Hurry up! Mr Squiggle’s upside-down magic has landed in Canberra

Posted on 24 July, 2025

The beloved man from the Moon has arrived in Canberra, bringing his pencil nose and upside-down magic to local families.

In 1959, Australian television changed forever when Mr Squiggle came down from the Moon for the first time to transform squiggles into drawings.

Now, 40 years after the final episode aired, the National Museum of Australia is displaying hundreds of iconic items from the show and highlighting the work of the creative genius behind it – Norman Hetherington – by taking families on a warm-hearted, nostalgic journey that all ages will enjoy.

Running until Monday 13 October,  Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington features nearly 300 objects drawn from the Norman Hetherington collection, including artworks, scripts and more than 90 of the iconic puppets that made many childhood memories magical.

Blackboard, Mr Squiggle and Rocket reunited at the Museum. National Museum of Australia

A household favourite for generations, with his distinctive pencil for a nose, charming banter and ability to turn a simple squiggle into a masterpiece, Mr Squiggle and Friends was one of Australia’s longest-running children’s shows and prompted many children to pick up a crayon.

For Rebecca Hetherington (Mr Squiggle’s last on-screen companion ), seeing the Mr Squiggle and Friends collection preserved at the National Museum represents something deeply personal. It’s the chance to share her treasured childhood memories of growing up with Norman Hetherington as her father, and the joy he not only brought his own family, but generations of Australians.

“I’ve grown up with all these puppets, artworks, posters, costumes and all the things in the exhibition, but to see other people take joy in them, other people take them on as their own and look after them and then re-present them to the public in this exhibition, it’s really quite special,” she says.

“They were my father’s creations and his babies, but they’ve been with me my whole life. Seeing people come into the exhibition with young children who did not grow up with Squiggle just lapping it up…it’s been really lovely.”

Norman Hetherington with Bill Steamshovel, Mr Squiggle and Gus the Snail. National Museum of Australia.

Enjoying a rich career as a wartime entertainer, cartoonist, artist, performer and puppeteer, Rebecca says that her father would be “confounded, bemused and thrilled” by the exhibition.

Describing him as a modest man, she explains that for Norman, Mr Squiggle and Friends was a labour of love and he never imagined the greater impact it would have on Australian cultural life.

As one of the nation’s longest-running and most beloved television series, thousands more were also entertained by his theatrical performances, television productions and live puppet shows.

Norman kept everything he created throughout his long career – from his pre-war work through to his death in 2010. Rebecca’s hope was to keep the collection together, preserving the complete story of this remarkable creative journey.

Exploring the whimsy, humour and magic behind all of Norman’s work and taking visitors behind the scenes to see the puppets, wartime artworks, colourful theatre props and costumes he spent decades creating, Rebecca says that the collection is a testament to the power of imagination.

And from Norman’s suitcase to fan favourites Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail – as well as Mr Squiggle himself – there’s something all ages will enjoy.

Norman Hetherington’s suitcase contents close up. National Museum of Australia

“The idea of turning lines into a drawing, where there’s no right or wrong answer – it’s whatever you think it could be – is really magical,” says Rebecca.

“In the exhibition, there’s an opportunity for kids of any age to try using shadow puppets, using string puppets and have a turn at doing squiggles…I hope that idea of drawing and starting to create things opens something up in young people’s minds.”

Allowing grandparents and parents who grew up with the show to introduce a new generation to this unique piece of Australian history, the aim for Mr Squiggle and Friends is to tap back into childhood magic and Mr Squiggle’s gentle approach to creativity.

And as the deeply treasured family collection begins to wow visitors, Rebecca says she hopes that it will inspire children (and adults) to pick up a crayon once more.

“People are excited, and people are walking out with a big smile on their face, because you can’t look at these puppets – Squiggle, Bill and Gus and all others – without it lifting your spirit a bit,” says Rebecca.

“In the short term, [I hope it brings] smiles and joy, and in the long term, it might, unleash some creativity that people didn’t even know they had.”

Did we mention that entry is free? Hurry up! This exhibition won’t be boringgg!

Feature image: Rebecca Hetherington with Mr Squiggle. National Museum of Australia.