ProvenanceBadge produced for the 1918 fundraising appeal of the Returned Soldiers’ Building Fund.
In December 1918, there was an appeal held by the committee for the Returned Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Building Fund. The aim was to raise enough funds to build a club and home where the returned soldiers could meet as comrades and discuss the recent war. Various stalls included clothes, books, produce, a surprise packet stall and an ice cream stall. On the corner by the GPO (General Post Office), a ‘mile of pennies’ effort was set up by members of the AIF Lounge committee, all proceeds of which were destined for the Soldiers’ Building Fund. This project raised £14 7s 6d, which represented a distance of 115 yards 2 feet and 5 inches.SignificanceIllustrative of the badges that were popular as a means of raising funds or showing support for particular organisations or causes during and after World War I. This and other associated badges are a rich source of evidence on the material and cultural history of Australia, particularly during wartime. The symbols, colours and mottoes used on the badges themselves also express ideas about the values and identity that Australians held in the early to mid-twentieth century.DescriptionCircular badge; printed paper between tin base and celluloid cover. Depicts G.P.O. building and clock tower in black and white photograph. Marked 'Help the Soldiers' Building Fund' 'G.P.O. Adelaide' in dark block letters.Creator (person)Creator (organisation)AcknowledgementDate of Creation1914Date of Usage1914MaterialTin
|paper
|celluloid Accession NumberHT 1986.0044
