This Edwardian era mourning outfit was worn by a wealthy woman from the rural area of Willaura, southeast of the Grampians. It was inherited by the donor from his mother, who had purchased it from a clearing sale in the 1960s. The jacket has a peplum or flounce below the waistline, a fashion that was seen in the 1860s and is still around in the 1900s. The outfit represents the female mourning fashion and wardrobe from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Such garments were a necessary inclusion as death occurred often to the young, due to illness, accidents and hard work - it was a regular part of life in rural Victoria. Mourning outfits were a part of a person’s wardrobe and often passed from one generation to the next. This particular outfit appears to have been adjusted at some stage to allow for a wider waistline. The original skirt may have been replaced by the one that is now part of this outfit; the skirt is all machine-sewn, unlike the jacket and petticoat. The fabric of the skirt may be silk or it could be a synthetic fibre such as artificial silk or rayon; both were available in the 1800s,but nylon wasn’t invented until the 1930s. This skirt has sunray pleating, which was advertised on skirts for sale in the 1890s, and 1909, and was part of a fashionable bridal gown train in the 1930s. The mourning of death was part of both family and community life, particularly in rural and remote areas. People were bonded through work, religion, disasters, tragedy and social activities, supporting one another. They came together from near and far on such an occasion, giving each other the care that was needed and showing respect for the member who had passed away.This three-piece silk Edwardian mourning outfit is significant historically for its connection with rural Victoria and the social and religious customs surrounding the death of a family or community member. The high-quality outfit is also significant for representing the financial management of the times, being tailored by a dressmaker for a person of means and then adjusted to fit at least one different-sized person. The black silk tailor-made jacket is one of three pieces of a ladies’ Edwardian mourning outfit. It has long sleeves, a stand-up collar trimmed with appliqued black crochet lace, and pleated sashes on the left and right sides from front to back fastened at the shoulder and waist. The jacket has a peplum or flounce below the waistline. The front of the jacket has brass hooks and fabric eye fastenings. The back of the jacket has two tails. The jacket is lined and the shoulders are padded. It has been machine sewn and finished with hand stitching. A white card is tied with a ribbon inside and has an inscription. The poplin skirt on the jacket has been cut up to the waist at the side seams. There is an attached card with an inscription, handwritten in ballpoint pen.“Jenny” and “Mrs Sheila Handscombe, Wallaura, Jenny”flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, edwardian era, tailor-made, dressmaker, mourning outfit, handmade garment, mourning dress, death mourning, sunray pleats, sunburst pleats, western district victoria, mourning jacket

This apron was made in 1915 by Irene Broughton, nee Long. She was born in Warrnambool in 1894 and married Arthur Broughton in 1913. She re married in 1924 Reuben Donnithorne and he died in 1931. Irene died in 1982 and is buried in the Warrnambool cemetery. The apron was left to Irene's niece, Helen Thomson who had the apron framed to preserve it. The apron would not have been in everyday use but a special garment worn when entertaining visitors for afternoon tea.This apron is a fine example of a home made house hold article from the early 20th century. The maker was born in Warrnambool.The apron is made of fine black cotton and edged with a broad lace flounce featuring a flower pattern. It is decorated with two sprays of delicately hand-painted motifs featuring Australian native flowers. The apron is in a wooden frame with a silver metal edging with scrolls on the front edge. The glass is clear and the mount is buff coloured card.vintage accessory, irene broughton warrnambool

taken after their wedding at Wesleyan Church Bairnsdale Victoria. Walter wearing three piece suit white shirt turned down collar with narrow tie, hair short at sides brushed back and thick on top. Frances in dark dress tight fitting hip length buttoned bodice narrow flounced skirt sleeves tucked with contrast of wrist, hair parted in centre and pulled back severelyBlack and white photograph of Walter Grant and wife Frances Mary Bowrangenealogy, fashion

!6.5 cm x 10.5 cm black & white seated young woman holding fan in studio. Wrist watch on right arm. Open necked dress topped with gathered flounces pinned to dress. Bare shoulders. Printed on Front. Vandyck Studio Melbourne. Bourke Street , Next Gen Post Office and Collins Street E. Faint barely legible written caption on reverse. Miss M Loundes.Vandyck Studiosphotograph, person, female

