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Black Shoelaces that belonged to Bob Hawke #2011-0077Dressing Room, Prime Minister’s Suite, North Wing, Main Floor

Pair of black shoelaces folded and held into place with small strip of blue and red paper with the inscription ‘The / Champion / Lace / Made in / Australia’.

History

In the late 1990s, staff members at the museum found a selection of objects in a drawer in the Prime Minister’s dressing room (M602), including hair dye, eye-care paraphernalia and these shoelaces. These items had been left there when the Australian Parliament relocated in 1988, linking them with the last Prime Minister to occupy this suite of rooms, Bob Hawke.

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Statement of values

These black shoelaces that belonged to Bob Hawke are significant through their association with Prime Minister Bob Hawke (Prime Minister 1983 - 1991).

These black shoelaces are significant as a component of the Heritage Collection, which comprises those objects which were used in the Provisional Parliament House between 1924 and 1988. The collection has associations with the process of government, the ceremonial, administrative, promotional and recreational functions conducted within the building, and with the individuals who governed Australia between 1927 and 1988. The Old Parliament House building has a richness of internal fabric and collections, which include the purpose designed furniture and furnishings, that convey the way in which parliamentary functions were conducted, the everyday use of the building, and the hierarchical nature of parliamentary staffing practices.

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Details

Width 124mm
Height 17mm
Depth 13mm
Medium Textile; plastic; paper
Creator’s name Unknown
Date created Circa 1980s