This dress belonged to Alice Frances Henty (1852-1932) the youngest daughter of Francis Henty (1815-89) and his wife Mary Ann Henty [nee Lawrence] (1821-81). It is recorded that Alice wore the dress at the age of six. 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.Girl's two-tone, one-piece cotton voile dress from the 1850s has a high round neck and short sleeves has a lace insert on the front of the bodice and matching lace at the rear. The layered skirt is bordered with lace. Measurements (mm): Girth - Neck 609.6, Chest 635, Waist 558.8, Cuff 203.2, Hem circumference 2108.2. Vertical - Front neck to hem 685.8, Front waist to hem 508, Back neck to hem 723.9, Back waist to hem 534.4, Sleeve length 63.5. Horizontal - Neck to sleeve head 38.1, Cross back 304.8, Underarm to underarm 406.4.fashion -- 1850s, children's clothing, alice frances henty

This afternoon dress was owned and first worn in 1875 by Alice (Henty) Hindson, the daughter of Francis Henty and Mary Ann (Lawrence) Henty. The outfit was worn in the same year as Alice's marriage to John Hindson at Trinity Church, East Melbourne, and may have formed part of her trousseau. 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.Alice (Henty) Hindson's afternoon dress is a two-piece, two-toned pink ensemble made of silk taffeta. The detailing is done with fine knife-pleated trims piped in ivory satin and decorated with ivory silk moiré bows on the bodice and skirt. The panelled peplum jacket is boned and the front button closure has hand-embroidered buttonholes with handmade covered buttons. The gathered full buttoned skirt falls into a train. The skirt is decorated with rows of ivory tulle corded lace and the hemline is edged with crisp fluted organza and tatted lace. Measurements (mm): BODICE: Girth - Neck 355.6, Chest 863.6, Waist 685.8, Hip 787.4, Cuff 304.8, Hem circumference 1422.4. Vertical - From neck to hem 546.1, Front waist to hem 241.3, Back neck to hem 609.6, Back waist to hem 355.6, Sleeve length 330.2. Horizontal - Neck to sleeve head 60, Underarm to underarm 419.1. SKIRT Girth - Waist 558.8, Hip 1473.2, Hem circumference 3911.6. Vertical - Front waist to hem 1092.2, Back waist to hem 1524. fashion -- 1870s, afternoon dresses, alice (henty) hindson, women's clothing

This outfit belonged to Mary Ann Henty [nee Lawrence] (1821-81), the wife of Francis Henty (1815-89). Her husband, 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.A two-piece silk taffeta chalk-striped afternoon dress worn by Mary Ann Henty, aged 49, in the period when she lived at Merino Downs near Portland. The outfit has bands of black silk and rows of fabric covered buttons on the bodice and skirt. Measurements (mm): BODICE: Girth - Neck 355.6, Chest 889, Waist 736.6, Hip 863.6, Cuff 254, Hem circumference 2032. Vertical - Front neck to hem 419.1, Front waist to hem 152.4, Back neck to hem 558.8, Back waist to hem190.5 , Sleeve length 584.2. Horizontal - Neck to sleeve head 165.1, Chest back 330.2, Underarm to underarm 406.4. SKIRT Girth - Waist 609.6, Hip 1270, Hem circumference 4064. Vertical - Front waist to hem 1117.6, Back waist to hem 1371.6.francis henty, fashion -- 1870s, women's clothing, afternoon dresses, mary ann (lawrence) henty

This dress is believed to have belonged to Mary Ann Henty [nee Lawrence] (1821-81), the wife of Francis Henty (1815-89). Her husband, 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.A one-piece, lustrous silk taffeta evening dress, lined with polished cotton, probably owned by Mary Ann Henty, and later by her daughter, Alice. The V-waist line of the dress and the dimensions of the skirt are comparable to Mary Ann’s wedding dress. The bodice in contrast is less structured. At a later stage, the sleeves were removed. Measurements (mm): BODICE: Girth - Neck 914.4, Chest 863.6, Waist 685.8, Hip 863.6, Hem circumference 3302. Vertical - Front neck to hem 1371.6, Front waist to hem 1092.2, Back neck to hem 1384.3, Back waist to hem 1079.5 Horizontal - Neck to sleeve head 44.45, Chest back 431.8, Underarm to underarm 431.8.mary ann lawrence, francis henty, evening dresses, henty collection, fashion -- 1840s