My first doll was a secondhand Barbie doll that I inherited from my older cousin, as she is about to move to the city to study at University. Not sure if it was a designer Barbie doll (but during those days, fake Barbie dolls are rare). Mom likes dolls too, but she won’t buy me a new doll, because it is expensive.
Well not that it matters, but I learned to love this doll. I learned to sew her many dresses, knitting some sweatshirts for her especially during the colder season, and even made a few swimwear for her, coz I always tag her along every time we visit the nearest beach.
She was a good confidante.
Then my sister came into the picture, and I gave her my Barbie doll.
Although I may not have a passionate obsession with collecting dolls, I like how each of them is created. Sometimes I wonder… how these dolls are made? I imagine a huge doll factory with many doll body parts, carefully assembled. How about their makeup? I am curious how doll creators do their makeup and give different facial expressions.
And how about doll clothes?! I am curious how the designers create a miniature size of dresses and accessories, to make each doll unique for us to appreciate, and swipe our cards out.
If you know a doll factory somewhere, please contact us!
DOLL MUSEUM.
Unlike the other road signs, this one looks shabby and got me thinking if there is a real doll museum in this town. Nothing to worry about, I said. We are not in a hurry, and just driving around to see places.
As we are driving along the Olympic Highway, we turned right to Main Street and continuously drive for 200meters until we saw the place on the right side.
You will never realize it is a doll museum until you come closer.
Watch our YouTube video below!
Owned and managed by an 85year old doll collector and a licensed antique dealer, Mary Holden shows her strong passion for collecting dolls. She graciously welcomed us into her humble doll museum right next to her house where she lives.
This doll museum was an old church she bought to housed her huge doll collection back in 1995.
She got all sorts of dolls around the world and from a different era, including all the iconic figurines and stuff toys, not to mention those limited-edition ANZAC biscuit tins.
For just a small admission fee of AUD$4.00 per adult, this place will bring you back to your younger innocent years where all you need is a comfort with your favorite toys. I felt that glee of spirit inside, more like Christmas during the summertime.
Her growing collection is from many years of working as a licensed antique dealer. She said that each time she spotted a unique piece, it goes straight to her collection.
Barbie was my first doll; however, she isn’t my favorite.
I always find Victorian-era dolls more fascinating. Maybe this is the time where I’ve watched “Princess Sarah”, a Japanese animated series started in 1985 produced by Nippon Animation and Aniplex, based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel A Little Princess. ) Her porcelain Victorian doll is named Emily, which became my favorite type of doll. I like how innocent-looking this doll, with curly brown hair (sometimes blonde or black), and how conservatively stylish her dresses – her style that connects me what the Victorian girls look like.
Century-Old Dolls
Not every doll is innocent-looking and cute. Few of them experienced the hardship of time, all look brittle hence, the owner is very careful.
This Black baby doll in her red dress is now 100 years old.
These two dolls in a circle above are over 100 years old. Looks creepy! Like those haunted dolls in many horror movies.
She got a Patsy doll made in 1924 which makes this doll 96years old as of this writing.
A large Kewpie doll in the late 1920s. Kewpie dolls, first manufactured in 1912, were modeled after comic strip characters drawn by Rose O'Neil starting in 1909. The cartoon characters were baby "Cupid" figures, and the word "Kewpie" is a variation of "Cupid." The dolls quickly became very popular in the early 20th century, and a variety of the dolls were manufactured by several different companies into the present day, using a variety of materials.
Currently, the value of this doll is between $199 and $299; the higher range is commanded by dolls with original paper labels, and if the bisque and paint are in perfect condition.
Other iconic dolls
Did you know that troll dolls are also known as good luck trolls?
Originally created in 1959 by Danish fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam, he started making these when she couldn’t afford a Christmas gift for his young daughter and carved the doll from his imagination. Other children like his wood carved dolls, and he started the company Dam’s Things, then later on producing the plastic doll version under the name Good Luck Trolls.
Mary Holden collects dolls from her many travels all over the world. Can you spot a doll representing the Philippines? (clue – she dressed modestly stylish!)
We also spotted some of Disney’s vintage collection. Apparently, Mickey Mouse looks very different back then, and so does his friend Ronald Duck.
She got an enormous collection of vintage Barbie dolls, including his boyfriend Ken and her famous unicorn. Each shelf has a strict “Do Not Touch” warning all visitors to avoid any unexpected damage.
Though these dolls are slowly being covered by clouds of dust, still you can notice that these dolls and toys are well cared for. Hopefully, Mary can still fund the museum and install some glass cases to protect her most priced growing collection.
