Speedo is the world's principal competitive swimwear designer and manufacturer. The Museum has an extensive collection of Speedo swimwear and accessories dating from the 1930s to the present including designs produced for the Australian Olympic Games team from 1964 to 2000, the Australian Commonwealth Games team from 1970-1994 and numerous international Olympic teams. This collection is complemented by the Speedo archive which includes scrapbooks, catalogues, posters, newsletters, stickers, photographs, video footage and badges.

Speedo's origin's lie in MacRae Knitting Mills, manufacturer of cotton and wool knitwear. They produced their first swimming costumes in Sydney, Australia in the late 1920s and in 1929 held a competition to find a name for their new swimwear line. So successful was a staff members catchy slogan 'Speed on in your Speedo' ,they changed the company name to Speedo.

From the beginning Speedo focussed their attention on producing competitive swimwear complemented by a range of leisure swimwear and knitted apparel. The Museum's Speedo collection and archive illustrates the evolution of swimwear styles and fabrics designed to reduce water resistance and enhance speed. By the 1980s most of the world's top competitive swimmers were competing in Speedo's. In 1990 the Pentland Group in the UK purchased the licence for Speedo International and the manufacturing and distribution of Speedo Australia. A manufacturing and marketing arm was retained in Australia until 2001 when all manufacturing was transferred to Speedo International factories. The Speedo factory in Windsor, Sydney was retained as a marketing and distribution point and refurbished as a major design centre for Speedo leisure wear.

This additional collection of material includes some of the accessories Speedo produced to complement its leisure swimwear ranges including beach bags, scuffs and towels.

[Designed by Speedo].

Made in Hong Kong, manufacturer unknown.

This duffle bag was made 1960-1980.

Part of a collection of material relating to the history of Speedo Australia put together by Speedo designer Gloria Smythe.

Beach bag, woven nylon, designed by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd, Australia, unknown maker, Hong Kong, 1960-1980.

Cylindrical shaped duffle bag with round flat base and open top fastening with thick white cotton cording threaded through large metal eyelets. Red nylon canvas bag features abstract printed design of sailing boats on the water. Printed logo at bottom 'Speedo'. The bag is machine sewn and unlined.

Made: Speedo Australia Pty Ltd; Australia; 1960 - 1980

: Hong Kong

2002/3/2

1960 - 1980

475 mm

260 mm