Necessity: waggas and the art of making do

The National Wool Museum, Geelong is custodian to one of Australia’s largest and most significant collections of heritage quilts and waggas.

A selection of these pieces, along with objects that tell the story of making do, will be on display for the first time in over 25 years during the exhibition Necessity: waggas and the art of making do – on display daily.

Born of necessity and the desperate times of the 1890s to 1930s, the wagga was the bushman’s blanket, made by pioneering men from old jute wheat sacks and wool bales. As it evolved, women replaced the rough jute sacks with calico flour bags, fabric swatches and bits of old clothes. The wagga embodies the ‘make-do’ Aussie spirit.

Taking inspiration from the wagga, the exhibition showcases creations borne of necessity and making do. These objects on display include a wool fragment recovered from the 1797 Sydney Cove shipwreck, a maid’s dress from 1840, two rare Jimmy Possum chairs, contraband objects from the Geelong Gaol and even an upcycled cardboard sleeping bag.

As contemporary community quilting projects show, the art of making do is still with us and continues to thrive today. The art of making do, demonstrates how unique creative methods can be forged by necessity. Today’s makers foster experimentation, invention and exploration to make and remake the possibilities of production. Choosing to use less material and energy sources has also taken hold with contemporary makers with a desire to reduce environmental impacts.

National Wool Museum Director Padraic Fisher said that necessity shows us that even in challenging times our designs can be quite extraordinary. In Australia, this art of making do has a long and rich history.


Padraic Fisher - National Wool Museum Director

As we marvel at furniture, dresses and waggas cobbled together from scarce materials available at the time it is vital we recognise the ingenuity and skills of ‘making do’. Exhibitions like this are important because they help connect us – like a handshake across time - they bring us closer to those who made and used these objects and the lives they lived.


When

Daily from 07 August 2021 to 05 December 2021

Upcoming dates

22 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

23 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

24 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

25 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

26 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

27 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

28 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

29 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

30 September 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

01 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

02 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

03 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

04 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

05 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

06 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

07 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

08 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

09 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

10 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

11 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

12 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

13 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

14 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

15 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

16 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

17 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

18 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

19 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

20 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

21 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

22 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

23 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

24 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

25 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

26 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

27 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

28 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

29 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

30 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

31 October 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

01 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

02 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

03 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

04 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

05 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

06 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

07 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

08 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

09 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

10 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

11 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

12 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

13 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

14 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

15 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

16 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

17 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

18 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

19 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

20 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

21 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

22 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

23 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

24 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

25 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

26 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

27 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

28 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

29 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

30 November 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

01 December 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

02 December 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

03 December 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

04 December 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

05 December 2021, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM


Where

  • National Wool Museum Wadawurrung Country, 26-32 Moorabool Street, Geelong 3220

Cost

  • Adult: $10.00
  • Child: $6.00
  • Concession: $8.00
  • Family: $30.00 two adults and up to four children.

Facilities

  • Change room facilities
  • Children's activities
  • First Aid available
  • Seating/viewing areas
  • Toilets available
  • Undercover areas

Contact

National Wool Museum

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 03 5272 4701

Associated organisation: National Wool Museum

Website: http://www.nwm.vic.gov.au

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NationalWoolMuseumGeelong




Page last updated: Monday, 6 September 2021

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