Alice Henty (1852-1932) was the third daughter of Francis and Mary Ann Henty. her father 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 with his wife following 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’s wedding dress, made in 1876 for her marriage to John Hindson was remodelled in 1943 for the wedding of her granddaughter, Alice Henty Hindson to Norman Lithgow Tait at Holy Trinity, Kew. It was worn again by Margaret Henty Hindson (1918-2000) at her marriage to Dougald Webster Matheson at St Paul's Church, Henty in 1944. The two piece dress has a low décolletage shaped with a collar from which two curved panels drop. The fastenings for the bodice are buttons covered with the same fabric. The bodice is completed with two full length sleeves. The full skirt is slightly flattened at the front with a long train. In contrast, the ivory silk, silk faille and satin bodice with long tails remained unaltered. The front closure of the jacket has handmade embroidered buttonholes and covered buttons. The pleated collar and sleeves are decorated with gathered silk tulle. The jacket features long tails. alice frances (henty) hindson, women's clothing, wedding dresses, margaret henty hindson

This bodice was part of the wedding outfit worn by Grace Burland at her marriage to John Henty Hindson in 1912. Her husband's grandfather, 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.Silk crepe wedding bodice decorated with Mechlin lace, pearls and jet, which was worn by Grace Burland at her marriage to John Henty Hindson in 1912. A report in Punch [12 September 1912] described her outfit as “... white crepe de chene finished with Mechlin lace and pearl trimming; also pearl crescent brooch (gift of the bridegroom' s mother).” Mechlin lace or Point de Malines is an old bobbin lace, one of the best-known Flemish laces, originally produced in Mechelen, Belgium. Used for women's clothing, it was popular until the first decade of the twentieth century. The high silk net neckline is finished with pearls. These are repeated on the loose fitted diagonal ornamentation on the front and back which is finished with pearl and jet beading. Similar ornamentation finishes the elbow length sleeves. [The wedding skirt is not part of the donation]. wedding dresses, women's clothing, fashion -- 1910s, bodices, grace burland

At 5pm on 2 May 1975 at Christ Church, Hawthorn, the wedding took place between Kathryn Gwynn Marx of Mason Street, Hawthorn, and William Peter Reeve of Mountain Grove, Kew. The bride's dress was purchased from the 'House of Franke, Stuart', 612 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, a very popular place in the 1970s for brides. Kathryn was educated at Ruyton Girls' School with Margaret Franke so it was a nice connection. Margaret's family business had been in operation since 1926. I loved my wedding dress. It was soft and comfortable to wear and kept me warm on the May evening. It was elegant and I knew I would never get the chance to wear something with a long train again. Walking down the staircase at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne felt very grand; a memory I still hold today. (Kate Reeve, 2022) [Note: Two photos and a newspaper article which are viewable in the image carousel are held in the donation file]Strong local provenance to Hawthorn, Kew and Boroondara due to owner and retailer. It is a representative example of wedding dresses sold in the 1970s. The wedding dress is made of fine soft white jersey with guipure lace around the neckline, wrists and bodice. The long train has three small discreet loops along the hemline which can be slipped onto a finger for a draped effect giving ease of movement for dancing etc. A satin trimmed veil covered the length of the train and was secured on the head with a satin coronet. White leather shoes were worn. The bouquet Phalaenopsis orchids. (Note: the veil and shoes were not part of the donation)Label: Franke Stuart / Hawthornfashion & design - 1970s, wedding dresses, kate reeve, peter reeve, franke stuart, retailers - glenferrie road - hawthorn (vic.)

A wedding dress, forming part of a collection of costumes, photographs and documents relating to the Weir family who lived in a mansion, originally named Illapa, at 84 Princess Street, Kew, from c.1917 to 1950. This historically significant collection includes items relating to both George Weir (1866-1937), his wife Edith Mary Weir (1867-1948) and their children. George Weir attained national prominence in the mining industry, becoming General Manager of the North Broken Hill Silver Mining Company in 1903 (later renamed North Broken Hill Mining Company 1905-12, and North Broken Hill Ltd 1912-1988), and subsequently President of the Mine Owners Association. He was to remain General Manager of North Broken Hill Ltd until his retirement in 1926.This garment is part of a collection of women’s clothing, owned and worn by Edith Mary Weir (nee Betteridge) - born in Clare, South Australia 1867, died Kew 1948 - and also by her daughter. The garments date from the 1880s to the 1930s. The collection includes day dresses, evening dresses, evening coats, capes, and undergarments. As the wife and daughter of a mine manager, the collection includes representative examples of clothing worn by upper middle class Australian women in domestic circumstances, and at social and civic events. A number of the costumes from the 1920s to the 1930s are of a particularly fine quality, being both rare, representative and intact examples of Australian fashion of the period. The garments in the Weir Collection were donated to the Kew Historical Society by a granddaughter of Edith Weir in 2017.Cream silk wedding dress consisting of a long sleeved pleated bodice and a very full skirt. The skirt has a deep exterior pocket. The interior of the bodice exhibits extensive use of baleen to provide structure. The outfit includes a marching pair of cream silk shoes.edith mary weir (nee betteridge), illapa -- 84 princess street -- kew (vic.), women's clothing, weir collection, dresses, fashion -- 1890s

