Purchased from an opportunity shop, this dress is a stage costume bearing the label of Bonn & Mackenzie, a prominent UK costume designer from the 1950s to the 1970s. The dress appears to have been worn by June Bronhill (1929-2005), a prominent Australian opera singer and actress, whose name is handwritten on the label. Born June Mary Gough, she began using the stage name of Bronhill in 1952 in honour of her NSW home town of Broken Hill as a form of thanks to the local community who had helped raise money to send her overseas for professional training as a singer. Bronhill trained in London and gained early exposure with the English National Opera. She went on to star in many theatrical productions in Australia and the UK. She moved back to Australia permanently in 1976, and in 1980 was cast in her first television role as Mrs Crawford in the Australian version of 'Are You Being Served?'.Full-length short-sleeved dress of white cotton, lace and nylon, featuring elaborately ruffled sleeves and vertical stripes of lace on the skirt and bodice. The dress is open at the back, fastening with hooks and cotton ties to facilitate quick costume changes.Label, white cotton with red text: "BONN & MACKENZIE LTD. / TEMPLE BAR 1393". Handwritten underneath in black pen: "JUNE BRONHILL".june bronhill, bonn & mackenzie, theatre costume

Mary May was born in Bedfordshire, England in 1839 and migrated to Victoria with her parents, brothers and sisters in 1852. She married Ambrose Murrell in 1855, and they had seven children. Mary and Ambrose Murrell bought the Victoria Hotel in Linton in 1881. After Ambrose died in 1891, Mary continued to run the hotel with the assistance of her daughter Caroline, but it is understood that around the time Caroline married in 1910, Mary sold the hotel and bought the Linton Newsagency. It is not clear whether she managed the newsagency, as it was run by her son William (Bill) Murrell from about 1912, and later by his daughter Carrie Murrell. Mary Murrell died in 1928, age 94.Enlarged black and white copy of original photograph which has been mounted on white card. The photograph shows an older lady wearing a full-length skirt and a knitted jumper and holding a bundle of sticks (?) with both hands. She has been photographed outside, near a shed or garage. There are trees in the background. Mary Murrell, née May.mary murrell née may

BHS CollectionWaist length dark green cotton bodice. Fabric has alternating stripes of pulled thread pattern and wider stripes of small dot pattern. Front opening with deep V to waist with lined lace insert extending from throat to waist. LHS of bodice fastened to lace insert with five press studs. Stand up collar of lined black lace (%cm) fastened with two hook and eyes. The bodice is made from five pieces. The two front sections have three knife pleats facing out and falling from the shoulder. The pleats are stitched down for twenty cms from the shoulders. On either side of the front opening is decorative embroidered black lace that extends across the shoulders to the back of the collar. There are two side panels from under the arm. The back section has three box pleats falling from the collars and tapering to the waist. The hem of the bodice is fastened with black cotton tape. Leg of mutton sleeves are trimmed with black embroidered brais at elbow and wrist. Lower sleeves have pintucks from elbow to wrist. The sleeves are lined with black cotton fabric. The back of the bodice is lined with black cotton fabric almost to the hem. A three cm piece of white and blue cotton tape is attached across the lower back with cotton ties at either end. The underarm panels are lined with brown cotton fabric and green satin inserted sections. The front has a separate lining with front opening and shaped with darts. Fastened with six buttons and buttonholes. Two shoulder pads on each side- one white piece under the shoulder and a green satin piece under the gathered section of each sleeve. Dark green full length skirt. Cotton fabric with alternating stripes of pulled thread pattern and wider stripe of small dot pattern. Skirt is made of three sections. Centre front panel widens slightly to hemline. Side panels continue around to join at centre back. Darts at both hips to shape sides. Panels widen to hemline. Inverted pleats at either side of back opening create fullness. Back opening(30cm) has insert of black satin joined to LHS of opening to enlarge the opening. Insert attached to waist band with two press studs. Two other press studs attach skirt to RHS of insert. Brown cotton waistband hand stitched to skirt. Ties attached to waistband at back opening- one cotton tape, one satin ribbon. Front centre panel has a piece of black satin stitched as lining from eighteen cm below waist (57cm deep). Stitched across and attached to side seams. Lower edge trimmed with black lace. Second piece of satin lining stitched to centre seam and stitched around the hip to partway across back.(Looks like a nylon petticoat cut in two pieces and stitched inside skirt as a lining). Hemline has fifteen cm piece of cotton lining attached and lower edge of hem has fringed cotton binding attached.. Side seams of front panel have decorative trim of embroidered braid extending seventy-six cms from waist. Braid then turned ninety degrees and continued in a horizontal zig zag line around to centre back seam (both sides) twenty cms above hem. Hand and machine stitched.costume, female, ladies dress- bodice.

Dress belonged to the donor's mother or grandmotherFull length black crepe afternoon dress flared skirt. Basque. Front cut under the bust. Cream bib front,pointed collar,frilled edge,fastening with eight pearl buttons and loops and short puff sleeves. Complete with black rayon slip. 1930s.costume accessories, female