Gown was worn by Janice Purcell nee Ralston who lived in Mitcham until her marriage to Dr Michael Purcell. She trained as a Nurse at St Vincents Hospital. She attended St Johns Primary School and the Loreto Convent.The style and colour was worn during the 1980's, usually at special occasions such as balls, weddings and formal dances.c 1980 Long claret coloured evening gown. Bodice is heart shaped cross over, rouching forming cap and sleeves. Skirt is gathered at waist and falls to very full folds.Victorian Fantasy Melbournecostume, female

Worn by Margaret Skey in 1980's1980's black polyester blouse with yoke and tie neckline. gathered sleeves to small cuff. Buttons are round black plastic to neck (six) and on each cuff. Size 14 (see NA3766 red suit with which blouse was worn.)costume, female

Worn by Margaret Skey in 1980'sRed ladies two piece suit, vest top and long skirt with front slit. DIO brand, size 14, polyester/viscose rayon with polyester lining. Vest with self covered buttons and three pocket flaps.|See NA376 black blouse worn with this red suit (Gone to dry cleaners- 30/11/05costume, female

Worn by Vera Gardiner, mother-in-law of donorCream Thai silk coat with self fabric belt from the 1960'sThai Silk - hand woven in Siamcostume, female

Frances Warren made the dress in 1991.She taught herself faggoting from directions in a bookDate made 1991. Floral cotton short sleeved women's dress. Background cream with apricot, yellow and grey flowers and green leaves. Peter Pan collar, buttoned to waist with faggoting work on collar, around cuffs on sleeves and down each side of front opening. Panel of pleats down centre of back and front of skirt. Dropped waistline and buttons are apricot.costume, female

These aprons were very popular in the 1990's.As used to 1990'sCream calico waist apron. Material doubled to make deep pocket for clothes pegs. Pocket hem and waist band trimmed in green cotton; painted design on front, consisting of clothes line, the words, 'Pegs' and 'Clothes on line'.costume, female working

Part of collection of handcraft and needle work donated by Anne BarryCross stitch embroidery practiced during the 30's, 40's and 50's; very popular and became an art.Blue and white check, trimmed around hem, sides, waistband and pocket. White Ric Rac braid, blue cross stitch block embroidered on waist band and top of pocket. Red cross stitch with yellow centre flowers across front of apron, divided by blue cross stitch block.costume, female working

Part of a collection of handcraft and needlework donated by Anne BarryCross stitch embroidery was popular and widely practised during the periods of the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's. It became an art formGreen and white gingham apron, cross stitched in black, yellow, red and orange diamond pattern, with a line of cross stitch at border. One pocket of white with ric-rac edgingcostume, female working

Worn in the 1940's by Louise Tait1940's hat - orange felt with black grograin band (English)Made in Englandcostume, female headwear

Donated by grand daughter of Edith and Ron Palmer. Bride Ellen Lidgerwood married Ron Mathers on 4 September 1937.The Best Man was the brother of the Groom, George Mathers. The bridesmaid was the sister of the groom, Miss Mathers and the flower girl was the niece of the bride, June Lidgerwood. For full family history and photos of both weddings see Supplementary File NA3817 & NA3818. Dress worn by Ellen at her wedding and Veil worn by both sisters Edith and Ellen Lidgerwood at their wedding ceremonies, Edith in 1936 (see NA3817) and Ellen in 1937Prominent Box Hill families1937 cream seersucker dress featuring a cowl neck and long sleeve, slit at shoulder to create cowl effect. Slim at lower arm to a point over the hand and fastened at seam with press stud. Bodice cut on the cross under the bust. Cut on the cross figure fitting skirt to the floor, complete with long train. On the back is a slit opening fastened with hook and eye and glass clear buttons. Below the slit are eight glass buttons with false rouleau button loops. The train is made of an added detachable piece. Veil worn at both sisters weddings but with different headdresses. Headdress has small circle of flowers and berries. See sister's wedding dress NA3817.costume, female ceremonial

Collected by Dora Summers and worn by herWorn in 1930'sBlack 3cm elastic waist band overlaid with ecru lace. 20cm suspenders attached to waistband to hold up stockings.costume, female underwear

A pair of tan stockings with reinforced toes and heels and tops with a diamond shaped patterned band.costume accessories, female

Ladies brown stockings, seamed, with fully fashioned heel and toe.costume accessories, female

Grey silk stockings with seam up back of leg. Design on back of heel,toe and sole are cotton.costume, female, female underwear

A pair of Service Brown stocking with reinforced foot and top in lisle and leg of nylon with back seams.H Loyalty Service Weight Nylons by Holeproof 9-1/2costume, female, female underwear

1 pair sheer nylon stockings with sheen, reinforced heel and toe silver grey.costume, female underwear

Burgandy nylon stockings with seams and reinforced toes.costume, female, female underwear

