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

George Harold Merrett married Dorothy Lorna James at Christ Church, Horsham 14/08/1954. wedding gown and accessories were donated by family members. Photo of wedding couple.Cream lace dress and train overlaying pink satin with attached cream taffeta half slip trimmed with 4 cm cream lace inserted with blue ribbon. Design is scalloped sweetheart neck, dropped waist line and 34 pink satin covered buttons down centre back of the bodice. Sleeves are crossover cap sleeves and 180 cm train from centre back waist line. Pair of elbow length cream kid gloves, three pearl buttons at wrist and cream net horseshoe with apple blossom and pink rayon horse shoe. Full length cream veil attached to pearl and blossom headdress. See also NA4231 Mauve Bridesmaid's dress, NA4138 Mauve hat for bridesmaid's dress and NA3949 Mauve fingerless gloves for bridesmaid's dress.costume, female ceremonial

Cream viyella baby gown, smocked at front and at waist. Edged with cream cotton lace at neck and wrists. Decorative feather stitch on bodice, handmade button holes pearl buttons, 'jap' silk bodice lining, french seams throughoutcostume, infants'

Baby clothes worn by Una Reynolds, member of the Society. Born 1927, died 2003.Creamy-white, fine voile baby's dress.Bodice and short sleeves in magyur (dolman) style with buckingham point lace inserts. Square neck in lace edged with lace edging gathering. Skirt with lace inserts and handkerchief hem, edged with gathered, wider buckingham point lace. Side seams of bodice and skirt are lace inserts. Back opening with two buttons and buttonholes and white cotton tape tie from lace at neck.|Bolero in same fabric and lace. Has Peter Pan collar edged and trimmed in lace with silk ribbon insert tied at neck. Sleeves and front opening edged and trimmed with lace; lower edge has handkerchief points trimmed with lace.costume, infants'

Made by donor for her children during 1950's.Cream viyella dress with smocked bodice and sleeves, with pink and blue rosebuds. Neck has white lace trim and press stud at opening at backcostume, infants'

The bridal headdress was made in England and worn in Ceylon in 1886 by Mary Jane Schroder for her marriage to Ralph Pardy Rudd on 24th Nov 1886.1886 Pearl encrusted bridal tiara. Net covered wire circlet - pearls sewn around front half with four pearl covered half circles attached. See also wedding bodice NA3580, fan NA3582 and shoes NA3578.costume, female headwear

The dress belonged to Mrs Christina Cock (nee Clay) 25 Dec 1887 - 22 May 2002 the mother of the donor.1920s White voile dress. Maygar sleeves, pin tucked bodice and lace insertions. Hem trimmed with 3' lace.costume, children's

Purchased in Hong Kong by Mrs Myrtle Bennett in 1960 and given to Barbara Gardiner in 1980 and worn at three dinner dances.1960 Black wool evening top or bodice oversewn with black sequins and beads on hem - lined in rayon. Full length. Zip on back.costume, female

Bust bodice with square lace yoke with short sleeves that are lace edged with four buttons down front. Bodice made of Broderie Anglaise gathered in to a small basque tied with tape. Pink ribbon threaded through yoke.costume, female underwear

Dark blue child's dress with white embroidered flowers around hem. Drawstring neck, lined bodice and drawstring waist. One button at back. Puffed sleevescostume, children's

Laundered 30/10/1999Long white Christening robe with Ayrshire embroidery on a vee shaped bodice front coming to a point at the waist with a small opening under the point. If the baby was a boy the point was left showing an if a girl it was tucked into the opening. Tucking across the front panel. Drawstring at neck.lace and pin tucking down front. Drawstring neckcostume, infants'

White lawn bust bodice with torch on lace at neck line and sleeves. Blue ribbon threaded through eyelet lace at waist. v shaped neck line.costume, female underwear

Cream cotton bust bodice with Torchon lace on square neckline and sleeves. Blue ribbon threaded through eyelet lace at neck , lace inset on bodice.costume, female underwear

White lawn bust bodice with Torchon lace at V neck line and sleeves. Drawstring waist. Buttoned frontcostume, female underwear

