The Guild has always seen itself as a focus and a helping agency for the fibre arts. At the time of the annual meeting in 1964, there were 35 members in the group, which was making a name for itself.
Between St John's Church and Duntroon there was a small, early settler's cottage which had been restored by the National Capital Development Commission. The Canberra Historical Society looked after this cottage known as Blundell's Cottage.
Among its chattels was a tattered patchwork bedspread. The Historical Society asked if the Guild could repair the bedspread but its fabric fell into pieces when it was handled. The Guild undertook to make a new one like the original but it then came as a shock to hear that the Minister for the Australian Capital Territory would be opening the cottage in three weeks time. Three weeks and 1,448 patches later, the bedspread was finished and spread over the old iron bedstead.
Lanyon is a homestead in the ACT of some historical interest; it is a tourist attraction. In 1984 the Curator at Lanyon, David Dolan, sought the Guild's help with the embroidered seat and back panel of a chair about 120 years old.
(visit Lanyon Homestead for more information)
The Australian War Memorial is a national monument of great significance. It was therefore both an honour and an exacting experience when the Guild was asked in 1974 to repair some historic banners. Elva Oakley and Lynette Swift assumed this responsibility.