The 'Dolly Varden' doll's house was made by Meccano Ltd, manufacturer of the 'Meccano' construction kits and of Hornby trains. It was produced from mid-1936 until the outbreak of World War Two in 1939.

Made of reinforced leatherboard, the house is collapsible. It is accompanied by a board which provides the setting with a driveway and flowerbeds. The house is designed to represent a Tudor half-timbered dwelling: the lower level is brickwork, with some ivy or other creeper, and the upper is half-timbered. The roof is tiled and the windows are mullioned.

Inside the four rooms are dining room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, with the interior wall decorations and floor coverings printed on the board. The rear of the house is open to view for the child to play.

The house was designed to use Dinky Toys dolls' house furniture. 'Dolly Varden' doll's house was originally advertised in Meccano magazine July 1936. A reproduction of this advertisement can be seen in Dinky toys & modelled miniatures, 1931-1979.

Dodge, Venus. The dolls' house d.i.y. book, Newton Abbott: David & Charles, 1990 printing

Dolls' houses in Australia 1870-1950, Sydney: Historic Houses Trust of N.S.W., 1999

Greene, Vivien. The Vivien Greene dolls' house collection, London: Cassell, 1995

King, Constance Eileen. Dolls and dolls' houses, London; New York: Hamlyn, 1977

Powerhouse Museum Collection: search for Dolls Houses

Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood. Collections: Dolls' houses

State Library of South Australia. Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-

Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales exhibition: Doll's House: 4 December 1999-30 April 2000