Underwear owned by German migrant Mr H Schleinitz
Datec 1960
Object numberV00015559
NameLong johns
MediumCotton
DimensionsOverall: 720 x 510 mm, 0.3 kg
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Mr H Schleinitz
DescriptionThis pair of long johns and top was owned by German migrant Mr H Schleinitz. He brought the underwear, made of good quality cotton, with him when he migrated to Australia on the CASTEL FELICE in 1960.HistoryThere was a dramatic growth in the population of people of a German speaking background in Australia post World War II. Many of these were displaced people, and others came as skilled migrants. Mr Schleinitz, coming in 1960, was at the end of that significant wave of German migration. The German-born rank as the fourth largest of any non-English speaking group in Australia.
SignificanceThe long johns, an intimate and personal item of clothing, tell us about the country this migrant had left behind and his expectation that he would need them despite the much warmer Australian climate.
