'Egret' printer's proof for flour bag design
View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website
Sign in to save favourites.
- Type
- Prints
- Materials
- Cardboard, Paper
- Collection
- Flour Export Industry collection no. 1
- Accession number
- 2008.0016.0005
Description
A paper printer's proof which is attached to cardboard with text and designs in red, teal and green. In the centre is an illustration of a long legged bird in brown with a background of land and trees and sky in green and teal. Above the picture is text which includes Asian characters and reads "KHH / SING / [Asian characters] / FINEST AUSTRALIAN / ROLLER FLOUR / ADJUTANT BRAND". Below the picture is text in red which reads "KHENG HWA HANG / SINGAPORE / SOLE IMPORTER / 50 LBS GROSS WEIGHT WHEN PACKED / PRODUCE OF AUSTRALIA". There is vertical text in Asian characters flanking the picture in the centre. The number "30" is handwritten in blue pencil either side of the first section of text while the number "30" is written in blue marker on the top right and bottom left corner of the cardboard.
About the collection
This collection contains five export flour bag printer's proofs dating from the 1950s.These colour prints are mostly affixed to cardboard and are in good condition. Wheat production, flour milling and flour export were an important part of Australia's economy from the mid 19th century till the first two decades after World War Two. Australian milled flour become synonymous with quality and for close to one hundred years Australia enjoyed a market monopoly with its neighbours in South East Asia, South Africa and Europe. Post World War Two the Australian export industry suffered competition from mills in these countries as well as subsidized flour from America and the industry declined. These flour bags mark the final peak before this decline and appear to be a rare material culture record of this industry.
Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 4:48:08 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2023-04-26. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.