This badge was manufactured in around 1984 to promote Brisbane's bid for the 1992 Olympic Games. Its logo represents the koala, 'Willy', that was mascot for the 1984 Australian Olympic team at the Los Angeles Games. The badge represents a mid 1980s trend in Olympic mascots and bid logos, and provides an important contrast to the Sydney 2000 bid material in the Sydney 2000 Games Collection.

The Sydney Olympic Bid Committee began to define its image in 1992 when it selected its corporate logo. This design arose from a protracted competition which saw the selection of Michael Bryce's unique design - a multicoloured flash echoing the roofline of the Opera House, and random dots referencing Aboriginal dot painting. By this time, Michael Bryce was already well known for his work on sporting logos, having designed the logo for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. After this selection, ISIS/FHA Design Company, the in-house designers for the Sydney Bid Committee, made some adjustments to the design.

Bryce explained the informality of the design, saying that he wanted to create an image that could be drawn simply in the sand - "no slide rules, no set square, no computer. If it can't be drawn by your fingers in the sand, then it's no good". Rod McGeoch also warmed to this informality, explaining that the logo "set the creative tone of what the Sydney bid was all about. colourful, vibrant, youthful and energetic". The resulting merchandise "gave the impression that everyone associated with the bid was a bright, upbeat person with a youthful outlook".

The success of the Sydney 2000 Bid logo resulted largely from the experience of the Australian Organising Committee (AOC), which had tendered bids for the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. These earlier bid logos - a koala in a green and gold uniform (Brisbane 1992), and an Olympic flame in Olympic colours (Melbourne 1996) - were comparatively conventional, failing to capture an Australian essence and the attentions of the IOC. By 1992 however, the AOC had developed a modern, distinctive taste for bid logos, and so used colour and informal design elements to express youth, enthusiasm and energy.

Made by Patrick Brothers, Melbourne to promote Brisbane's bid for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Unused

Owned by the Olympic Coordination Authority/Sydney Orgnaising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum.

Badge, Brisbane bid for 1992 Olympic Games, metal/ plastic/ paper, made by Patrick Brothers, Melbourne c.1985

Badge, disc, metal backing, plastic covering, yellow with cartoon picture of a Koala dressed in a Green and Gold tracksuit, holding an Australian flag. Orange text 'Olympics / Down Under!' followed by black text 'Brisbane 1992'. On the back of the badge is a pin and below this engraved into the metal 'Patrick Bros Melbourne'.

2001/84/391