'It's strange to some': Meet John Elliott and his priceless Star Wars collection

Priceless Collections is a series looking at the weird and wonderful collections people have in their homes. 

John Elliott is not just a Star Wars fan and collector, he is a real-life stormtrooper, designation TK41074.

With 13-year-old daughter Neve just as keen to collect as her dad, their house contains over 400 individual pieces of Star Wars memorabilia as well as plenty of other sci-fi collectables – so much so that the collection has taken over a whole room.

An electrician by day, Elliott is a self-confessed Star Wars super-fan who first realised his love for the franchise after seeing The Empire Strikes Back at the drive-in with his parents in 1979.

“As soon as I saw that very emotional and dark film, which incidentally is still my favourite, I was hooked,” he says.

“My brother and I started a collection of the original figures in the 1980s as well as other classic toys from the era such as Transformers and comic collections from Marvel to DC. I collected steadily over the years but it really took off again two years ago after a change in personal circumstances.”

Elliott split from his fiancee and found that not only did he then have more room in his home, he also had more time and money to further his collection.

“Suddenly I had an empty room at the back of the house that I didn’t know what to do with. My daughter helped me pick out some basic furniture and, as a shared project, we filled the new shelves with pieces from our Star Wars collection of figures.”

Making up the bulk of the collection are “Pop” figurines that include bobble-headed versions of many characters featured in the movies from the 1970s to today. For Elliott and Neve it is important that they remove the figurines from their boxes rather than simply collect them.

“We like to display the collection for our own enjoyment and that of our friends and while many true collectors keep everything in the box to ensure a higher re-sale value, I want to be able to enjoy them now,” he says.

Elliott’s most treasured item from the collection is not one kept in the Star Wars room, but in a suitcase. It is his movie-grade bespoke stormtrooper costume that he uses to fundraise and do appearances in as part of the Hunter Hornets Squad of the 501st Legion.

“The 501st legion is an international fan-based organisation with 40 members in my hometown of Newcastle but over 13,000 members globally. Members are Star Wars costume enthusiasts who dress as villains from the dark side but use their power for good, hence the legion’s motto ‘bad guys doing good’.”

Neve is a junior member of the Galactic Academy (an under-18 fan club for Star Wars enthusiasts) who dresses mostly as an imperial officer. Together they have worn their custom-fit costumes to sci-fi conventions around Australia, meeting plenty of other cos-play fans and celebrities.

“Recently I travelled to Sydney to appear at screenings of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back with live orchestral accompaniment by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, which was a lot of fun,” he says.

Fundraising activities and appearances have helped to raise thousands of dollars for charity, as well as put a lot of smiles on faces.

“The longest I have worn the stormtrooper costume is for 12 hours straight, completing the Relay for Life for the Cancer Council in East Maitland. We all helped to raise over $2500 that day,” Elliott says.

While Elliott’s collection is by no means excessive compared with some, he has decided to collect quality over quantity.

“We prefer to save and buy things that we really want and we have stopped buying the cheap stuff. We often purchase pieces that are on sale and put them away for each other’s birthday presents.”

An item on Elliott’s Star Wars wishlist is a new costume to dress up in for his 501st fundraising activities.

“I have a new stormtrooper costume on order from the Netherlands and, when it arrives, I will have to shape it to fit my body and then get it professionally spray painted,” he says.

“I often host ‘armour parties’ in our back shed where a few of the other local 501st members and their kids will come over for a barbecue and we’ll kick back and do repairs or show off our armour. It is a very social and friendly community, much like a family.”

Elliott realises that the collection and their house is not to everyone’s taste, but at the end of the day it is for himself and Neve to enjoy together.

“I don’t smoke or spend my money on vast quantities of alcohol, instead the Star Wars collection, while strange to some, is just for us and a part of our home that brings us great enjoyment.

“The fact we can use our shared love of Star Wars not only to have fun and meet like-minded people but raise money for charity is the icing on the cake.”