At the back of the museum is a small antique shop where you can buy some souvenir toys! Most of them are second-hand and vintage toys, ranging from AUD$15 and above.
Gerogery Doll Museum
Main Street, Gerogery, New South Wales
Telephone Number (02) 6026 0578
Check the map here
Main Street, Gerogery, New South Wales
Telephone Number (02) 6026 0578
Check the map here
The Gerogery Museum is open every day from 9am until 5pm
That place is so beautiful! And I am loving the exterior - an old church. Wish to have a doll museum too someday too!
ReplyDeleteShe put a lot of time for these dolls. Hope we had arranged for its next successor. I mean she's 85 already.
DeleteI do have to start off by saying that I sometimes find large groups of dolls all together a little creepy. All those staring eyes!! But there certainly was an interesting variety of dolls in the Gerogery Doll Museum. Victorian era dolls are always so pretty. But when they are made with porcelain faces, not for playing with. I loved that blast from the past with the troll dolls!
ReplyDeletehahaha maybe you've been watching horror movies of Chuckie!
DeleteOf all the museums I’ve been to in my life, I’ve never actually visited one full of dolls. Gerogery Museum in New South Wales looks like an interesting place to visit, and a good idea for a day trip. I’ve not yet been to Australia, so it’s good to read about these places.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Lisa! I am excited to visit other doll museums in our future travel.
DeleteWow! I would love to visit this museum. I am a doll collector and this is just amazing. I personally dream of opening a mini museum myself so that I can share my "treasures" to the world.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Though some of the dolls in this museum are quite dusty, you can see how much the owner adore her collection.
DeleteI have not heard of this museum before, and it seems very interesting. The dolls are so beautiful, so precisely made, and so wonderfully dressed. I would like to buy one for my niece. It is lovely that 85year old doll collector welcomed you into her doll museum, such an exciting story of her collection.
ReplyDeleteit was all unexpected. You will not realized there is a doll museum in this place coz it is quite an odd place.
DeleteWhat a lovely collection of dolls. The person who opened this museum must be very passionate to do this. I remember that I saw many folk museums in Hungary displayed dolls dressed up in traditional attires. I think you'd love to see that.
ReplyDeleteWow thanks for another tip! I will same that for my future travel.
DeleteWhat an interesting doll museum. I never got into dolls as a kid, I had a Barbie and a doll that I could make her hair shorter by turning a knob on her back. It’s interesting to see the various types of dolls but I’m not sure I’d enjoy visiting a doll museum, a bit too freaky for me.
ReplyDeletelol I know the feeling, especially when you see those 100-years old doll!
DeleteJudging by your smile, you seem to be enjoying your passion for dolls. The pictures are interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love dolls and their stories, but I don't collect them. I have one Victorian porcelain doll that I recently got at a vintage shop, which I bought because she looks adorable and perfect as props for my photography.
DeleteI have never been to doll museum. This would be interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Raksha!
DeleteI think I would have been a little creeped out about going in, but I'm glad you did and got these photos for us. I do have one antique doll that was my grandmothers and I am proud to have it displayed in my house!
ReplyDeleteHaving one antique doll is okay for me.. having tons would be creepy, lol. Imagine during night time, hehehe
DeleteI never knew there was such a thing as a doll museum till now. It's funny how I just realized how I outgrew them. I had them when I was much younger-- Barbie dolls were my thing then and I didn't like sharing . Haha!
ReplyDeletehehehe I remember back then dolls helps me to gain more friends at school. I once brought one of my barbie doll, and got stolen!
DeleteI don't know why, but I'm always scared when I see a doll... worst than a claun
ReplyDeleteHahahaha I hate clowns too!
DeleteThis place looks beautiful and fun, reminds of memories from childhood.Barbie was my favorite and I loved the Disney’s vintage collection too. Never heard about this fun place before, glad to know about it.
ReplyDeleteIt was an unexpected visit, a museum situated in an odd area and I'm so glad I noticed the signage along the freeway.
DeleteWe have a doll museum in Delhi but I don't think it is this big or the collection is this diverse. I would love to visit this museum sometime in future
ReplyDeleteAll collection starts on small. Would love to visit the doll museum in Delhi :D
DeleteIf I also live nearer, I will definitely visit this place. I love that look of that 1920 doll. Although, some of them are creepy, I love to learn more about their history. Sounds interesting!!
ReplyDeleteYes some of them are very creepy! But she is lucky to have all those vintage dolls.
DeleteWow, this is a great one! The Antique doll museum has it all, from the 100-year-old doll to present transition were there. I hope I could pay a visit too to a museum filled with this stuff.
ReplyDeleteThis museum is like traveling to various countries in different eras.
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