Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Long silk taffeta skirt made of patchwork silk pieces/panels with a matching silk scarf. The patchwork panels are in shades of pinks, purples and blues. The skirt is secured with clear plastic press-studs. A narrow internal border of lace is attached to the basque.grace james, women's clothing, australian fashion 1969-1988, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion design, fashion -- 1980s

From the estate of Jenny LangOval piece of hand embroidery. Yellow flowers and two sets of leaves on purple silk background. Bound with gold metallic fabric and apricot silk.handcrafts, embroidery

Donated to WHS as a box of items from Barbara RogalskiCream silk Matron's Boudoir Cap, top and edge embroidered in pink and blue silk thread. Side and front edged with 4cm Bedfordshire Lace.costume, female headwear, female underwear

This handbag belonged to Violet May Sack Keen) 1898-1956Black silk bag with yellow silk lining. Four clusters embroidered flowers with centre bouquet. Good clip fastener. Fine chain handle.costume accessories, female

Cream fuji silk baby's dress. Crochet scalloped neckline, short sleeves . Neckline and sleeves embroidered in cream silk 2 press studscostume, infants'

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Blue silk woman’s hat, comprising a rim of padded silk with a flattened bow behind. The centre of the hat is filled with gilded net, braid and medallions. Nilribbon hats, women's clothing -- hats, headwear

Turner Collection.Part of a collection of clothing donated by Monica Smith (nee Turner). Monica was related to the Hartnell family who were early residents of Kilmore and business owners.Brown silk damask, full length skirt, long sleeves, wide collar/hood. Fragile silk, some lateral tears and shattering, staining.kilmore, turner, smith

A silk scarf souvenir from Egypt. It was embroidered with military symbols and a personal message from someone called William to Nellie. The connection with Legacy is not known. The founders of Legacy were all returned servicemen who returned from overseas service in World War One so would be familiar with similar sentimental souvenirs that were purchased in Egypt and sent home to loved ones.Founding Legatees would have been familiar with Egyptian souvenirs from World War 1.Purple and yellow fabric scarf with machine embroidered text, decorative flag and floral motifs and decorative brocade edging. Scarf is made from two panels of fabric (possibly silk) machine stitched together with '14th Inf. Batt / Souvenir / of Egypt / 1916 / From William to Nellie with best love' on front face. Similar items see 00182, 00179.Embroidered '14th Inf. Batt/ Souvenir of Egypt 1916. From William to Nellie with best love'.souvenir scarf, 14th infantry battalion, egypt, world war one

Cafe Chantant is a type of musical establishment associated with the Belle Époque in France. The music was generally lighthearted, sometimes risqué, even bawdy but, as opposed to the cabaret tradition, not particularly political or confrontational. This event was possibly associated with the Ballarat School of Mines as a fundraiser for the Red Cross during World War One.A card with silk screen design and a Red Crossred cross, craig's hotel, world war one

Post World War 11 settlers in the newly opened estates of Ormond, Bentleigh, Cheltenham, Highett made their own clothes using the new fabrics and new sewing machines in the 1950s This pink silk nightdress, with an appliqued lace yoke, lace shoulder straps and waist ties is typical of the style c1950 in the City of Moorabbin Clothing, Nightdress, pink silk lace top clothing, nighdress, early settlers, moorabbin shire, mechanics institute cheltenham, ormond choral society, postworld war 11 settlers, housing estates moorabbin 1950, bentleigh, ormond, moorabbin, cheltenham, drama societies, musical society cheltenham, clark judy, reed gladys, reed george, dressmaking, machined lace,

Small crocheted padded doily with silk backing

Men's white silk scarf with tasseled ends.

lined silk embroidered bib, scallop edgeaccessory

Pink napkin hand embroidered with cream silkmanchester, table linen

Cream silk doyley with deep crocheted edgeshandcrafts, lacemaking, manchester, table linen

Silk handkerchief with deep lace inset at corners.costume accessories, female

Large cream silk Maltese lace collarhandcrafts, lacemaking, costume accessories, female

Large cream maltese lace silk collarcostume accessories, collar accessories

This is an example of a typical souvenir bought home from the middle-east by Australian troops. These items were made by local women and sold as souvenirs to the allies. Tpr C L Worcester served in Egypt with 4th Light Horse 1916.Framed silk- cloth embroidered with flags and flowers.Embroidered onto fabric is: "To Mother with Love from Tpr C L Worcester" and 1916 , 4th Light Horseww1 souvenir, light horse

Purple silk velvet dress with tassel detail.

