Quilt No.602PWH - The Pioneer Women's Hut

The Pioneer Women's Hut
Owner: 
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Location: 
NSW Riverina
Maker
Maker: 
Lucy Gallagher
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
The top is machine pieced patches of used clothing. The backing is large pieces of dress materials and either end patches similar to the top. The padding is a chaff bag or similar with patches of worn, matted children's jumpers sewn directly on to it.
1400 x 1150mm
History: 

This quilt was made by Lucy Gallagher at 'Eringoarrah' (a property near Wagga Wagga NSW) c.1940. It was one of many Lucy made for general use on beds. Lucy moved to Wagga after her husband Walter died and in 1986 donated the quilt to The Pioneer Women's Hut. It is occasionally displayed at the museum.

Story: 

Lucy's husband Walter (deceased) worked as a general labourer at 'Eringoarrah', a large property near Wagga Wagga, for 39 years. Lucy identified where most of the patches came from: "That's part of Mr. Sawyer's overcoat" (Mr. Sawyer was the owner), "That's part of dear Mrs. Wishart's frock". Lucy referred to it as a Wagga rug.

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" Reversible patchwork quilt of woollen suiting in grey, blue, navy, maroon and brown. The fabrics appear to be new tailor's sample pieces (the sizing is still present on the fabric, signifying it has never been washed). The patches are rectangular and vary in size. Both sides have different designs. The front of the quilt has 4 rows of 12 vertical rectangles then below this are 4 rows of 7 horizontal rectangles followed below by 4 rows of 11 vertical rectangles. The reverse of the quilt has a section at the top and bottom composed of 5 rows of 9 horizontal rectangles. The central area is made up of a centre section of 6 rows of 5 vertical rectangles; flanked on either side by a column of 10 horizontal rectangles and two columns of 8 smaller vertical rectangles.
The patchwork layers are joined at the edges with machine stitching. The patchwork layers and padding are machine quilted on the front down 2 vertical lines following joins in the patchwork; therefore not being totally straight. The lines are more noticeable on the reverse as the 2 sides do not match. The front face is displayed at the NGA.
Between the patchwork layers is a striped cotton blanket in black, sky blue, white and cream." [NGA]
2082 x 1386mm