As well as being an activist, Tilly Aston was also a published author and wrote several books during her lifetime. In this scanned image, from The Weekly Times newspaper, she holds her hand to her face and wears a flounced blouse with a multi-strand pearl choker and a heavy bangle which appears from underneath a decorated cuff. Her hair is swept up in a top knot and a large black bow, turned sideways, rests upon her left side. The photograph was printed as part of an article on the 'Principle Prize Winners of Prahran Competitions'.Black and white scanned newspaper imageMiss Tilly Aston (1st original story)tilly aston, weekly times newspaper

Joseph Butterworth COOMBS (1842-1901), was an accountant who founded a successful mercantile trading company. At the time of his marriage to Caroline Mary MICHEL in 1869, Coombs had already purchased ten acres of Studley Park. The acreage included land on the west of Fenwick Street that extended along lower Stawell Street to the corner of Yarra Street, all of it connected directly to the Yarra environs. A right of way to Studley Park Road was on the title, though Coombs went on to purchase more land, some of which faced Studley Park Road. In addition to owning the Studley Park acreage, Coombs later acquired 1,201 acres of land abutting the Acheron River. While retaining the Kew property he became a Taggerty Councillor and was Shire President for a time. J.B. Coombs died at Acheron Station in 1901 (aged 59 years). A few months after, tenders were called to repair the Kew dwelling, the Fenwick Street property now appearing in records with the name ‘Hope Mansell’. Caroline Coombs remained at Hope Mansell until she died in 1924, survived by three sons and five daughters. Not long after her death, advertisements appeared for the sale of the Studley Park land. The sale seems to have been a mechanism for distribution of the Estate, as the following year the original ten acre holding was transferred to members of the family. The eldest daughter Mabel married William Younger who, with his brother Alexander, developed Younger and Mackie Courts, both south of Studley Park Road. [Research: Kerry Fairbank]In 1961, the granddaughter of Joseph and Caroline Coombs, Mabel Isola (Younger) Grattan, donated ten 19th century dresses and parasols to the Kew Historical Society. The costumes, now known as the 'Coombs Collection', are the earliest recorded items of clothing to enter the Society's collection. Each of the items in the Coombs Collection, of which this item forms a part, is historically, aesthetically and socially significant. As a collection, the costumes includes outstanding examples of morning wear, day dresses, wedding dresses, and clothing accessories, providing evidence of outstanding dressmaker skills in Victoria during the mid to late Victorian period. Blue silk, floor length day dress comprised of a tightly fitted, long, waisted jacket joined by hooks and eyes at centre front. The bodice features large ornamental buttons from neck to waist, covered in a figured silk fabric of the same colour as the dress. The gown has extensive pin tucking on the sleeves, on the flounce of the skirt, and on the long train. The line of the outfit is emphasised by the flattened front, which is typical of the period. Its cut and lack of adornment emphasises the tailored effect.australian fashion, fashion & design, costumes, dresses, women's clothing, fashion - 1860s, fashion - 1870s

Tom Marks sits at a table with four others, holding a cup of tea and dressed in a day suit with tie. The woman to his right looks straight at the camera whilst she pours tea from a teapot into her cup, and is dressed in a black dress with a white flounce. Opposite Tom Marks sits a teenaged girl (probably daughter Hilda) wearing a pinafore over her dark dress with lace collar, and an older woman in a dark coloured dress with dark ruffled edging (who maybe his wife Mary Cecilia). The only other person to look towards the photographer is the gentleman to Mr Marks's left, in a suit and vest, white shirt and tie, balancing his cup on a saucer. The group sit in a backyard garden, around the turn of the century based upon their clothing.B/W photograph of group having tea in garden attached to cardboard mountOn the back: Mr T Marks 6. 59 Clarke Street Prahran Victoria Australiathomas marks, association for the advancement of the blind, mary cecilia marks, hilda marks

Clothing. Beautiful cream, floral, lace - probably linen, 10 cms deep. Each of the four layers of floral lace is overlapping a 3 cm wide, permanently pleated, band of cream silk, which is edged with a narrow 5 mm band of black velvet. The linen lace has a scalloped lower edge alternating five circles .8 cm diameter and four circles 1.2 cm - this edging forms the scalloped effect. Flowing scrolls and leaves fill in between the flowers. Presumably this four frill flounce has been removed from another garment to be recycled.costume, female, four frill layered garment trim