Collected by Dora SommersNylon fully fashioned stockings , top in cotton.costume, female, female underwear

A pair of medium-tan Service Stockings with lisle feet and top and back and foot seams. Nylon legs. Red cross stitch line at top.Wonderfoot foot comfort series service weight nylon and lisle. Prestige 9-1/2costume accessories, female, costume, female underwear

A pair of taupe nylon stockings (8-10 denier). Reinforced toe ,heel and top with P60 woven into top. Back seam. In a clear plastic container with gold lettering 'Prestige' and cream fitted lid.Stockings :P60 Lid:Prestige.costume accessories, female, costume, female underwear

Two piece pink pyjamas Top and pants. Top has 'Chinese' collar, two soft ties at neckline and a 2cm wide silver embossed braid around the collar and a down deep centre opening. Silver braid outlives sleeveless openings. Side seams have 17cm splits bordered with silver braid. Pants are short and have elastic waistband.HILTON Lingeriecostume, female nightwear

From the collection of Mrs LattenPale green swimsuit, cream pin tuck insert forming the bra top. The back completely shirred elastic. Green shoulder straps.Watersuncostume, female

1958 Cotton short sleeved full length housecoat. Background in white with black lined check with pink full blown roses and buds with green leaves. Full circle skirt with square pocket on right side of skirt. Pocket has frill around three sides. There is a tie belt. It has a large revers with narrow frill around.A JONIVIC GOWN SSWcostume, female underwear

Pale pink nylon 1958 nightdress showing signs of pink roses and green leaves pattern that has been washed out. Gathered under the bust on to a band, frill on top and roulean straps. Gathered skirt of two layers.nilcostume, female underwear

Cream linen oblong folded in half to form a pouch to contain a powder compact. The flap has a needle lace motif and the edges have a narrow band of needle lace in a linen thread.costume accessories, female, handcrafts, lacemaking, handcrafts, needlework

White leather flat shoes with straps across ankle fastened with a button. Shoe has rounded toe. Punched pattern around instep. Low heel with rubber solecostume, female footwear

Black T-bar high heeled shoes. Rounded toe with three straps across instep. Narrow tapered heelsGaiety Shoes Size 5Dcostume, female footwear

Piece of embroidery owned by Adele Grey from the collection of the late Jenny Lang. Jenny was a member of the Embroiderers Guild of VictoriaOne Old Gold personal handkerchief sachet piped in burgundy cotton surrounded by floral braid. Lift up centre piece of red silk, with diamond shaped embroidered flannel flowers in cream and green and citrus leaves.costume accessories, female

Silk piece donated by Adele Grey from the collection of the late Jenny Lang. Jenny was a member of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria and held exhibitions of her work at the Arts & Crafts SocietyCream silk square with scalloped edge. Each corner is embroidered with a design of flowers, leaves and butterflies. The scallop edging is embroidery os hand worked with silk thread.costume accessories, female

The wedding gown was worn by Lucy Kneeshaw Prout for her marriage to John Sommers on 29th November, 1871 at Trinity Church of England and Ireland, Williamstown, Victoria. Lucy was born in Woolwich, Kent, England in August 1850 and immigrated to Australia with her family in 1852 on the 'SS Coromandel'. She was the youngest of five children. Their parents were Edward and Elizabeth Prout (nee Hall). Lucy died in 1940 - 90 years of age. John E. Sommers was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1846 and emigrated to Australia with his family in June 1853 on the 'Tongataboo'. His marriage certificate shows that he was an engineer. He studied at the National Gallery's School of Design under both Clark and Campbell from 1872 to 1879. He drew a compressed charcoal and pencil portrait of Fred McCubbin in 1876. The portrait was displayed in the Golden Summers exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1985 and is shown on page 40 of the Golden Summers catalogue. Their grand-daughter, Mrs Marjorie Gibson (born 1910) said he was associated with the Heidelberg School and the Box Hill Artists Camp. He is also noted in the 'Book of Australian Artists'. He exhibited prolifically with the Victorian Artists Society until his resignation in 1898. In 1881 John Sommers took employment with the Education Department at Castlemaine (Ref. Golden Summer catalogue - pages 26 and 40). John died in 1930 aged 84 years. John and Lucy Sommers children John and Dora both studied at the National Gallery of Victoria, so senior was added to John E. Sommers Senior's works. There is a short biography on page 26 of Golden Summers. Researched by Valda and Ted Arrowsmith May 2006.One piece old gold Paper Taffeta wedding gown, stand up collar, piped in green taffeta. Forty covered buttons from neck to hemline. Shaped sleeve with 15cm cuff and three buttons. Two rows of seven cm appliqued green and gold shaped fans along hemline. Two rows of green and gold piping and 8cm deep gold fringe. Back of dress has central panel of pleats and six covered buttons and a square cut hem line for the train at back. Dress bodice is lined and has two 7cm bones in side seam.costume, female ceremonial