The Tiger That Tanked?

Probably early 90's on white 100% cotton. Has the usual curse of the twisting weave after a bit of wear and a few washes. Not quite sure what challenge we were actually taking on.

The Body Internal

1980's or early 90's poly/cotton. What can you really say about this...? It's got me stumped.

Image drawn by the late, great Weg...but what for?

A Couple of Old Racers

A quick post to get these awesome guys up on the blog. Many thanks to BJL Auctions for these - now part of the treasured tee collection.

The blue is an original screen print on poly/cotton. A B.V.D. by Nile made in Australia. Size 14.

The black is also a size 14 Exacto made in Australia with original 'Old Fords Never Die...' iron-on. It really does look much better in real life...but here it is at least.

Enjoy!

Koalas, Bears & Flightless Birds

Clutching Straws - Beaking Wings

I will admit it - it has never been denied - I was born in Bunbury, W.A. but never actually lived there as such. Still, it's my home town in a sense and the local Wombat Lodge sold a great line of leather and suede rippled sole boots. I seem to recall a fine cake shop in the Plaza across the road from the Highway Hotel.

Several stones thrown consecutively will get you to George Street which is where this fine example from Little Aussie Travellers was knocked out in 1986. Look, it's cute but I do struggle with the logic - if the Emu is, to a degree, simply satisfied with clasping its beak to a fixed wing aircraft as a means of flight then just what motivated the koala to move its hairy backside down from the eucalypts, through flight school and into this pilot's seat? The red and black scarf is another matter. The Bombers took out the VFL flag in '84 and '85 but it was the Hawks year in '86 and the Perth (red & black) Demons last took out a flag in 1977 and haven't even contested another since '78. And it was a good 3 years later before the Australian Pilots Strike took place when the then Labor government recruited emergency replacements from exotic sources.

That still leaves us stranded in '86 although The Flying Emus did take home the Instrumental Of the Year AND the Vocal Group (or Duo) award at the CMAA awards that very year. Spooky!

Southern Crossed

White Ensign, Anyone?

This size 14, polyester/cotton piece was turned up in the U.S.A. - unusual, we might think, but then again I imagine that the majority of country specific souvenir t-shirts would be intended to ultimately leave the country of origin. Makes sense, right? But I am still left with the question of whether this was a stock standard, run of the mill, Aussie souvenir from the 70's or early 80's. Its World Series Cricket styled 70's bog simplicity makes me think it still could be - its lack of
unashamed 80's hideousness could sway me to t'other side. Some doubt is sown by its striking similarity to the White Ensign...and here's the USA connection.

Royal Assent for the Australian White Ensign (Union Jack and blue stars on a white background) was granted in 1966. In the sixties the Australian Navy had sought permission for a distinctly Australian flag of its own. In part, this was due to Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War - an action significant in it's lack of British involvement and reafirmation of the close Australia-USA alliance. Old ties severed. Out with the monocle, plus fours & tweeds - in with the Ray Ban, Levi's and t's. We gained simple beauties like this t-shirt and lost the Sao, Esky and Ugg. Fair exchange? Well, we do now have 'new' Vegemite so I guess we won that little exchange.

The Johnnys

(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown

Spencer P Jones has already managed a visual mention (previously as part of the Beasts of Bourbon 1990 Tour T-shirt) but his main claim to 1980's era fame was in The Johnnys. Spencer picked up the reigns in The Johnnys shortly after their formation around 1982...the band itself rising out of the earliest Hoodoo Gurus (or le Hoodoo Gurus) incarnation. Kinda same but different with these two groups but what made them both entertainingly good was a fine sense of fun and piss-takery that broke the mould of ice-cold post-punk in the late 70's and early 80's.

...and that's what is so good about this shirt- a forboding sense of a good time about to be had (rather than the ominous shootout that appears ready to break out). In a way, it mostly reminds me of James Baker's fabulous Banana Men t-shirt in the 'Gurus' "I Want You Back" video from 1984. I wonder where it is today...?