High round neckline finished with a 2 cm fine striped silk stand-up collar-(this is now severely damaged). One metal hook fastener at the neckline, but no loop remains, although thwere is some evidence of a hand stitched remnant of a loop. Eight rounded buttons (one missing) are bound with silk thread. Sleeves have a fine rouleau piping at shoulder. They are round in shape at the elbow, and finished with a flounce, which is trimmed with 2.5 cm band of contrasting, finely striped silk and a 5 cm wide silver silk braid, as in 11400.975 and 11400.976. A gathered frill and a band of striped ribbon trim the upper edge of the flounce. The striped ribbon, and silver braid trim the front panels, either side of the button opening, and a band of the striped ribbon and silver braid trim the lower edge of bodice.Bodice and sleeves are lined with cream polished cotton, while the lower front panels, which give a peplum type of effect, are lined with cream silk. Centre back panel has a fabric bow, trimmed with the darker striped fabric, and the silver braid bow is 13 cm wide, plus the 5 cm silver braid. Pleated tails of the bow are part of back bodice. An inside 2cm wide cotton tape, with metal hook, and hand stitched loop, fastens around the waistline. Garment is machine and hand stitched. Buttonholes are hand -stitched.costume, female, gold silk victorian bodice

This full length lobster tail bustle was owned and worn by Alice Frances Henty, the daughter of Francis Henty and Mary Ann (Lawrence) Henty. Bustles of this form date from the mid-1860s however this example probably dates from the mid 1870s, and perhaps from before her marriage to John Hindson in 1876. Alice's father, Francis Henty, 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 in his retirement at ‘Field Place' in Kew.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.An exceptionally rare and fine, floor length, 'lobster tail' bustle that belonged to Alice Henty possibly worn with her two-piece pink silk gown but also with other dresses that she owned that required a bustle of this shape. The structure of the bustle includes an outer layer of polished cotton with inserted steel hoops and ties at the front. The lower four hoops have flounces of the same fabric. Overall, the bustle contains 12 hoops, crossed nearer the waist and semi-circular for the remainder of the undergarment. [One of the tapes of the bustle is imprinted with the word lockstitch. Elias Howe invented the lockstitch sewing machine in 1846.] Measurements (mm): BUSTLE: Girth - Waist 660 Vertical - Front waist to hem 914, Back waist to hem 965.fashion -- 1870s, alice frances (henty) hindson, women's clothing, bustles, underwear

Clothing. Wedding Dress - Bodice.Cream coloured bodice of wedding dress. ''Japanese silk with transparent yolk of chiffon tucked Russian Body'' ( Quote from newspaper of the day).Long pintucked sleeves. Fine ribbon trim and bows at wrists. Two flounces of silk, trimmed with ribbon at elbows. Front panel fastened at side with metal hooks and hand made loops, to show a centre panel trimmed with chiffon frills. Pearl beaded motifs at front. Sash at waistline ties at the side - finished with pearl beading, and and a stand up chiffon collar. Worn by Mary Smith who was the daughter of Felix Smith. He built the Wycheproof Court House, Post Office and Royal Mail Hotel. Mary and John Keane lived in a mud brick house after they their marriage. See also 11400.75, & 11400.77.costume, female, wedding dress bodice

Clothing. Infant's pink linen nightdress. Square neckline trimmed with eyelet lace threaded with pink ribbon, and 1 cm lace frill. Square yoke front and back with horizontal pin tucks and 5 cm lace insert. Yoke at front and back has 5 cm lace frill around edges. Long sleeves, have a pleat at the shoulder, pin tucks and lace insert at elbow. Sleeves are gathered into casing at wrist with 4 cm lace frill at hem. Front of skirt has vertical pin tucks and three lace inserts below the yoke. Skirt has border of zig zag lace insert and horizontal pin tucks above two 13 cm flounces with zig zag lace inserts and lace edges. Centre back opening (35 cm) fastened with four metal press-studs.costume, children's, infant's pink nightdress

