Historical information

Alice Henty (1852-1932) was the third daughter of Francis and Mary Ann Henty. her father was the youngest son of Thomas Henty, who with his family, their retainers and property moved to the Australian colonies between 1829 and 1832. In 1834, Francis’ older brother, Edward, sailed from Launceston in Van Diemen’s Land to what was to become Portland in the western part of Port Phillip District [Victoria]. Francis, together with the first flock of Merino sheep [in Victoria], followed some months later. The first and second generations of the Henty family established vast pastoral properties in the Western part of the Port Phillip District. Francis Henty managed ‘Merino Downs’ near Casterton, while also living with his wife following his retirement at ‘Field Place' in Kew.

Significance

The Henty Collection of nineteenth and twentieth century clothing, including outerwear and underwear, was collected, stored and exhibited over time by female family members descended from Francis and Mary Ann Henty. During the twentieth century, items from the collection were modelled in two fashion parades by various descendants [1937, 1959]. The items in the collection are historically and aesthetically significant, with provenance provided by oral and written tradition within or held by the family. A number of the items in the collection are very rare survivors, and provide researchers with the evidence needed to reconstruct the lives of notable women in the Port Phillip District [later Victoria] during the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Physical description

Alice Henty’s wedding dress, made in 1876 for her marriage to John Hindson was remodelled in 1943 for the wedding of her granddaughter, Alice Henty Hindson to Norman Lithgow Tait at Holy Trinity, Kew. It was worn again by Margaret Henty Hindson (1918-2000) at her marriage to Dougald Webster Matheson at St Paul's Church, Henty in 1944. The two piece dress has a low décolletage shaped with a collar from which two curved panels drop. The fastenings for the bodice are buttons covered with the same fabric. The bodice is completed with two full length sleeves. The full skirt is slightly flattened at the front with a long train. In contrast, the ivory silk, silk faille and satin bodice with long tails remained unaltered. The front closure of the jacket has handmade embroidered buttonholes and covered buttons. The pleated collar and sleeves are decorated with gathered silk tulle. The jacket features long tails.

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