This is a nice white polyester/cotton number with a slight scoop neck made somewhere in Australia (has a Sydney phone number on the tag). Fits a size 18 but would comfortably accommodate any member of the posse if need be. The print itself is wonderously colourful - the orange contrasted with pale blue really helps. Nothing like the many standard, drab rock t's of the period and (sadly) how the 80's should have turned out (but never did). A big 'thanks' to the great Phillipa for this.

Paradise In A T-shirt

Surfing Magazines

Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens best summed up the 'coolness from afar' attitude to surfers by a landbound suburbanite in 'Surfing Magazines' from the band's 2000 comeback lp 'The Friends Of Rachel Worth'. Trust Robert to capture the yearning for that free-spirited and nomadic lifestyler even if it was actually lived by the local fitter and turner from the next street across. We lived vicariously through the pages of Tracks magazine and t-shirts like this.

Ok, so Surfers' was hardly the breaks of Bali or the Northshore in those days (and probably even less so these days) but wearing a beauty like this back then might just have captured the sought after look ('though more likely a swift beating and 'royal flush' for your troubles). But maybe Surfers Paradise of years past was some kind of Shangri-la...certainly if you could find golden delights just like this.

No tag on this fella but it does look and feel like a classic Bonds Gotcha. Definitely polyester/cotton and most likely a super tight size 14. The image is actually an iron-on - not a big favourite of mine although to its credit it has lasted pretty well with just a little crackling and super bright colours (and smirking dolphins). A little piling all over but just what you'd expect. Golden sunsets!

Bicentennary '88

Discovering Our True Selves

Much like 'Withnail and I' as a period piece of the late 60's, the Australian Bicentennary of 1988 felt like a last hurrah for the decadent (and particularly self-congratulatory) 1980's. It was a party within a party, built on a (new) parliament house of cards, tall ships and a lot of sun cream. We sailed, barbequed and chardonay'd hard until it all tumbled into the self-pitying and grunge-ified 90's. Honestly, if you peep hard enough at its parentage it's easy to understand emo's angsty confusion. We all now wince from behind long, black fringes expecting a similar smack-down should we misbehave as a decade once again!

This 1980's stunner sums it all up with as many hidden clues as a da Vinci masterpiece. There we are, blonde & white, saluting a foreign flag and empty boat with backs turned to the original indigenous owners, sharks and smiling sun (shining malignantly as we perpetrate its growing power to destory us all). The Australian Bicentennary Authority should be belatedly congratulated for the forwarning...with this t-shirt as it's own Les Propheties.

This (naturally) white poly/cotton piece was made in Australia by Maryborough Knitting Mills under licence from the ABA. 1988 was the party year although the tag does indicate "first published 1981" which may just date this a little earlier. A small size which is pretty rare to turn up these days. Features an extra piece of eighties-ness across the back - Uluru in silhouette with "200 Years Young" emblazoned across (its millions of years rendered meaningless by our own celebration). Thanks to the fine Sydney store where this turned up along with a fine Crystal Cylinders classic that I shall feature later.

The Dingoes

(Way Out) West

I have always liked 'Way Out West' - especially Broderick Smith's vocals. It was one of the first tunes I recall to use an Australian theme within a classic rock setting. The Dingoes always reminded me of an Australian The Band (as in Robbie Robertson's The Band) and they did, interestingly enough, wind up living in Woodstock in upstate New York during their years in the USA in the late 70's. Just as interesting is their connection to Lynyrd Skynyrd and the tragic plane crash which indirectly difused a chance of The Dingoes' USA career igniting.

This tee is, in fact, a USA model from that period around 1977-78 when the group moved stateside and signed a deal with A&M. I picked this up with a small collection of ex-promo shirts and I'd suggest it has never been worn. Fantastic condition for thirty years old! It is 100% cotton though but, being unworn/unwashed, has its original shape and shade. Made by Russell Athletic - a Medium (38-40) with The Dingoes' gold printed logo on front. I have another with something about Bite Worse Than Their Bark (or the other way around)...guess the promo department earned their salary with that one. Look for its posting a little later.