Margaret Law (nee Bartholomew) was born on 3 December 1837 in Stirling, Scotland. She emigrated to Australia with her family aboard the Ticonderoga, arriving in Melbourne on 22 December 1852. Around one hundred passengers died of typhus during the journey, and around seventy more after arrival. Two of Margaret's siblings were among the casualties. The Bartholomew family settled in Ballarat. Around 1861, Margaret married James Nicol Law in Ballarat. They had several children, the youngest of which was James Lindsay Gordon "Lin" Law, (1881-1963). James Nicol Law was killed in a train accident in Fingal Tasmania in July 1886. Lin Law married Elsie Russell on 12 January 1915 (BHS also holds a bridge jacket given to Elsie by Lin; see T0047). They settled in Brighton, moving into 'Blairgowrie', 306 St Kilda Street, in 1920. The eldest their four children, Pauline Margaret Law (born 15 December 1915) ultimately purchased the house with her husband Hugh McLean in 1956 and lived there until 1965 when the house was demolished. In 1906, Lin and his business partner James Kerr Pearson (also a Brighton local, who lived at 12 Moule Avenue) established the shirt manufacturing company Pelaco. In 1922 the company established its factory at 23 Goodwood Street on the top of Richmond Hill; the 4.3 metre high neon 'Pelaco' sign, erected in 1939, is today heritage listed. The company was known for its innovative approach to efficiency and labour relations, discontinuing Saturday morning work in 1908 and appointing an industrial relations officer in 1928.An orange pink (salmon) with cream spot, very fine silk organza dress from circa 1840. The dress features a wide scooped neckline, almost to the shoulder. The sleeves are set low with a gathered head to the sleeve and finished with a flounce, dropping to just above the elbow. The bodice is shaped and fitted to the body and features a centre front detail of the bodice fabric that is gathered, ruched and tapers in a v to the waist. The waistline of the dress sits on the true waist at the sides and tapers to a v at the centre front and centre back. The full skirt is gathered to the piped waistline and falls to the floor. The skirt features three horizontal pleats in the skirt fabric in between four bands of cream floral self embroidered detail. The dress is open at the back where it is boned and features lacing holes. The lacing is missing from the item. The bodice of the dress is lined with a very fine cotton lawn and boned.james nicol law, brighton, pauline margaret law, elsie russell, james lindsay gordon law, margaret bartholomew, pelaco

Clothing. Beautiful deep cream silk bodice, fully lined with cream tulle/net. Elbow length sleeves have a semi-circle of embroidered silk, and an embroidered tulle ''flounce'', edged with cream cord - 17 cms long. The bodice has seven pin-tucks, angled from the shoulder to the waistline on each side of the front and back. Between the pin-tucks at centre front panel is an extensive cream silk, floral embroidery. A rounded neckline at front and back, is in-filled with embroidered tulle - small 1 cm diameter flowers, in a 3 cm diameter circle, defined by 12 small (3mm) embroidered circles. The tulle infill extends to a 7 cm high stand-up collar-supported by seven plastic ''bones''. The collar also features the same, circular, floral embroidery, and is also edged at the throat with cream cording. The bodice while in good condition, has been cut at the hemline, and a 10.5 cm strip of fabric has been added but unfinished. 18 metal hooks, and hand-stitched loops fasten the back of the bodice. Sleeves are an extension of the bodice.costume, female, cream silk and tulle bodice

This Edwardian-era mourning outfit was worn by a wealthy woman from the rural area of Willaura, southeast of the Grampians. It was inherited by the donor from his mother, who had purchased it from a clearing sale in the 1960s. The jacket has a peplum or flounce below the waistline, a fashion that was seen in the 1860s and is still around in the 1900s. The outfit represents the female mourning fashion and wardrobe from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Such garments were a necessary inclusion as death often occurred to the young, due to illness, accidents and hard work - it was a regular part of life in rural Victoria. Mourning outfits were part of a person’s wardrobe and often passed from one generation to the next. This particular outfit appears to have been adjusted at some stage to allow for a wider waistline. The original skirt may have been replaced by the one that is now part of this outfit; the skirt is all machine-sewn, unlike the jacket and petticoat. The fabric of the skirt may be silk or it could be a synthetic fibre such as artificial silk or rayon; both were available in the 1800s,but nylon wasn’t invented until the 1930s. This skirt has sunray pleating, which was advertised on skirts for sale in the 1890s, and 1909, and was part of a fashionable bridal gown train in the 1930s. The mourning of death was part of both family and community life, particularly in rural and remote areas. People were bonded through work, religion, disasters, tragedy and social activities, supporting one another. They came together from near and far on such an occasion, giving each other the care that was needed and showing respect for the member who had passed away.This three-piece silk Edwardian mourning outfit is significant historically for its connection with rural Victoria and the social and religious customs surrounding the death of a family or community member. The high-quality outfit is also significant for representing the financial management of the times, being tailored by a dressmaker for a person of means and then adjusted to fit at least one different-sized person. Ladies’ Edwardian mourning outfit; three-piece tailored suit comprising of a black silk long sleeve, short-waist fitted and lined Jacket, a long sunray pleated skirt and long, lined petticoat. Items have been machine-sown and hand-sewn by a dressmaker. The skirt has handmade buttons of the same fabric.Handwritten in ballpoint pen “Jenny” and “Mrs Sheila Handscombe, Wallaura, Jenny”flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, edwardian era, tailor-made, dressmaker, mourning outfit, handmade garment, mourning dress, death mourning, sunray pleats, western district victoria

