POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Barbie doll wearing historical Qantas uniform c. 1958

Object No. 2010/70/1-15

This donation consists of forty-two Ken and Barbie dolls dressed in Qantas uniforms hand-made by John Willmott-Potts, who worked as a cook and flight steward with Qantas for 24 years. Each doll represents a different Qantas uniform design from 1948-2009 and where possible John matched the Barbie to the date the uniform was released. The uniforms were crafted from original patterns which a friend of Willmott-Potts miniaturised to enable John to fit them for the Barbie and Ken dolls. This collection brings together, and makes visible, the entire set of Qantas uniforms in a non-pictorial format. The patterns, and some of the cloth used, have been sourced from originals. They were originally used as part of a travelling display entitled 'Stiches in Time'; a talk on the history of Qantas which John delivered to schools, museums and libraries in rural New South Wales. John Willmott-Potts's story, and collection, is a unique example of one man's passion for this iconic Australian Company and the culture which it bred among its staff.