game is still played today.
Do you play with dominoes?
What games do you play with a group of friends?
Indoor board game, circa 1930–1939
Source: Museum Victoria
Board game – 'Ace'
This box contains three games: Snakes and Ladders, Ludo and Tank Attack. Tank Attack was about the war that was happening at the time this game was bought.
How do we know, looking at the picture, that this is an old game? How are these games played today?
Why do we play games about war?
Toy cat made from a black knitted fabric, circa 1940s
Image: Jon Augier
Source: Museum Victoria
Toy cat
This cat is knitted and has green plastic eyes. It was made during the Second World War when new toys were hard to get. The toy is stuffed with soft material.
How is this toy cat different from the wooden peg doll?
Do you think it was made at home or bought in a shop?
Mechanical toy horse, circa 1940s
Source: Museum Victoria
Toy horse
This toy is mechanical. It had a metal wind-up key that made its legs and tail move. It was made in Japan in the 1940s.
Would you rather play with the toy horse or the toy cat? Why?
How are toys made to move using present-day technology?
Handmade felt doll, circa 1940–1950
Image: Jon Augier
Source: Museum Victoria
Doll-Dutch
This doll was made at home from materials bought in a shop. The face has been embroidered and the plaits made from wool and stitched on. Patterns for these dolls could be bought in shops so they could be made at home.
Why would anyone make their own dolls?
What materials would you use to make a toy like this today?
Plastic knucklebones
Image: Michelle McFarlane
Source: Museum Victoria
Knucklebones
Knucklebones are sometimes called Jacks. It is one of the oldest games ever played by children. These are made of plastic.
What would they have been made of when children played with them a long time ago?
Do you still play with Jacks? If you do, you are playing an ancient game!
Doll with vinyl face and cloth body, circa 1963
Image: Taryn Ellis
Source: Museum Victoria
Doll with vinyl face and cloth body
This doll was bought in 1963 for a little girl in hospital. The little girl was from Italy. Her family took it back to Italy with them with plant seeds hidden in her bunny suit. The doll has a vinyl face and synthetic hair. Her eyes open and close.
How is this doll different from the felt doll?
Compare it with dolls you play with.
Plastic 'Coca-Cola' yo-yo, circa 1980s.
Source: Museum Victoria. Trade marks of The Coca-Cola Company are used with permission. The Coca-Cola Company is not the producer of this guide, nor does it endorse the contents.
Yo-yo
The yo-yo has been described as the second oldest toy in history. Children played with them in ancient Greece. In the Philippines it was used as a weapon. Children in Australia have been playing with yo-yos since the 1920s. It was the first toy in outer space.
Does this yo-yo look old or new? Give reasons for your answer.
What are yo-yos made of these days?
Virsual - The Digital Rocking Horse
Image: Eness (www.eness.com)
Source: Museum Victoria
Virsual
This is a wireless, ride-on rocking horse. As riders saddle up, a 3-D game starts on screen.
How is this toy horse different to a mechanical toy horse? What wireless games do you play?
Soccer ball
Image: Taryn Ellis
Source: Museum Victoria
Soccer ball
Here is something you will all recognise! This soccer ball belonged to an under-18 girls soccer team. There are autographs from the team on the ball.
What are soccer balls made of today? From which other material can you make a soccer ball?
What did your great-great-great-great-grandparents use as a ball?