This Edwardian-era mourning outfit was worn by a wealthy woman from the rural area of Willaura, southeast of the Grampians. It was inherited by the donor from his mother, who had purchased it from a clearing sale in the 1960s. The jacket has a peplum or flounce below the waistline, a fashion that was seen in the 1860s and is still around in the 1900s. The outfit represents the female mourning fashion and wardrobe from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Such garments were a necessary inclusion as death often occurred to the young, due to illness, accidents and hard work - it was a regular part of life in rural Victoria. Mourning outfits were part of a person’s wardrobe and often passed from one generation to the next. This particular outfit appears to have been adjusted at some stage to allow for a wider waistline. The original skirt may have been replaced by the one that is now part of this outfit; the skirt is all machine-sewn, unlike the jacket and petticoat. The fabric of the skirt may be silk or it could be a synthetic fibre such as artificial silk or rayon; both were available in the 1800s, but nylon wasn’t invented until the 1930s. This skirt has sunray pleating, which was advertised on skirts for sale in the 1890s, and 1909, and was part of a fashionable bridal gown train in the 1930s. The mourning of death was part of both family and community life, particularly in rural and remote areas. People were bonded through work, religion, disasters, tragedy and social activities, supporting one another. They came together from near and far on such an occasion, giving each other the care that was needed and showing respect for the member who had passed away.This three-piece silk Edwardian mourning outfit is significant historically for its connection with rural Victoria and the social and religious customs surrounding the death of a family or community member. The high-quality outfit is also significant for representing the financial management of the times, being tailored by a dressmaker for a person of means and then adjusted to fit at least one different-sized person. The full-length black silk tailor-made skirt is one of three pieces of a ladies’ Edwardian mourning outfit. The skirt is made from black silky fabric. The garment has only two seams; at the side closure and the centre back. The whole skirt has sunray pleats; narrow pleats at the waist that fan outwards towards the hem. The top of the skirt is finished with a waistband that is shaped as an upward V shape in the centre. The side seam is closed with four self-fabric buttons with silver metal backing. The shirt has been machine sewn.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, edwardian era, tailor-made, dressmaker, mourning outfit, mourning dress, death mourning, sunray pleats, western district victoria, full-length skirt

This Edwardian-era mourning outfit was worn by a wealthy woman from the rural area of Willaura, southeast of the Grampians. It was inherited by the donor from his mother, who had purchased it from a clearing sale in the 1960s. The jacket has a peplum or flounce below the waistline, a fashion that was seen in the 1860s and is still around in the 1900s. The outfit represents the female mourning fashion and wardrobe from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Such garments were a necessary inclusion as death often occurred to the young, due to illness, accidents and hard work - it was a regular part of life in rural Victoria. Mourning outfits were part of a person’s wardrobe and often passed from one generation to the next. This particular outfit appears to have been adjusted at some stage to allow for a wider waistline. The original skirt may have been replaced by the one that is now part of this outfit; the skirt is all machine-sewn, unlike the jacket and petticoat. The fabric of the skirt may be silk or it could be a synthetic fibre such as artificial silk or rayon; both were available in the 1800s,but nylon wasn’t invented until the 1930s. This skirt has sunray pleating, which was advertised on skirts for sale in the 1890s, and 1909, and was part of a fashionable bridal gown train in the 1930s. The mourning of death was part of both family and community life, particularly in rural and remote areas. People were bonded through work, religion, disasters, tragedy and social activities, supporting one another. They came together from near and far on such an occasion, giving each other the care that was needed and showing respect for the member who had passed away.This three-piece silk Edwardian mourning outfit is significant historically for its connection with rural Victoria and the social and religious customs surrounding the death of a family or community member. The high-quality outfit is also significant for representing the financial management of the times, being tailored by a dressmaker for a person of means and then adjusted to fit at least one different-sized person. The full-length black silk tailor-made petticoat is one of three pieces of a ladies’ Edwardian mourning outfit. The petticoat is made from black silk lined with lightweight cotton. The petticoat and lining are constructed from eight panels each, brought together at the waist and gently gathered into the band. The back seam opening is fastened with brass hooks and fabric eyes. The lining has been reinforced with a heavier-weight hem. The hemline is finished with black velvet ribbon than encloses both the petticoat and lining. flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, edwardian era, tailor-made, dressmaker, mourning outfit, handmade garment, mourning dress, death mourning, sunray pleats, western district victoria, petticoat, undergarment, slip

