Bestoys Doll's Houses
c1959 to 1985 - "Laura", "Bambolina", "Cinderella"
As with rockaways, doll’s cots and cradles, a house for the little dolls, in one form or another, has always been part of the Bestoys range. From simple 3-room cottages, to 3-room Swiss chalets, to 4-room Colonial terraced houses, to 6-room Macquarie Street mansions, there’s always been one form of abode or another.
c1959
The first doll’s house illustrated in the S. Hoffnung catalogue was simply named “Doll’s House”. It was supplied in a flat pack and customers were assured it was “easy to assemble”. The four rooms were accessible from the back and the front had 5 celluloid windows and a hinged front door. The base extended in the front to form a verandah into which dowel posts were inserted and joined with a chain held in place on the top of each post by a domed chrome pin.
The front door originally had a wet-application transfer (later not applied) and the windows were originally spray-painted using stencils to form the window’s muntins. The façade, too, had 2-colour stencilled spray-painted motifs surrounding the windows and door.
The front door originally had a wet-application transfer (later not applied) and the windows were originally spray-painted using stencils to form the window’s muntins. The façade, too, had 2-colour stencilled spray-painted motifs surrounding the windows and door.
Bestoys Doll's House from S. Hoffnung catalogue of c1959
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Vintage findWith thanks to Rebecca's Collections
http://rebeccascollections.blogspot.com/p/my-australian-dolls-houses.html 
Bestoys Doll's House find and listed on Rebecca's Collections. This item dates to c1959 to before 1963.
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1963The catalogue illustration of the Doll’s House in the Bestoys 1963 catalogue differs only in the reduction of decorations to the hinged front door, as detailed above.
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Bestoys Doll's House from the 1963 catalogue
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1964
The Melbourne Toy Fair of July 1964 has the same Doll’s House on display as well as another, which may or may not have been a Bestoys product…the research continues…
1965
The spray-painted and stencilled Doll’s House had been in production since c1959 was discontinued and, in its place, two new designs were introduced:
Window shutters of ¼” pressed hardboard or Masonite were undercoated and finished in semi-gloss lead-free lacquer and, along with the clear celluloid windows, were attached to the façade by staples. The door was hinged using 2 small brass hinges and a knob tapped into place. (Later, the hinged door was replaced by a sliding door.)
Fences of ¼” hardboard or Masonite, too, were undercoated and finished in semi-gloss lead-free lacquer and glued into the routered slots on the upper and lower verandahs which had a ‘crackle’ finish to the edges. This was to fill and disguise the porosity of the particle board.
The “Laura” Doll’s House went through many transformations during her 20-year reign as the best-selling doll’s house Bestoys produced.
- “Grace” Doll’s House – 3-rooms, single-storey
- “Laura” Doll’s House – 4-rooms, double-storey
Window shutters of ¼” pressed hardboard or Masonite were undercoated and finished in semi-gloss lead-free lacquer and, along with the clear celluloid windows, were attached to the façade by staples. The door was hinged using 2 small brass hinges and a knob tapped into place. (Later, the hinged door was replaced by a sliding door.)
Fences of ¼” hardboard or Masonite, too, were undercoated and finished in semi-gloss lead-free lacquer and glued into the routered slots on the upper and lower verandahs which had a ‘crackle’ finish to the edges. This was to fill and disguise the porosity of the particle board.
The “Laura” Doll’s House went through many transformations during her 20-year reign as the best-selling doll’s house Bestoys produced.
"Laura" Doll's (4-room) House from Bestoys 1965 catalogue
"Grace" Doll's (3-room) House from Bestoys 1965 catalogue
From Walther and Stevenson Pty Limited Catalogue
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Sydney's Toy Kings
Once a saddlery, Walther and Stevenson's operated a two-storey treasure trove of toys on Sydney's George Street. It was a must-see place for every boy and girl from the 1930s to the 1960s Import restrictions were relaxed in the 1960s and cheaper toys made overseas entered the market, putting increasing pressure on local manufacturers. Many toy companies struggled to compete and folded under the strain. Around the same time shopping centres opened in suburban and rural areas, in convenient locations with parking for large numbers of Sydneysiders out in their family car. With more competition and less city shoppers Walther and Stevenson closed their doors in 1969. 
