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Miner's coat - 'Lambie' , early 1950`s.
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DescriptionThis working man's coat was known as a 'Lambie' (or 'Lamby'), and was worn by miner Donald Ross (1923-2015) in the Strongman Mine near Greymouth in the 1950s. Being made of two layers of wool kept its wearer warm, and the outer layer was water repellant and could be shaken dry.
It was made by the Petone Woollen Mills from good quality New Zealand wool, and has shown durability as Donald Ross wore it until 2005, then his wife Marion Ross wore it until 2007.
Donald was an avid workers’ rights advocate. He led his first protest march at Whangarei Boys High when he was 16 years old when he objected to the school master burning pupils' belongings found out of place. He studied law at university in New Zealand after he left school but his education was cut short by World War II, when he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Even though Don studied law, he spent most of his working life as an industrial worker. He was a miner between 1955–64, and also worked in forestry.
The Ross family remember Don as a person who led from behind and didn't like the spotlight. He was a 'subtle persuader' who always advocated for equality and justice. He was the New Zealand Trade Union Secretary between 1948–54, a member of the New Zealand Workers Union, and a writer, editor and publisher for 'Struggle' magazine.Miner's coat, Early 1950s, Petone, by Petone Woollen Mills.
Gift of Donald Hugh Ross and Marion Lesley Ross, 2008. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (GH016139)Date of Photoearly 1950`s.Map[1] External LinkTe PapaContributorHeather Newby
It was made by the Petone Woollen Mills from good quality New Zealand wool, and has shown durability as Donald Ross wore it until 2005, then his wife Marion Ross wore it until 2007.
Donald was an avid workers’ rights advocate. He led his first protest march at Whangarei Boys High when he was 16 years old when he objected to the school master burning pupils' belongings found out of place. He studied law at university in New Zealand after he left school but his education was cut short by World War II, when he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Even though Don studied law, he spent most of his working life as an industrial worker. He was a miner between 1955–64, and also worked in forestry.
The Ross family remember Don as a person who led from behind and didn't like the spotlight. He was a 'subtle persuader' who always advocated for equality and justice. He was the New Zealand Trade Union Secretary between 1948–54, a member of the New Zealand Workers Union, and a writer, editor and publisher for 'Struggle' magazine.Miner's coat, Early 1950s, Petone, by Petone Woollen Mills.
Gift of Donald Hugh Ross and Marion Lesley Ross, 2008. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (GH016139)Date of Photoearly 1950`s.Map[1] External LinkTe PapaContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)West coastPersonDonald Ross EventMiner's coat,early 1950`s.
Category Information
Category TagCoal Mining
From Facebook
Date Created13th November 2022CommentsDot Stewart
My Dad also had a Lambie issued by NZ Railways
Murray Butcher
Dot Stewart Mine too
Phil Millar
Dot Stewart Yes my Dad had one on the NZR,i still have it!
Marilyn Hill
My dad had a Lambie wen he work st a sawmill
Catherine Cameron
Marilyn Hill Same here.
Ian Schroder
Mine was a
Ian Schroder
Mine was an nzr issue
Denis Skates
Some railwymen used to swap there lambies with workers from different professions .
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always had a Lambie on the farm. I bought one when the Bad Blood movie had a clearing sale in the old LWR building - the tag on it says "WH Stopforth, Hokitika." Baz.Dot Stewart
My Dad also had a Lambie issued by NZ Railways
Murray Butcher
Dot Stewart Mine too
Phil Millar
Dot Stewart Yes my Dad had one on the NZR,i still have it!
Marilyn Hill
My dad had a Lambie wen he work st a sawmill
Catherine Cameron
Marilyn Hill Same here.
Ian Schroder
Mine was a
Ian Schroder
Mine was an nzr issue
Denis Skates
Some railwymen used to swap there lambies with workers from different professions .
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always had a Lambie on the farm. I bought one when the Bad Blood movie had a clearing sale in the old LWR building - the tag on it says "WH Stopforth, Hokitika." Baz.
Sue Dando
I can't remember lambies having buttons or domes.
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Sue Dando dad had a coat like this
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always had a Lambie but then the Swannie seem to take over, Baz.
Robert Skilton
I think we all had a lambie at some stage as young fullas did we not?
15h
Reply
Trish Barry Andrews
Robert Skilton we did but then they disappeared and people got Swannies - more or less the same but different brands. I got a Lambie for $5 at the clearing sale for "Bad Blood" - still have it.
Robert Skilton
Trish Barry Andrews n i think it wax Lammie as well
Trish Barry Andrews
Robert Skilton not sure bout that!!!!
Graham Piner
Trish Barry Andrews when it's wet and cold outside warm and dry in a lambie
Trish Barry Andrews
Graham Piner good in the bush as you didn't sweat inside them
Joe Kelly
Loyal Communist Party member for many decades. He was expelled from the party in 1975.
Di Kelly
Joe Kelly do you know why?
1h
Reply
Kerry Molloy
early swandris were also called lammies on thew coast. In fact i still refer to mine as such ,which has caused a few quizzical looks.
Trish Barry Andrews
Kerry Molloy exactly
4h
Reply
BrianJoyce Hassan
used to just pull over your head like a shirt
Italina Sowman
What an interesting story
Phil Millar
Railway men who worked on the tracks used to have these also,my Dad was a Ganger and he had one!