Wedding dress cream coloured full length satin with long sleeves and a train. Sleeves gathered at the shoulder with lily pointed at the wrist. Sleeves have six fabric covered decorative buttons with three metal press studs underneath. Bodice has curved midriff panel with four pintucks defining the panel. Bodice tightly gathered at top of midriff panel. Side opening with plackett with five press studs. Two flounces at LHS from a single piece of fabric folded in half, stitched to side seam just below the sleeve(34cms). A single tie on LHS stitched to side seam at waistline (29cm). Back of the bodice has an opening from the top(10cm) fastened at neckline by two covered buttons and a hand stitched loop. Nine covered decorative buttons at centre back.Peaked collar front and back in two parts (10cm at front peaks).Front and back have centre panel with two panels shaped at the hipline. Back centre panel extends to form a long train. Length waist to centre front hem 102 cms.Length waist to centre back hem 187 cms to form train. Handkerchief hem at lower hemline. Internal seams have ragged edges.costume, female, wedding dress

This dress, which was made around 1820, was passed down through five generations of a single family before its donation to Brighton Historical Society in 2007. It originally belonged to a great-grandmother of Margaret Reynolds (1881-1958) of Hertfordshire, England, who herself came into possession of the dress around the early twentieth century. Having no daughters of her own, in 1945 the 64-year-old Margaret sent the dress as a Christmas gift to her niece, Margaret Willoughby Reynolds (1907-1996). In the letter accompanying the parcel, donated to the Society with the dress, the elder Margaret writes that she loves the dress very much but has now outgrown it. She makes reference to her own mother Mary Reynolds (nee Lloyd)'s pleasure at seeing the dress worn, indicating that it may originally have belonged to one of Mary's grandparents. She had two requests of her niece: first, that the younger Margaret wear the dress on Christmas Eve as a treat for her Mary (the letter includes styling advice on how the dress should be worn and accessorised), and second, that she one day pass the dress on to her own daughter or niece. In March 1968, the younger Margaret gifted the dress to her Australian-born niece, Dorothy May England (nee Reynolds, 1924-2013), along with a letter of her own. Dorothy, a Bayside resident, donated the dress and both letters to the Society in 2007. The letters paint a picture of the significance of the dress within the Reynolds family and its journey from England to Australia.A white, mauve, purple, red, and green paisley / floral printed cotton day dress from circa 1820. The day dress features a wide scooped neckline, with a dropped shoulder line. At the head of the sleeve is has three lines of gathering creating a narrow arm hole around the shoulder, flaring out into a leg of mutton sleeve. The sleeve finishes neatly at the wrist with a cuff that secures with two brass hook and eye closures. The dress bodice is open at the centre front and secures with six hook and eye closures to the empire line waist. Over the breast on either side of the opening are six diagonal pleats, pressed and secured facing towards the neck. This pleated detail is on a facing that extends from shoulder to shoulder and finishes with a bound edge. The remainder of the front bodice is plain and secures to the skirt at the empire waistline. The skirt pleats onto a binding, wrapping around the torso and securing to the bodice with eight hook closures. At approximately knee, height the skirt has an additional gathered flounce with the dress finishing at approximately ankle length. From the back, the bodice is plain and the skirt is gathered and sewn to the bodice at Empire line. Alterations to the garment have been made with the addition of hooks and eyes. The garment is generally in good condition although the skirt at the front shows evidence of damage and subsequent repair.day dress, 1820s, migration, dorothy may england, margaret willoughby reynolds, margaret reynolds

