Item MM 132310 Photograph - L. J. Sterne Doll Co., Space Gerry & Geraldine Gee & The Space Patrol-Rocket, Melbourne, circa 1965

Summary

Black and white photograph of Space Gerry and Gerladine Gee in front of the Gerry Gee Space-Patrol rocket, Melbourne, Australia circa 1965.

This photograph relates to products and promotions of the L.J. Sterne Doll Company (1939-1971), a Melbourne doll and toy manufacturer founded by Austrian migrants Leo and Hilda Sterne.

Description of Content

Gerry and Geraldine Gee are positioned in front of a Gerry Gee Space-Patrol rocket for a promotional photograph. Dressed in spacesuit costumes, Gerry Gee wears his spacesuit helmet and Geraldine has hers beside her. An illustrated astronaut is positioned in the top left of the photograph, connected to the Space-Patrol Rocket by a white cord. There is a painted backdrop.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph on paper with stamped and hand written text.

Significance

This item is part of a growing collection of material relating to the migration and settlement experiences 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 manufacturers 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 and 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 innovation; marketing and merchandising; childhood; gender and cultural representations; leisure and sport; and key cultural and historical events.