Walther & Stevenson's Playthings cover 1954-1955
The page illustrated here is from 1965 and show the Bestoys "Grace" Doll's House selling for ₤5/8/6 (five pounds, eight shilling and sixpence) and the Bestoys "Laura" Doll's House for ₤6/14/3 (six pounds, fourteen shilling and three pence).
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"Laura" Doll's House vintage finds
Bestoys "Laura" Doll's House from between 1965-1968 - an excellent example in almost perfect, original condition
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Bestoys "Laura" Doll's House from between 1965-1968. This would not have been the original colour scheme - please see image on the left.
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These two "Laura" Doll's Houses are on Rebecca's Collections website and would have been manufactured between 1965 and 1968. During this time the roof was a 2-part gable and employed a length of aluminium Penn Elcom double-angle extrusion at the apex - clearly visible on these two examples. From 1970, the roof was redesigned to a 1-piece shed-style, doing away with the aluminium joint.
Up to 1968, the two external walls were made with plain 3/16" hardboard with an upright grooved baton made of 3/4" dressed radiata pine down which the front was slid, and a horizonal 3/4" dressed radiata pine baton onto which the first floor rested. In 1969, these two walls each of which required assembly, were replaced with a 1/2" panel of particle board which was grooved to hold the front and first floor in place. Clearly, these two vintage finds are from before 1969 as they both have the uprights holding the front in place. With thanks again to Rebecca's Collections for these - http://rebeccascollections.blogspot.com/p/my-australian-dolls-houses.html |
Penn Elcom Double Angle Aluminium Extrusion
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To the left is another vintage find offered some time ago on eBay.
This "Laura" Doll's House is from the same time period as those above, 1965-1968, and illustrates the many different window shutters, doors and fences that were used. They were all made using off-cuts of pressed hardboard, cut to size then undercoated, sanded and finished in a semi-gloss lead-free lacquer - savings were made where savings could be made!
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These two "Laura" Doll's Houses were offered on Facebook's Marketplace in 2022 (left) and 2023 (right) and illustrate not only the longevity of this product but, given that so many have survived, that they were made in large production runs. They were manufactured between 1965 and 1968.
The "Laura" Doll's House below still has its original door and little brass hinges and domed-pin door handle, but it has lost the fence on the ground floor. Inside, each window still retains its clear celluloid 'glazing' held in place with staples which also fixed the shutters on the outside. The celluloid and shutters were attached in one operation using a jig and air-operated staple gun. The doors were prepared in advance by fixing the hinges and pin on them and then, in a separate operation fixed to the front.
This item and the one to the right were packed unassembled, without instructions and with a packet of 12 nickel-plated screw cup washers and 12 wood screws. All the holes were pre-drilled. 
Marketplace ad for "Laura" Doll's House listed in 2022
The "Laura" Doll's House to the right has lost its door but retains the fence on the ground floor. Inside, each window has been retro-fitted with fancy curtains. The ground floor shows the green 'crackle' paint spray-painted over white undercoat.
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Marketplace ad for "Laura" Doll's House listed in 2023
With thanks to the sellers and to Facebook Marketplace - no infringement of copyright is intended
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1967
By 1967, the “Grace” Doll’s House was dropped from the range; no changes were made to the “Laura” until 1969.
1969
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In 1969 many changes were occurring with the Bestoys range.
Jim Bonaretti had introduced a comprehensive new range of toys and nursery furniture to compete head-on with manufacturers who were undercutting Bestoys, offering their customers cheaper priced goods but with a reduced quality. The range that Bestoys introduced was branded “N.E.S.Toy” - click here to read the story… |
“Laura” Doll's House, too, was modified, made snazzier, to differentiate it from the N.E.S.Toy Doll’s House, which was made plain and simple and a basic, 4-room 2-storey house.
Both the upper and lower verandah of “Laura” were drilled and artificial flowers glued in place to form a colourful border of blooms and, inside, the windows were dressed with cotton curtains. The 2-part gable roof was made of harlequin board – a pressed hardboard with a diamond pattern, simulating roof tiles. This material may have been used before 1969 and as early as 1967 when the vinyl-covered base of the “Princess Ann” Cot and Cradle, too, was replaced with harlequin hardboard painted yellow.