Clothing. Cream coloured lace silk wedding dress. Dress made from fine silk fabric with self stripe, fully lined with cream coloured linen. High round neckline with stand up lace collar(6cm). Bodice at front has crossover from shoulder to waist, forming deep Vshape at centre front with net insert below the collar. Net insert has vertical pin tucks. Bodice front and back has cream coloured lace overlay that extends over the shoulders to halfway down the 3/4 length sleeves. Hem of sleeves trimmed with embroidered lace with geometric pattern. Cummer bund of pleated silk fabric (7cm) is attached around waistband. Floor length skirt is gathered into the waistband.Front of skirt has straight lace panelsoverlay (37cmX 90 cm) including 20 cm flounce at lower edge, attached at waistline. Back of skirt has gathered lace overlay attached at waistline extending across side seams and over the edge of front lace panel. Centre back opening fastened with eighteen metal hooks and eyes from collar to waist and six metal press-studs below the waist. Cummerbund fastened with three metal hooks and eyes. A fabric insert at centre back fastened with press-studs. Collar has five pieces of stiffening plastic. Bodice has three bone casings across front above waistline, and four across the back. Cotton tape band (66 cm X 3cm) attached inside bodice at front with hook and eye fasteing.Printed on inside waistband, ''AMALIA SALXANO FARRONE'' NAPOLI ''MODE +CON----'' VIA EGIZIACA A PIZZO FALCONE 93''. Printed inside LHS sleeve at arm pit ''SAXONIA 48X''.costume, female, cream coloured wedding dress

Ladies black boned bodice of brocade fabric with floral pattern. Crossover front opening with internal centre fastened with thirteen metal hooks and eyes.Crossover section fastened on LHS with seven metal hooks and eyes covered by overlapping panel. Front of bodice is decorated with dense patterns of small black beads and black sequins. There are three vertical panels of beading. The centre panel is bordered with gathered ruffles of black ribbon (one cm wide). The overlapping edges of the side panels of the bodice are edged with gathered ruffles of black ribbon. The front panels of the bodice are lined with black cotton fabric. The back of the bodice is plain. The bodice has a straight edge at waist level with a cotton tape hem. The lower section of the bodice is boned with ten fabric cased bones distributed across the front and back, attached vertically from the waistband. A fabric belt (three cms wide) is attached at centre back four cm above the waist, inside the bodice. The left hand end of the belt has a metal buckle ( 3cmX2cm). The bodice has a 7cm stand-up collar fastened above the left shoulder with three metal hooks and eyes. The collar is densely decorated with small black beads and black sequins. At each shoulder is an epaulette decorated with beads and sequins and edged with one cm gathered ribbon ruffles. The long sleeves are shaped at the elbows with four cm beaded cuffs fastened with two metal hooks and eyes. Above the cuff is a four cm fabric flounce, a row of gathered ribbon ruffle (one cm) and a three cm row of beading and sequins. Sleeves are unlined.costume, female, ladies black beaded boned bodice.

This gown, one of two similar items in the collection, belonged to one of the daughters of George Ward Cole, Miss Margaret Morison Ward Cole or Miss Agnes Bruce Ward Cole. George Ward Cole was an early member of the Victorian Parliament and the family featured prominently in Melbourne Society in their time. They established a substantial home known as “St Ninians” at 10 Miller Street in 1841. The family reportedly entertained Melbourne’s first Royal visitor the Duke Of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son, at St Ninians in 1867. In later years St Ninians was subsequently subdivided and later demolished.A black and mint green wool, velvet, lace and silk dress from circa 1882. The bodice features a wired, standing collar, finishing just under the chin and open at the front of the throat. On either side at the front of the throat it features long black lace ties with black jet bead fringe. The centre front of the dress from the neckline to the base of the skirt features an insert panel of mint green corded silk. The silk is gathered and the neckline and waist and overlaid a panel of gathered lacy net. Inserted into the seam at either side of this panel at the waist are two velvet ties. The dress secures closed with eight black buttons and one hook and eye down the right side of the mint panel to mid thigh. The edges of the collar and black front panels are finished with a looped ribbon trim. The remainder of the dress is made of a black wool fabric woven a checkered pattern of larger and looser threads and smaller and tighter threads creating a seersucker like pattern. The bodice features a natural shoulder line and an Amadis sleeve of full cut gathered to the bodice at the shoulder and finishing at the elbow with a large black lace flounce. The front panels of the dress are flat and shaped neatly to the body from neck to hip line and gently out to create the Victorian silhouette. On the back of each shoulder the dress features a leaf like, small jet beaded embellishment with multiple long loops of jet beads falling down the back to the waist. Underneath this embellishment is a pleated black ribbon that runs from the shoulder to the back of the pelvis. Over the pelvis are another two jet beaded embellishments of a floral design with two tassels. The skirt is full and pleated in under this embellishment and fulls to the floor with a small train. The base of the dress is finished with a ruched band of the main dress fabric.st ninians, george ward cole, visiting gown, brighton, miss margaret morison ward cole, miss agnes bruce ward cole, 1880s

