Mr Squiggle, the Moon Man, Touches Down at Museum
Initially planned to only run for six weeks, the show exceeded expectations and became one of the longest-lasting children’s programs on Australian TV.
Mr. Squiggle, the marionette from the moon who entertained generations of Australian children, now resides at the National Museum.
This beloved children’s television show, which premiered in July 1959, featured Mr. Squiggle arriving in his spacecraft and creating spontaneous drawings with his pencil nose—prompted by Blackboard urging him to “Hurry up!” from time to time.
The original Mr. Squiggle, along with his puppet companions Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel, and Gus the Snail, are now part of the museum’s collection.
Additionally, more than 800 items related to Mr. Squiggle, such as scripts, props, and production notes, have been acquired.
Mr. Squiggle and Friends was the lifelong project of talented puppeteer Norman Hetherington, who also provided the voices for the characters on the show.
His daughter Rebecca Hetherington, who played the show’s final presenter known as “Miss Rebecca,” collaborated with museum curators for years to establish the Norman Hetherington collection.
Norman Hetherington, who joined the army in 1942 and was involved in various artistic endeavors, including puppetry and cartooning, first introduced Mr. Squiggle on Australian television in 1956.
Mr. Squiggle remained on Australian TV for over four decades, with the final episode airing on July 9, 1999, and Norman Hetherington completing more than 10,000 drawings during that time—many of them drawn upside down.
Senior museum curator Sophie Jensen described the collection as a highly significant addition to the national historical collection, offering insight into one of Australia’s most imaginative and creative minds.
To commemorate the acquisition of the collection, Mr. Squiggle and Rocket will be on display at the museum until May 16, with plans for a larger exhibition in the works.