Used by Mr. J.H. Lord, Mr Neville Lord's father, with the "Rihoy" Bible.Silk Bookmark, with a religious floral motif and text."The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another." "MIZPAH"bookmarks

Hand knitted to resemble crochet. Simple crochet edging is placed around the garment. The jacket is closed with pearl colored buttons.c1990 hand knitted baby christening garment.Cream silk knitted matinee jacket for a babyNilbaby christening, clothing, handmade, knitted

This is the program of a concert held at Price’s Exchange Hall in Warrnambool in December, 1867. The concert was under the management of the Warrnambool Anglican Minister, Archdeacon T. P. Beamish and the proceeds were in aid of the Warrnambool Church of England Common School. The programme was printed on silk at the office of the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper. This paper was founded in 1851 by a pioneer settler in Warrnambool, Richard Osburne and it was leased by Henry Laurie and William Fairfax from 1867 to 1872; these latter two became the founders of the Warrnambool Standard (1872 to the present day) and were the printers of this program. There were 26 musical items, a recitation by John Flaxman and a ten minute interval. Three of the performers at this concert were well-known in Warrnambool for their musical talents – singer, William Fairfax, noted above, singer Sarah Welchman (also the proprietor of a private school for girls) and singer Mrs Steedman (also the proprietor of a girls’ private school in Warrnambool). The Warrnambool Church of England Common School (number 661) was established in Warrnambool as a Government-subsidized denominational school in 1860 and closed in 1876 when the Jamieson Street Warrnambool State School (SS1743) opened. Archdeacon Peter Beamish, the sponsor of the concert, was the Anglican Minister in Warrnambool from 1850 to 1895. Price’s Exchange Hall was part of a Temperance Hotel opened in Liebig Street in 1861 by Richard Wrench. In the 1860s Thomas Price opened the Royal Exchange Hotel on these premises and his Exchange Hall was the largest hall in Warrnambool at that time. This is a most significant item because:- 1. It is a rare example of a 19th century programme printed on silk 2. The listed concert programme is a good example of the type of entertainment held in Warrnambool in the 1860s 3. Some of the participants in the concert were well-known entertainers in Warrnambool in the 1860s – Fairfax, Steedman, Welchman 4. The programme is one of the few mementoes we hold of the Church of England Common School 5. Other people important in Warrnambool’s history are connected to this item – Archdeacon Beamish, Fairfax and Laurie of the Warrnambool Standard and Thomas Price and his Royal Exchange Hotel Hall. This is a programme printed on silk. The sheet has a decorative border, black printing and an image of musical instruments and music scores. The programme has frayed edges.Church of England Common School Grand Amateur Concert Wednesday 4th December 1867 Price’s Exchange Hall, Warrnambool royal exchange hotel, liebig street, warrnambool, archdeacon beamish, warrnambool, fairfax and laurie, warrnambool examiner, church of england common school 661, warrnambool, william fairfax, sarah welchman, mrs steedman, dr mckenzie, william chambers, henry chambers, john fairfax

The Rechabite movement began in Salford England. In 1861 the first Independent order of Rechabites Friendly Society, Salford Unity, was opened in Bendigo to be called “Star of Bendigo” Tent. It was registered as Number 5 making it one of the first in Victoria. They worked with the Total Abstinence Society to organize lectures and social events designed to prove that entertainment and fun could be had without alcohol. They met in the new Temperance Hall in View Street. Independent Order of Rechabites, Salford Unity. Male ceremonial sashes. A. cream silk central orange stripe B. cream silk 2 x 12 mm orange stripe C. cream silk with 3 x 12 mm orange stripes i.o.r. (rechabites), salford unity

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

Container tin circular with print on surface "The ABC Brand Extra Super Cloth Sewing Silk". Blue and gold label. Has silk thread inside.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Netta Fuller and her husband Alec were long-term residents of Kew. As a boy, Alec had attended East Kew Primary School and was later highly involved in the Kew Presbyterian Church during the 1950s and 60s. Netta's passion was for historic clothing and its exhibition. In 1985, Netta Fuller and Elizabeth Pace launched a parade of garments sponsored by Kew Historical Society at Holy Trinity Church, Kew. The parade was called 'Downunder Dressmakers' and included a collection of over fifty items of clothing dating from 1800 to 1984. The collection included dresses, hats, scarfs, capes, sporting costumes etc. The core of the parade consisted of a collection of 19th century costumes worn by the ancestors of a Miss Gertrude Murray, a resident of Blackburn. In sourcing items for her collections, Netta Fuller collected costumes stored in old trunks and wardrobes, or even purchased from opportunity shops. (During the period in which she collected and exhibited costumes, the latter could often be a reliable source for the purchase of historic and aesthetically significant costumes.) Not satisfied with purchasing authentic costumes of the period, Netta also used these as models for artistic recreations. Following her retirement from both collecting and exhibiting, Netta Fuller donated a number of 19th Century garments to the Kew Historical Society's costume collection. A number of garments were parts of costumes such as bodices, while others were complete outfits. Some of the latter exhibit signs of old damage, however very few of the costumes had been modified to enable them to be worn in exhibitions. Provenance, apart from that the costumes were donated by Netta Fuller after 1985 is limited to donor information, although some of her donations may have originally been part of the collection owned by the Murray family. While the costumes are old and therefore historic, provenance is less important than the representativeness and/or rarity of the costumes. Similarly, the costumes need to be evaluated as a group and separately, considering their aesthetic and artistic significance as well a their age.Long black silk sleeveless bodice with a wide band of lace on the edging and at sleeves. Silk bow at rear. It has been provisionally dated to the 1880s-90s.women's clothing, bodices, fashion -- melbourne -- 1880s, netta fuller