Alonzo Box, of Oakleigh ,a nephew of William and Elizabeth Box who resided in 'Box Cottage' 1865 - 1914, married Mary Closter (Kloster), of Oakleigh, on June 12th 1918. Alozo's elder sister, Rebecca, sent a bolt of Chinese hand-embroidered silk from which this wedding dress was made. Rebecca Viloudakia, nee Box, was a missionary in China, and married to a Greek Silk Merchant. Alonzo Box, the 9th child of John and Martha Sheldrake Box , enlisted in the Army and landed at Gallipoli 25/4/1918. He was evacuated to Egypt and then sent to the battlefields of France and Flanders before returning home to Melbourne in February 1918. Rebecca Box, the eldest child of John and Martha Sheldrake Box, was in the first party of Methodist Missionaries to leave Australia for the China Inland Mission in 1890. During the Boxer Uprising 1900-1901 her Mission outpost was attacked but she escaped and was taken to Shanghai. She later married one of the rescue party Nicholas Viloudakia a Greek silk merchant .Australian Dress Register ID 573 12/5/2015 Following Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841 pioneer settlers bought allotments of land in the area of Moorabbin Parish. Alonzo Box was the nephew of William and Elizabeth Box who bought the cottage on the 30acre allotment from an unknown pioneer settler in 1868 and resided there until Elizabeth's death in 1914. Alonzo Box served in the Army World War 1 1914- 1918 at Gallipoli, France and Flanders. Rebecca Box -Viloudakia was in the first party of Methodist Missionaries to leave Australia for the China Inland Mission in 1890 and was rescued during the Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901 and taken to Shanghai by her future husband.A cream two piece wedding dress made from a bolt of hand embroidered Chinese silk for the marriage of Mary Closter and Alonzo Box on June 12th, 1918. The bolt of Chinese silk was sent by Alonzo’s older sister, Mrs Rebecca Viloudakia, a missionary in China, who was married to a Greek silk merchant. The machine sewn dress was made by a dressmaker in Dandenong, Victoria. The jacket is blouson, with a front opening and is gathered at the waist by a band enclosing a drawstring. The collar is a sailor style that forms a slight / high V-shape front neckline. Four vertical roses are separated by three bands of lacework. The back of the jacket is plain silk. The right front of the jacket has a panel of embroidered roses, band of lacework and a facing fold that encloses 4 fastening presses. There are crocheted bobbles on the front representing buttons. The left jacket front also has the panel of embroidered roses, lacework and matching fold for the 4 fastening studs. The full length inset sleeves are gathered to a cuff that fastens with silk covered buttons. The sleeves have floral embroidery down the outside centre line. The left sleeve has an extra detachable cuff with embroidery on the flounce that matches the bottom panel of the skirt. It is held in position around the wrist by 4 white metal press studs. The skirt sits above the ankle. It consists of 5 panels slightly gathered at the back waistline with a left side placket 21cm with hooks and eyes and press studs. The waistband is lined with petersham and has 6 whalebone inserts. The front of the skirt has small pleats to fit the 3 decorated panels to the waistline. The front has 3 bands of lacework around the lower part. 3 panels form the centre front each embroidered with a different floral pattern. The back of the skirt is plain with 3 bands of lacework rising from the hem, which is sewn with spoke work stitch. The long waist sash/belt is plain silk with embroidered ends and 3 silk balls with crocheted caps suspended on 3 crocheted silk chains. It has a rose knot with 2 metal press stud fasteners. There are a variety of floral designs embroidered on the material including ‘corner motifs’ on the 2nd inner front panel of skirt. brighton, moorabbin, silk, box william, box elizabeth, box alonzo, box mary, kloster mary, closter mary, oakleigh, dandenong, chinese silk merchant, boxer rebellion 1900-1901, box rebecca, methodist china inland mission, viloudakia nichols, anzac landings, world war 1, gallipoli

A goffering iron, also known as a tally iron, was a metal object that was heated and then used to create frills, ruffles and/or founces in fabric.Cast iron Goffering iron Hand forged with ring on end.goffering, tally, ruffle, frill, flounces, clothing, goffering iron, dressmaking, grooming