Meet Werribee’s own Barbie girl.
Maree Renden, 58, has a Barbie collection most girls would dream of. The long-time Werribee resident has more than 350 Barbie dolls – all in pristine condition and still in their boxes – lovingly displayed in two “Barbie rooms”.
Among the collection are superhero Barbies, pregnant Barbies, My Fair Lady Barbies, limited edition Duke and Duchess William and Catherine Barbies in full wedding regalia, and porcelain Barbies dressed in couture.
She even has her own custom-made Rocky Horror-themed Barbie, which her brother had commissioned for her.
Ms Renden said that, as one of six children, she never had any Barbie dolls of her own.
She started buying them for her own daughter, but when she showed no interest, Ms Renden started collecting them for herself. Ms Renden, who loves the fashion associated with Barbie, also has boxes of Barbie clothes and of course, the Barbie car and house.
Both she and her brother have bought a number of Barbies in their overseas travels, taking great care in transit.
“I treat them like gold,” she said.
