The original concept of the Puggles and The Lost Forests characters was designed by Anthony Barber and Billy Thorpe ( Australian Rock legend ) whilst both were living in the U.S.A.   On Anthony Barber's return to Australia in 1988 he opened a shop in High Street Armadale, Victoria called The Lost Forests.  The store was struggling financially and Anthony Barber sought a financial backer, which he  eventually found in the McDonnell family from Glen Iris in Victoria, Australia.   A new company was formed and all the Intellectual Property rights were transferred into that company. The  Lost Forests book and Puggle books were then published.    During the period 1988 to 1994 there was a total of 17 The Lost Forests stores opened.   13 in Australia 1 in New Zealand and 3 in the U.S.A.   The company had expanded into 15 stores (by 1992) and at that time a dispute developed between the shareholders/owners over which direction the company should head.   Anthony Barber resigned as a director of all the companies, but remained as creative consultant for a period of time for The Lost Forests concept.   By late 1994, 16 stores had closed down and with them the trapdoors to the Otherworlds. The Adelaide store remained open for a few more years without the approval of The Lost forests.     The future 2006 onwards.   A trapdoor to the Otherworlds was discovered in the Lorne Angahook State Forest, Victoria, Australia in early 2006 and this has led to recent expeditions to the Otherworlds.   The search for Timothy and Rosebud continues..........    The McDonnell family retained all the Intellectual property rights (and a magic bag of seeds)and resurrected The Lost Forests in late 2006, as an Internet based business. This will now allow for many trips to the Otherworlds to meet the many interesting characters of The Lost Forests, and assist in the continuing search for Timothy & Rosebud.   These stores and all the Trapdoors to the Otherworlds mysterously closed in 1994.     The Lost Forests Stores ( now closed)   High Street Armadale Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Como Project South Yarra Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Southern Cross Hotel Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Knox City Shopping Centre Knoxfield Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Collins Street Melbourne, Victoria Australia Chatswood Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Piccadilly Centre Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Mosman Cache Mosman Sydney, New South Wales, Australia     Ritz Carlton Hotel Double Bay Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Oasis on Broadbeach Broadbeach Surfers Paradise Queensland, Australia The Pier Marketplace Cairns Queensland, Australia Forrest Chase Shopping Centre Perth Western Australia City Cross Arcade Adelaide South Australia which moved to The Myer REM Centre Adelaide South Australia New Zealand Lost Forests Store Fashion Centre Queen Street Auckland NZ United States Lost Forests Stores Carousel Centre Syracuse, New York State, USA Marketplace Mall Rochester, New York State, USA Mall of America Shopping Centre,Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA To find out more, please Ask Us or Contact Us.