I posted last month in this blog a storey about the Unley Museum’s latest exhibition Toy Storey. Well it has had some press coverage in the Advertiser by Sophie Perrie, which I reproduce below for those who may have missed it. A great storey and a reminder to get along to check it out.

THESE are toys with stories to tell.

A collection of 50 toys, animals, dolls and miniature items from the 192 Os to the 2000s are on display at
Unley Museum for its Toy Stories exhibition.

The toys, which have come from the museum collection and three private collectors, include an old Monopoly board from the ’30s, a wicker pram made in Unley in the ’20s and a stuffed toy dog, also
from the ‘2Os.

Unley Museum curator Elizabeth Hartnell says the dog came from the old Goodwood Orphanage.

“It’s the cutest, most loved thing,” she says. “It was found in the attic of the orphanage when it was closed; you can only imagine who must have stashed it up there. “It just makes you tear up, it’s so precious.”

The exhibition also features a visual display of the top Christmas lists from previous decades. Yahtzee and hula hoops were the rage in the ‘5Os, the ’70s was all about the Rubik’s cube and Game Boy was king of the ’90s.

Ms Hartnell says it has been interesting to see how toys have evolved.

Lego, for example, was made from wood until plastic blocks were introduced around the ‘5Os.

“They introduced the block so every block could actually fit together regardless of when you bought it,” she says, “If you put a brand new piece of Lego into a ’50s piece of Lego … it would still fit.”

The exhibition has proved to be a way to connect older and younger generations. “It has been really good to have grandparents come with their grandkids and go, ‘Iremember that’, and talk about the toys and games.”

There will be a larger toy exhibition at the museum in 2016 and anyone with old or new toys with stories behind them is encouraged to bring them for the display.

TOY STORIES IS ON AT UNLEY MUSEUM.
MONDAY- WEDNESDAY.10A11-4PM
AND SUNDAY. 1.3OPM 1- 4.3OPM
UNTIL DECEMBER 18.