John Clark
Called lambies because they were supposed to be made of lambs wool... were very soft ... not coarse wool
Peter Robertson
John Clark A poor imitation of the "Swanny" but nontheless very handy! Always pronounced "Lammy"
Lee Christie
Still got mine from the forestry days …
4h
Reply
Colin Harman
I still have a Swannie that i brought in the early 80s and have never worn
Jock Allen
The lammies that we wore in the mines did not have sleeves but kept us dry when working in the very wet places
Ian Schroder
Nearly all railway staff that worked out in the weather had a lammie
Robin Harwood
Brought 2 to Queensland 40 years ago only wore the bush one once dress zip up one I gave to my son-in-law in Tasmania bit cooler down there he loves it.
Lee Henderson
Was it Napolean in Whataroa wore this daily to the pub?
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Great garment for the winter
Neet Liwile
I'm guessing another communist
Richard Nurses
Still wearmine
Des O'Connell
In Australia they call them dry as a bone or the Aussie coat
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Des O'Connell Ive got a Dry as a bone raincoat
Graham Piner
When it's wet and cold warm and dry on a lambie
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always called them a Lambie, and I still have one. I brought it when they had a clearing sale in 1982 after making the Bad Blood movie, $5. Hasn't got a maker's label but does have "Quality Clothing by WH Stopforths, Hokitika. Baz.
David Howe
They were called Lammys on the railway. I had a brand new one for many years, but gave it to a steam loco driver at Blenheim about six years ago.
Denis Skates
Miners used to get them from railwaymen in exchange for a load of coal.
My Dad also had a Lambie issued by NZ Railways
Murray Butcher
Dot Stewart Mine too
Phil Millar
Dot Stewart Yes my Dad had one on the NZR,i still have it!
Marilyn Hill
My dad had a Lambie wen he work st a sawmill
Catherine Cameron
Marilyn Hill Same here.
Ian Schroder
Mine was a
Ian Schroder
Mine was an nzr issue
Denis Skates
Some railwymen used to swap there lambies with workers from different professions .
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always had a Lambie on the farm. I bought one when the Bad Blood movie had a clearing sale in the old LWR building - the tag on it says "WH Stopforth, Hokitika." Baz.Dot Stewart
My Dad also had a Lambie issued by NZ Railways
Murray Butcher
Dot Stewart Mine too
Phil Millar
Dot Stewart Yes my Dad had one on the NZR,i still have it!
Marilyn Hill
My dad had a Lambie wen he work st a sawmill
Catherine Cameron
Marilyn Hill Same here.
Ian Schroder
Mine was a
Ian Schroder
Mine was an nzr issue
Denis Skates
Some railwymen used to swap there lambies with workers from different professions .
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always had a Lambie on the farm. I bought one when the Bad Blood movie had a clearing sale in the old LWR building - the tag on it says "WH Stopforth, Hokitika." Baz.
Sue Dando
I can't remember lambies having buttons or domes.
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Sue Dando dad had a coat like this
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always had a Lambie but then the Swannie seem to take over, Baz.
Robert Skilton
I think we all had a lambie at some stage as young fullas did we not?
15h
Reply
Trish Barry Andrews
Robert Skilton we did but then they disappeared and people got Swannies - more or less the same but different brands. I got a Lambie for $5 at the clearing sale for "Bad Blood" - still have it.
Robert Skilton
Trish Barry Andrews n i think it wax Lammie as well
Trish Barry Andrews
Robert Skilton not sure bout that!!!!
Graham Piner
Trish Barry Andrews when it's wet and cold outside warm and dry in a lambie
Trish Barry Andrews
Graham Piner good in the bush as you didn't sweat inside them
Joe Kelly
Loyal Communist Party member for many decades. He was expelled from the party in 1975.
Di Kelly
Joe Kelly do you know why?
1h
Reply
Kerry Molloy
early swandris were also called lammies on thew coast. In fact i still refer to mine as such ,which has caused a few quizzical looks.
Trish Barry Andrews
Kerry Molloy exactly
4h
Reply
BrianJoyce Hassan
used to just pull over your head like a shirt
Italina Sowman
What an interesting story
Phil Millar
Railway men who worked on the tracks used to have these also,my Dad was a Ganger and he had one!
John Clark
Called lambies because they were supposed to be made of lambs wool... were very soft ... not coarse wool
Peter Robertson
John Clark A poor imitation of the "Swanny" but nontheless very handy! Always pronounced "Lammy"
Lee Christie
Still got mine from the forestry days …
4h
Reply
Colin Harman
I still have a Swannie that i brought in the early 80s and have never worn
Jock Allen
The lammies that we wore in the mines did not have sleeves but kept us dry when working in the very wet places
Ian Schroder
Nearly all railway staff that worked out in the weather had a lammie
Robin Harwood
Brought 2 to Queensland 40 years ago only wore the bush one once dress zip up one I gave to my son-in-law in Tasmania bit cooler down there he loves it.
Lee Henderson
Was it Napolean in Whataroa wore this daily to the pub?
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Great garment for the winter
Neet Liwile
I'm guessing another communist
Richard Nurses
Still wearmine
Des O'Connell
In Australia they call them dry as a bone or the Aussie coat
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Des O'Connell Ive got a Dry as a bone raincoat
Graham Piner
When it's wet and cold warm and dry on a lambie
Trish Barry Andrews
My dad always called them a Lambie, and I still have one. I brought it when they had a clearing sale in 1982 after making the Bad Blood movie, $5. Hasn't got a maker's label but does have "Quality Clothing by WH Stopforths, Hokitika. Baz.
David Howe
They were called Lammys on the railway. I had a brand new one for many years, but gave it to a steam loco driver at Blenheim about six years ago.
Denis Skates
Miners used to get them from railwaymen in exchange for a load of coal.
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West Coast New Zealand History (5th Mar 2025). Miner's coat - 'Lambie' , early 1950`s.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 3rd Apr 2026 04:24, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/31599