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Laundry basket
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DescriptionRemember these baskets ?? Almost every household on the West Coast had a Laundry Basket like these. In the early 40's & 50's - Plastic and Aluminium Baskets was not around. We all had these cane wicker baskets. They were strong and withstood all weather conditions. But where did they come from and why were they so strong ??????
These laundry baskets were made by invalided Second World War veterans and sold in a shop run by the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League in Gloucester Street, Christchurch.
The Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League was established in 1941 for returning servicemen and women (the earlier Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League had been founded in 1930 for First World War veterans). League factories made furniture, decorative wooden bowls, boxes and paua shell items and much of this was sold in League shops around New Zealand. Ex-servicemen in particular learnt crafts such as basket weaving to make an income, but also for company.
The Cane came from many different varieties of the Willow Tree with areas in North Canterbury and Oamaru being the major suppliers. The young flexible saplings and branches made excellent cane for baskets and they really stood the test of time. Exceptionally strong and not affected by the weather conditions. They are still used today !!!!ContributorMalcolm Howell
These laundry baskets were made by invalided Second World War veterans and sold in a shop run by the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League in Gloucester Street, Christchurch.
The Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League was established in 1941 for returning servicemen and women (the earlier Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League had been founded in 1930 for First World War veterans). League factories made furniture, decorative wooden bowls, boxes and paua shell items and much of this was sold in League shops around New Zealand. Ex-servicemen in particular learnt crafts such as basket weaving to make an income, but also for company.
The Cane came from many different varieties of the Willow Tree with areas in North Canterbury and Oamaru being the major suppliers. The young flexible saplings and branches made excellent cane for baskets and they really stood the test of time. Exceptionally strong and not affected by the weather conditions. They are still used today !!!!ContributorMalcolm Howell
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EventLaundry basket
From Facebook
CommentsKerry Wood
Still use one
Lyn Whittle
Magic loved them my mum and nan had one
Lynne Bridge
Theres a shop by Tarras in Central Otago I think that makes the. Still but they're really expensive
Barbara Moynihan
I have my great aunts one
My sister got my Mums one
Still going strong
When here and her husband were breaking in a farm my aunty use to put the baby in to sleep in one and tuck it next to a log so she could help my uncle
William Titulaer
Made of willow. When I was young ? in the 60s there was a family cutting and processing willow for baskets. This was on a tributary of the Waimakariri river by Johns Road, Harewood, Christchurch. There are still some farms about. ?
PJ Spence
At Self Help/ Mackey St in the 60's, these were dotted around the aisles containing the weekly specials - - -
Peter Lintern
We have mums one very sturdy
Pam Stinton-Whetnall
I still have my mother’s basket, whenever I pick it up I think of her
Robyn Pope
The number of times the handles of those baskets gave out when I had a load of whites seemed enormous.
Shirley Stewart
So did my mum
Phyllis Aberhart
They also used to make good sturdy traveling suitcases
Lyn Brown
My Dad used to make them at home of a night time, mum & l used to help him after tea.great memories on the lounge floor. He was a WW II vet.
Graham Schaef
The one at my place was put to rest about 10 years ago. It had a good dose of Borer!! Not to stay in a new house.
Nadine Thomas
Ah ha, even though I’m still young, I remember that my mum had those baskets in the 60’s and 70’s…aye Linda…
Linda Hay
My parents had one exactly like that one and Mum said as new borns my sister and l slept in the basket with a standard pillow as the mattress.
Thank you for the article it was most interesting as l didn’t know about the return service men and women doing this work and the subsequent rewards.?
Sandra Smith
I still have my nanas, she originally used it for gathering potatoes and veg from the garden.
Robyn Edwards
Thanks for the history Malcolm..
Pat Dooley
Still got one
Sheri Lee
mant a baby slept in one
Glenn Brickmann
Still use mine
Brian Finlayson
We used to have one , i have another one which is still going strong just a different type and iv had it for over 40 years .
Elaine Mcgill
Used as Bed for a baby. Little toddlers kept in them in the kitchen.
Louise Irvine
Still have mine. Solidly strong and still going after all these years.
Suzanne Hall
Love these my Mum has a couple, just look Sooo much nicer than plastic too ?? ??
Dorothy Wills
These baskets were amazing we’re even used as baby bassinets in some cases. They are far more resilient than the plastic models
Linda Mears
I remember this being part of life long ago. I did know the history, very interesting.