This wedding dress was made for an unknown customer by a late 19th and early 20th century Richmond dressmaker known by her married name as Mrs Pamely. The dressmaker’s name is identified on Petersham ribbon on the bodice. (1877 was the first known use of a dressmaker’s name on a dress in Australia). The dress entered the Collection by donation. The donor, Netta Fuller, and her husband Alec, were long-term residents of Kew. 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 core of the parade consisted of a collection of 19th 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. Not satisfied with purchasing authentic costumes of the period, she also used these as models for artistic recreations. Following her retirement from both collecting and exhibiting, Netta Fuller donated a number of 19th Century items of clothing to the Kew Historical Society. Some garments were parts of costumes such as bodices, while others were complete outfits. Many of the latter exhibit signs of old damage, however very few of the costumes have been modified to enable them to be worn in exhibitions. Known provenance is limited to donor information, although some of these donations may have originally formed 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. This is the only 19th century costume in the Collection where the maker's name and address is known. To date, no other costumes by this dressmaker have been identified. The maker's business activity (1888-1905) allow one to, with an assessment of style, be relatively certain about its late Victorian construction. This adds to the item's significance even though its condition has been compromised by later removals and additions of decorative fabric on the bodice.Cream satin wedding dress comprised of a fitted bodice and a full skirt with a long wide train. Both the skirt and the bodice feature extensive use of ruched silk. Originally the bodice was covered with silk net embroidered with small white flowers. While sections of the net remain on the rear of the bodice (and on the sleeves), that on the front has been removed, probably due to damage. The name of the dressmaker is stamped on Petersham ribbon on the bodice."Madame Pamely, Costumiere, 41 Stanley St. Richmond"wedding dresses, australian fashion - 19th century, women's clothing, dressmakers - richmond (vic), netta fuller, fashion manufacturers - mrs pamely

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. This wedding dress was worn by the grandmother of Val Warren.Raw silk wedding dress. The full length dress has lace on the bodice and long sleeves. Other decorative elements include finely pleated silk panels on the bodice, an insert on the skirt and on the cuffs of the sleeves The dress features extensive use of both utilitarian and decorative buttons that are covered in the same silk fabric as the dress. The final photograph shows two early repairs to the dress. Lydia Edwards in 'How to Read A Dress (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017), when describing a 1912 dress in the McCord Museum notes that: 'In 1911-12 the use of buttons for both fastening and decoration was extremely popular, the American women's magazine The Delineator declaring at the end of 1911 that "one cannot use buttons to liberally in the present mode".' (p.132)costumes, wedding dresses, women's fashion - 1910s, fashion design, fashion -- 1910s

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. This wedding dress was worn by Marjorie Don who married Algernon Garlick, 1928Cream coloured crepe-de-chine wedding dress with a dropped waist comprised of a wide band of ribbon. The bodice is gathered at the top in narrow bands. Rows of pearl buttons extend to the waist from the neckline. The front of the skirt below the waist is made of a contrasting self patterned striped fabric.fashion - melbourne - 1920s, flapper dresses, wedding dresses, marjorie don, algernon garlick

Formally Miss Sharlene Barry now Mrs Ron Drager, the great grand daughter of the girl for whom the dress was originally made in England. The wedding was in Ceylon, and later the dress travelled with the happy couple to Australia. In total the dress has been worn four times. It missed one generation and then was sent to Adelaide for the wartime wedding of Sharlene's aunt, Mrs Hubbard. It returned to Melbourne for the wedding of Sharlene's mother Mrs Barry. The elaborately rouched dress with tight bodice and slight bustle effect was altered for the 1941 wedding.Used in 1950's for third wedding. Dress altered from the original dress made in 1886. Lace taken from draped overskirt and remade to square neck and long sleeve. Bodice pointed front and 22 satin covered buttons on back. Satin skirt and train edged with lace. Lace and cotton overskirt stiffened and draped and caught to the left side. Brussels lace mounted on satin. Used for weddings held in 1886, 1941, 1950, 1973.costume, female ceremonial

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