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Last updated 18/5/2025

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This page is being used to collect information about the history of paperfolding in Australia. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

According to The foundation years - KU Children's Services the first free kindergarten in Australia, which was not yet federated, was opened in Sydney NSW.in 1896. I do not have any information about the earliest kindergartens in the other states.

As early as 1872, however, an article about Kindergarten, mentioning paperfolding, had been printed in The Sydney Mail of 9th March 1872.

Articles providing folding instructions for various basic designs associated with the kindergarten had appeared in The Sydney Mail during June and July 1885.

Thereafter similar articles providing folding instructions appear from time to time.

It is also worth remembering that books about or containing paperfolding published in English in London would often also be published or sold in Australia.

In 1966 Alira Yoshizawa visited Australia as part of his propaganda tour on behalf of the Japanese government. and the film 'Origami: The Folding Papers of Japan' was shown on Australian television.

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1872

Article in The Sydney Mail 9th March 1872

(about kindergarten, mentioning paperfolding)

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1885

Articles in The Sydney Mail, June and July 1885

(the paper parachute / the paper cage / the three-cornered note / the pyramidal hat / the paper boat / the double boat and mention of the chinese junk)

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1912

Article in The Eastern Recorder ,16th March 1912

(the mazuma fish)

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Article by Morley Roberts in The Week, 6th December 1912

(the chinese junk / the kettle)

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1959

Article in The Age, 30th July 1959

(earliest known use of the word 'origami' in Australia)

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1960

Article in The Australian Women's Weekly, 23rd March 1960

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1961

'The Art of Origami' by Samuel Randlett, which was published by E P Dutton in New York in 1961, contains information about a series of thirteen, presumably short, films Harbin had made for Australian TV featuring origami figures. I have not been able to find this information mentioned in any other source. The puppet Fuzz first appeared on 'Jigsaw'.

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1965

The Australian Women's Weekly, May 1965

(extracts from Folding Paper Toys - the whirligig / the flying fish / the jumping frog)

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1966

Article in The Canberra Times, 21st February 1966

Photographs in The Canberra Times, 23rd February 1966

(visit to Australia of Akira Yoshizawa)

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Pull-out in The Australian Women's Weekly, 13th April 1966

(Folding Paper Puppets)

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