Jean Mehrtens
Some of those soldiers were blind - it was thought to be suitable work for them
Dianne Johnson
When we built our retirement home I was determined to have a wicker basket like my Nana and Mum. I found a person in Golden Bay who made me 2 beautiful laundry baskets. I gave one to my son who had recently renovated a house for himself. They bring back some wonderful memories.
Hay Hay
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.willowworks.co.nz/&ved=2ahUKEwiS7uHh59yQAxUcj68BHbaAEHcQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3X5LUU5minWfYr6eABsLmu
Willow Works
WILLOWWORKS.CO.NZ
Willow Works
Willow Works
Barry Dawson Smithson
We still have ours and still use it. It was given to Lesta by her mother for her kitchen evening over 60 years ago .Still in perfect condition.
Still use one
Lyn Whittle
Magic loved them my mum and nan had one
Lynne Bridge
Theres a shop by Tarras in Central Otago I think that makes the. Still but they're really expensive
Barbara Moynihan
I have my great aunts one
My sister got my Mums one
Still going strong
When here and her husband were breaking in a farm my aunty use to put the baby in to sleep in one and tuck it next to a log so she could help my uncle
William Titulaer
Made of willow. When I was young ? in the 60s there was a family cutting and processing willow for baskets. This was on a tributary of the Waimakariri river by Johns Road, Harewood, Christchurch. There are still some farms about. ?
PJ Spence
At Self Help/ Mackey St in the 60's, these were dotted around the aisles containing the weekly specials - - -
Peter Lintern
We have mums one very sturdy
Pam Stinton-Whetnall
I still have my mother’s basket, whenever I pick it up I think of her
Robyn Pope
The number of times the handles of those baskets gave out when I had a load of whites seemed enormous.
Shirley Stewart
So did my mum
Phyllis Aberhart
They also used to make good sturdy traveling suitcases
Lyn Brown
My Dad used to make them at home of a night time, mum & l used to help him after tea.great memories on the lounge floor. He was a WW II vet.
Graham Schaef
The one at my place was put to rest about 10 years ago. It had a good dose of Borer!! Not to stay in a new house.
Nadine Thomas
Ah ha, even though I’m still young, I remember that my mum had those baskets in the 60’s and 70’s…aye Linda…
Linda Hay
My parents had one exactly like that one and Mum said as new borns my sister and l slept in the basket with a standard pillow as the mattress.
Thank you for the article it was most interesting as l didn’t know about the return service men and women doing this work and the subsequent rewards.?
Sandra Smith
I still have my nanas, she originally used it for gathering potatoes and veg from the garden.
Robyn Edwards
Thanks for the history Malcolm..
Pat Dooley
Still got one
Sheri Lee
mant a baby slept in one
Glenn Brickmann
Still use mine
Brian Finlayson
We used to have one , i have another one which is still going strong just a different type and iv had it for over 40 years .
Elaine Mcgill
Used as Bed for a baby. Little toddlers kept in them in the kitchen.
Louise Irvine
Still have mine. Solidly strong and still going after all these years.
Suzanne Hall
Love these my Mum has a couple, just look Sooo much nicer than plastic too ?? ??
Dorothy Wills
These baskets were amazing we’re even used as baby bassinets in some cases. They are far more resilient than the plastic models
Linda Mears
I remember this being part of life long ago. I did know the history, very interesting.
Jean Mehrtens
Some of those soldiers were blind - it was thought to be suitable work for them
Dianne Johnson
When we built our retirement home I was determined to have a wicker basket like my Nana and Mum. I found a person in Golden Bay who made me 2 beautiful laundry baskets. I gave one to my son who had recently renovated a house for himself. They bring back some wonderful memories.
Hay Hay
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.willowworks.co.nz/&ved=2ahUKEwiS7uHh59yQAxUcj68BHbaAEHcQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3X5LUU5minWfYr6eABsLmu
Willow Works
WILLOWWORKS.CO.NZ
Willow Works
Willow Works
Barry Dawson Smithson
We still have ours and still use it. It was given to Lesta by her mother for her kitchen evening over 60 years ago .Still in perfect condition.
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Nov 2025). Laundry basket. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 19th Mar 2026 20:32, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/35532