(In 1934, R.M. Schindler built the first modern A-frame house, for owner Gisela Bennati, in Lake Arrowhead, California. Architects Walter Reemelin, John Campbell, George Rockrise, Henrik H Bull, and Andrew Geller helped to popularize Schindler's idea in the early 1950s, designing A-frame vacation homes. In 1955, Andrew Geller built an A-frame house on the beach in Long Island, New York, known as the Elizabeth Reese House. Geller's design won international attention when it was featured in The New York Times on May 5, 1957. Before long, thousands of A-frame homes were being built around the world.)
Like the “Laura”, the “Cinderella” was decorated with artificial flowers on the balcony and verandah and curtains framed the three windows. The door was hinged and painted shutters flanked the upper window. The sloping roof was made of pressed harlequin-patterned hardboard and the whole doll’s house came ready to assemble in a cartoned flat pack.
Both the upper and lower verandah of “Laura” were drilled and artificial flowers glued in place to form a colourful border of blooms and, inside, the windows were dressed with cotton curtains. The 2-part gable roof was made of harlequin board – a pressed hardboard with a diamond pattern, simulating roof tiles. This material may have been used before 1969 and as early as 1967 when the vinyl-covered base of the “Princess Ann” Cot and Cradle, too, was replaced with harlequin hardboard painted yellow.
- "Cinderella" Doll's House
(In 1934, R.M. Schindler built the first modern A-frame house, for owner Gisela Bennati, in Lake Arrowhead, California. Architects Walter Reemelin, John Campbell, George Rockrise, Henrik H Bull, and Andrew Geller helped to popularize Schindler's idea in the early 1950s, designing A-frame vacation homes. In 1955, Andrew Geller built an A-frame house on the beach in Long Island, New York, known as the Elizabeth Reese House. Geller's design won international attention when it was featured in The New York Times on May 5, 1957. Before long, thousands of A-frame homes were being built around the world.)
Like the “Laura”, the “Cinderella” was decorated with artificial flowers on the balcony and verandah and curtains framed the three windows. The door was hinged and painted shutters flanked the upper window. The sloping roof was made of pressed harlequin-patterned hardboard and the whole doll’s house came ready to assemble in a cartoned flat pack.
"Cinderella" Doll's House and "Laura" Doll's House from Bestoys 1969 catalogue
But the process of drilling, gluing and inserting these plastic flower springs was time-consuming and soon this pretty border would be replaced with a silk-screened 'fence'. The curtains, too, would be done away with.
1970
- "Bambolina" Doll's House
It was Bestoys largest doll’s house and was supplied in a cartoned flat-pack and proved to be very popular.
Meanwhile, the “Laura” Doll’s House would be redesigned but “Cinderella” remained the same.
"Bambolina" Doll's House (6-room) from Bestoys 1970 catalogue
"Bambolina" Doll's House vintage findThis "Bambolina" Doll's House was on Rebecca's Collections website and was made by Bestoys without alteration from 1970 to 1985.
With thanks again to Rebecca's Collections for these - http://rebeccascollections.blogspot.com/p/my-australian-dolls-houses.html 
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1973
"Laura" Doll's House from Bestoys 1973 catalogue, featuring the new silk-screened façade
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Between 1970 and the printing of the 1973 catalogue, “Laura” Doll’s House underwent modifications and changes to bring it in line with the recently introduced “Bambolina”.
The façade was silk-screened and took on the appearance of a smaller “Bambolina” – a terraced house with sliding front door made of woodgrain Corinite and fences on the verandahs made to look like wrought iron. The roof changed from 2-piece gable to 1-piece shed using pressed fluted hardboard to simulate corrugated iron. All these changes were to reduce costs and improve speed of manufacture. “Laura” still remained Bestoys best-selling doll’s house. |
"Laura" Doll's House vintage finds
"Laura" Doll's House vintage find. Most like manufactured between 1973- 1982. With thanks to Rebecca's Collections - http://rebeccascollections.blogspot.com/p/my-australian-dolls-houses.html
This "Laura" Doll's House was found in December, 2018 on picdeer.com website. The fence on the bottom verandah is missing and the base appears to have been repainted green. This item was most likely made between 1972-1983 and is in very good condition.
1978-1979
Between 1973 and 1978, the “Cinderella” was discontinued. The “Bambolina” and “Laura” remained unchanged.
1982-1983
By about 1982, the façade of the “Laura” Doll’s House was redesigned once more and for the last time, utilising the same colour scheme as the popular “Bambolina” which remained the same.
"Laura" Doll's House from Bestoys catalogue 1982-1983