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Story: Childhood

Girl doing the dishes, around 1911

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Girl doing the dishes, around 1911

Doing the dishes is a common household chore for New Zealand children  emptying and stacking the dishwasher is the 2000s equivalent to the scene shown here. Young Phyllis Godber is washing the dishes in a large metal bowl on the kitchen table around 1911. Her clothes are protected by a big bib apron.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Albert Percy Godber Collection (PA-Group-00048)

Reference: APG-1393-1/2; G

by Albert Percy Godber

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Childhood – Family, school and work responsibilities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/26279/girl-doing-the-dishes-around-1911 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 22 March 2011.