Probably a Christening Gown.White lawn infant's dress with bobbin lace on neck, bodice, hem of sleeves and dress . Insert of lace near hem of dress. Pink ribbon threaded through eyelet lace.costume, infants', handcrafts, lacemaking

Long sleeveless dress. Empire line bodice. Skirt pale aqua background with lurex spots in shades of aqua. Deep aqua ribbon under the bust line with low and diamondé clip in a circle shape. Bodice is pale aqua silk with deeper aqua sequins around neckline.costume, female, handcrafts, dressmaking

Wedding dress donated by local resident, Mrs Dorothy Williams. Worn by her on her wedding day in 1958 and the dress worn again by her daughter 07/05/1983 as per photographs.1958 Cream embroidered Nylon wedding dress. Fitted long sleeves to a point at waist, fastened with thirteen self covered buttons. Boat neckline trimmed with frill. Long waisted to a point at centre back. Full gathered skirt to a long train. Bodice lined to waist over a cream satin underskirt. Wedding shoes NA4122costume, female

Brown and gold coloured silk dress. 3/4 sleeve, gold cuffs fastened with two buttons. Cross over bodice to waist, tie gold belt, six gore skirt.Folli Folli Paris stylecostume, female

George Harold Merrett married Dorothy Lorna James at Christ Church Horsham 14/08/1954. Wedding Gown & all accessories were donated by family, plus wedding photo.Mauve Damask satin full length gown. Shaped bodice with pin tuck detail over bust line, pin tuck shawl collar across back. Zip closing down back, full flared skirt. Bodice lined with rayon.|Refer to 3985.1-5, 3949.1-2, 4138, 3999.1-2, 4000.1-2costume, female ceremonial

The dress was worn by donor's daughter in the 1950'sBlue and white striped sleeveless dress. Attached white cotton petticoat. Skirt has two pockets in blue material with edging in the blue and white material with white cobble trim. The skirt is gathered on to waist with blue cotton binding. Blue 'Peter Pan' collar with white cobble trim. The opening at the back on the bodice has three button holes with three buttons. There is a sash of the blue and white material which is lined in blue cotton.costume, children's

Fuji silk cream nightdress. Embroidered blue and pink motif on bodice repeated on shoulder. Crochet work on neckline and sleeve edging.costume, female nightwear

Style of christening gown used during 1900'sLong white cotton gown, handmade. White cotton lace trim at neck. Handmade lace insertions in bodice, drawstring at waist. Skirt: four panels of six pin tucks and three rows of insertions, bottom frill 8.5 cm handmade lace.costume, infants'

c1860s Long women's dress in fine two-toned pink strip. Skirt longer in back. Bodice has three deep pleats on each side from shoulder to waist.Sleeves have self ruffle and cream lace frill at wrist. Seven buttons gold backed and white stars pattern in centre run down the front of the bodice.costume, female

White cotton nightdress with cotton lace forming bodice. Five pearl buttons under placket. Long sleeves with cotton lace edging.costume, female nightwear

White cotton camisole with purple ribbon threaded eyelet lace at neck. Lace decoration on bodice and sleeve edge. 5 pearl buttons concealed in placket. White tape drawstring at waist. Lace decoration at back.costume, female underwear

White cotton camisole with blue ribbon threaded through eyelets at neck. Lace border on neck, sleeves and front. White embroidery on sleeves and bodice. Pin tucking at waist. White tape drawstring at waist. Scalloped edge on bottom of garment. 4 buttons concealed in placket.costume, female underwear

White cotton Nightdress with short sleeves. Blue embroidered edging on neck and sleeves. Blue cutout embroidery on bodice and sleeves. Blue ribbon threaded through eyelets.costume, female nightwear

Cream silk camisole with square neckline. Shoulder straps and bodice made of cream lace. Scalloped hem and pin tucking and triangle shaped lacecostume, female underwear

White cotton baby nightdress with two ties. Lace frill at neck and sleeve edge. Gathered at front of bodice. tape ties at neck.'NS' embroidered on hemcostume, female nightwear

White cotton bust bodice with deep edging of crochet lace at neck and on short sleeves. Blue ribbon threaded through eyelets at neck. Buttoned at waist.costume, female underwear