AN APRON can tell a thousand tales, or so Gloria Cowan discovered when she stumbled across one that belonged to her husband's grandmother, dating back to 1898.

The apron became one of a historical display, at the Proserpine Museum, contributed by members of the community, with a note on each apron, telling their story.

Among the display is an apron featuring a cross-stitched kookaburra which Mrs Cowan made in 1971, when she was in Grade 6 at St Catherine's Catholic College.

Mrs Cowan said her favourite was a little red and white checked apron which belonged to a lady who worked at Cons Cafe, Proserpine in the 1950s.

"Her story was she was wearing her uniform which was a white dress, stockings and shoes. It was a busy time in crush season and she'd just finished her shift,” Mrs Cowan said.

She was exhausted but on her way out, her stockings fell down so she had to go back in and fix everything up.”

The aprons, which have been strung up on pegs with "retro kitchen nic nacs” placed around them, have proved to be a popular attraction at the museum.

"Everyone who has visited absolutely loved it, all the stories and the way it's all displayed. I call the museum the tardis because it looks small but you walk in and holy smokes it's so big!” she said.

"We would really like to thank the community and friends of the museum for loaning us the aprons for the display.”

Mrs Cowan said the ladies at the museum made up a small $2 recipe book with simple home-made slices and other bits and pieces for visitors of the museum.

The apron display will be available until December 21.