Mr Squiggle turns 60 and his birthday is commemorated with limited edition $2 coins

It’s been 60 years since Mr Squiggle began entertaining kids across Australia on TV. Now go inside the studio where he was born and see what’s next for the iconic character. SEE THE PHOTOS

Exclusive: It’s been 60 years since Mr Squiggle began entertaining children across Australia on TV — and inspired kids to draw for the first time.

Unlike other TV props that get thrown away, he has been kept in near-perfect condition.

To this day the legendary carved wooden marionette with a pencil for a nose has been preserved by the family of his creator, the late cartoonist, puppeteer and TV host Norman Hetherington.

After he passed away almost nine years ago, he left everything from his popular kids show with his wife Margaret and daughter Rebecca.

Ms Hetherington opened up her late father’s private studio to News Corp Australia, where he created Mr Squiggle, his famous pet named Rocket, and friends Blackboard and Bill the Steam Shovel.

MORE: Nestle makes surprise call on KitKat

MORE: Shopper shock as Coles raises price of hot chooks

Rebecca Hetherington, daughter of Norman Hetherington, creator of Mr Squiggle, in her father's studio in Sydney. Picture: Liam Driver

Inside the studio of Norman Hetherington, creator of Mr Squiggle. Picture: Liam Driver

MORE: Crazy food kids want in school lunches

MORE: Cola frogs v Unicorns: Australia decides

She still has each puppet intact, TV scripts, “squiggles” (drawings from the show) and fan letters from the show which she hosted alongside him for a decade while her mother also helped write for the program.

“I grew up with Mr Squiggle,” she said.

Blackboard found inside the studio of Norman Hetherington. Picture: Liam Driver

“My father’s enthusiasm about Mr Squiggle and what he did really drew people in.

“He’s [Mr Squiggle] is so much of a product of my father’s peculiar interest and talent.

“The studio is full of my own memories of watching my father paint puppets or scenery or backdrops and what it was like to work with him.”

Some squiggles from inside the studio. Picture: Liam Driver

Another squiggle from inside the studio. Picture: Liam Driver

She recalled how her father “felt terrible” when he could not showcase every single drawing sent in by the show’s fans while the show was on TV.

“We had these enormous boxes of fan mail where people would send in squiggles for Mr Squiggle, riddles for Bill the Steam Shovel, ‘Knock Knock’ jokes for Gus the Snail, pictures and letters,” she said.

Old photographs from Norman Hetherington’s studio for Mr Squiggle. Picture: Liam Driver

Scripts and notes from inside the studio of Mr Squiggle’s creator. Picture: Liam Driver

Bill the Steam Shovel puppet inside the studio of Norman Hetherington. Picture: Liam Driver

“Dad was a workaholic and he would always choose a variety of squiggles from around Australia to put on TV so they could be turned into a variety of creative things,” she said.

Ms Hetherington said she loved being on air with her father where she learnt how to see Mr Squiggle through his eyes.

“We particularly enjoyed the times we’d ad lib around the squiggles on TV and what Mr Squiggle was drawing, it was quite fun and loose,” she said.

Old photographs inside the studio where Mr Squiggle was born. Picture: Liam Driver

The late Norman Hetherington, creator of Mr Squiggle. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Mr Squiggle. Picture: Liam Driver

Mr Squiggle’s pet named Rocket inside the studio of Norman Hetherington. Picture: Liam Driver

Scripts and notes from inside the studio. Picture: Liam Driver

Mr Squiggle’s 60th birthday is now being commemorated by the Royal Australian Mint, which has immortalised him and his friends in a series of limited edition $2 coins.

They will be distributed through cash registers at Woolworths across the country from today.

“The illustration on the coins was approved by us, it’s very personal for us,” she said.

“It’s just incredible what they can get on such a tiny surface, but it truly represents Mr Squiggle and the other characters and their quirks.”

The limited edition $2 coins to celebrate Mr Squiggle's 60th birthday across Australia. Picture: Supplied

The coins commemorate Mr Squiggle’s friend Gus the Snail. Picture: Supplied

The coins commemorate Mr Squiggle’s friend Bill the Steam Shovel. Picture: Supplied

The coins also commemorate Mr Squiggle’s friend Blackboard. Picture: Supplied

Ms Hetherington said she has never had her father's puppets valued, but she said they are not for sale.

“In the 80s and 90s, young people would come up to dad and say ‘You got me drawing, I’m now attending art school’, that was really wonderful for dad to hear,” she said.

“He didn’t like restrictions and kids being prescribed what to do, he liked the whimsical thing of drawing and turning something like a line into a rabbit chasing a duck.

“He had a very free imagination and he inspired young people to explore their own imagination which was really gratifying for him.”

Originally published as Mr Squiggle turns 60 and his birthday is commemorated with limited edition $2 coins