Beasts of Bourbon 1990

On The Belly (of the Beast)

I do feel a bit strange about adding something from the 90's to this archive...and I will be adding a few 80's classics a little later on...but this guy just lept out from the top of the pile so at least it is now up and posted.

The Beasts hark back to the early-ish 1980's and typify the time of an emerging underground in Australian rock 'n' roll. The late 70's wave of Pub Rock bands (Cold Chisel, The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Little Jimmy Osmond...) had made it big on that circuit and were playing the massive beer barns in the outer suburbs. The Beasts kind of tagged along with the new inner city rock scene that filled the void (and were pretty much comprised of various band members from that scene throughout their lifespan). Good band...top players...great front man in Tex. My favourite tune is the Kim Salmon composed 'Cool Fire' from Black Milk.

Sadly, the late 80's and beyond saw the 100% cotton tee in widespread use (and widespread across most bodies). My theory is that the larger 'sack' style meant fewer size variations needed to be made - it was pretty much Large & Extra Large from there on. Less leftover tees in the merch case at the end of the tour I suppose. This black beauty is a 100% cotton large and has stretched to a fair degree with a little bit of fading. Features a nice 3-colour image of the band on front and 1990 tour dates on back. Still a handy addition given the scarcity (and price) of most 80's merch tees. More of those later...

Gold Coast Beauty

Golden Glory!

I must admit that I have still never been to the Gold Coast and have actually only managed one fleeting visit to Brisbane in my entire life. I'm quite prepared to cobble together a whole bunch of preconceptions along with reminisces passed on to me by those that have actually been there to arrived at my own virtual Dreamworld...and this t-shirt is it! Really, this would sum it up back in the 70's & 80's - like Vegas without the gambling (or cheap buffet) and a smattering of token wildlife.

This true beauty is a white polyester/cotton with pale blue back & sleeves. Made by Town Promotions (Southport) - virtually striaght from the factory to the tourist's back. And they've managed to pack a short vacation into a single shirt. There's horse racing, surfing, beach beauty, highrise, flora AND fauna, fishing, the NSW/Queensland border memorial and Gold Coast Radio 4GG's logo! Marked a size 20 but in true poly/cotton fashion it could fit anyone down to a 14 if needed. Has a couple of small age spots but looks unworn since its likely purchase by a crew member of The Coolangatta Gold. Already a winner in my book.

Red Western Australia

Red Polyester/Cotton with puffy Swan & Western Australia

Vintage Western Australian tee's hold a bit of a facination given that it is my old home state and they certainly are something of a rarity. I am still holding out for an original 1979 sesquicentennary beauty! I do come across all manner of awful 80's & 90's souvenir disasters - the problem with this period is that we tried to be a little too tasteful but just ended up as dreadful, dating as quickly as a room temperature yoghurt on a February afternoon.

Anyway, I think I'll bust this out next spring for sure. It's another Polyester/Cotton (still the best blend) made by Artisan Garments (in Western Australia)...has the original 'Made in WA' state logo on the tag. The classic size 16. Printing is that old 80's puffy style & still has a bit of depth to it. Was most likely white to start with but is now a faint pink due to some colour run from the red tee. T-shirt itself is still a sweet, vibrant red. A Sandgroper classic!

Ted Mulry Gang

Ted Mulry Gang "Struttin'" Black T-shirt with Silver Glitter print.

This is a fine & recent find that comes all the way from Bundaberg (Qld) and from (I think) its original owner which would date this somewhere in the 1970's. The late & great Ted & his gang strutted around the Australian pop charts through the 70's although Ted had an interesting solo career before the gang being part of the Alberts stable writing his own tunes (and "You're All Woman" for Sherbet) but also scoring hits by the Vanda & Young team. "Falling In Love Again" is a personal favourite & features on my 'Good Times' Alberts VHS video. The "Struttin'" album was released in 1976 - the Gang's second album.

The t-shirt is a wonderful & soft polyester/cotton which is still very close to the original black shade. Very little wear or pilling. The print is an amazing silver glitter & is close to being fully intact. Made in Australia by "Liquorice Pizza" - a classic size 16. A proud part of the collection and the first posting on this archive!