Summary

Black and white photograph, mounted on card, depicting Hilda, seated, and Leo Sterne, on right, with an unidentified male.

This photograph relates to the lives of Leo and Hilda Sterne prior to their migration to Australia from Linz, Austria in 1939, joining other family members who had arrived in 1938. The Sternes (originally Sternschein), listed as 'stateless', were probably refugees accepted as part of the Australian Government's Jewish quota intake just prior to World War II. The Sterne's went on to found the successful L.J. Sterne Doll Company. Leo Sterne is recorded as having enlisted in the Citizen's Military Forces during World War II and in 1944 he was naturalised.

Description of Content

Studio portrait of three individuals, two men standing either side of a seated woman. The woman is dressed in a white dress with white gloves and a black hat. Her handbag is placed on her lap with both her hands resting over it. Both men are dressed in suits and hats. The man on the left is resting his hand on his hip and the the man on the right has his hand in his pocket. A garden scene and part of a cottage are pictured in the background.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph on paper, mounted on card.

Significance

This item is part of a growing collection of material relating to the migration and settlement experience of Leo and Hilda Sterne who arrived in Melbourne in 1939. They immediately established a business that became one of the most successful doll and toy manufactures in post-war Melbourne.

The L.J. Sterne Doll Company (1939-71) is significant as one of the few surviving collections related to an Australian toy and doll manufacturer, a once thriving industry in Australia. Only the A.L. Lindsay & Co. Archive at the Powerhouse Museum and the Jakas Toys collection at Museum Victoria are comparable.

This collection of photographs, business and promotional documents, dolls, and toys enables the exploration of many Australian post-war historical and social themes including: local television and manufacturing industries; design and production innovations; marketing and merchandising; childhood; gender and cultural representation; leisure and sport; and key cultural and historical events.

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