This item is one of a collection of clothing items that belonged to the Stephenson family who lived at 22 McCracken Street, Kensington, Melbourne. Matthew Stephenson (1861 – 1943) who had grown up on the Bendigo goldfields and shifted to Melbourne in the early 1900’s was a train driver and later, a fireman with the railways. His wife Elizabeth Jane (Betsy) Wigley (1865 – 1953) also grew up on the goldfields around Majorca and Bendigo. They married in 1885 in Bendigo. They had two daughters – Ethel Evelyn Stephenson (1886 – 1956) and Lillian or Lila (1891 – 1977) who were milliners and dressmakers and who continued to live in the family home after the death of their parents. The family are recorded as living at 22 McCracken Street, Kensington, as early as 1914. It is not known who made or owned the clothing that makes up this collection but as it appears to be from the late Victorian and early Edwardian era, the different pieces were probably made and worn by any of the three ladies of the house – Betsy, Ethel and/or Lila. During W.W.2, a local Warrnambool couple (Meryl and Tony Everard) boarded with them – Tony was in the airforce training paratroopers to jump into (and survive) enemy territory and his wife Meryl worked in the Methodist baby Home. The Everards developed a close friendship with the Stephensons and were responsible for clearing out the house (and finding this clothing collection) after Lila died in 1977. A petticoat is a lady's undergarment - worn under a skirt or dress. They provided warmth, modesty and shape to the dress. In the middle of the 19th century, petticoats were worn over hoops, bustles or in layers. Petticoats varied according to the style of the outside skirt or dress. Plain petticoats tended to be worn with everyday wear whilst better dresses (party dresses or silk gowns) were worn with petticoats that often had more trim and embellishments. Edwardian petticoats had less volume than Victorian era petticoats and they had a "dust ruffle" or lining under a lace flounce. The "dust ruffle" protected the lace flounce and gave the petticoat more flare at the bottom, greater freedom when walking as well as saving the flounce (which was often made of finer material) from everyday wear and tear. Tucks are another feature of Edwardian petticoats - when the lace at the bottom became worn, it could be cut off and the tucks released. This extended the life of the petticoat. This petticoat features an intricate trim of broderie anglaise. Although broderie anglaise was a lace that could be made by hand, it was very time consuming to make. St Gallen was a city in Switzerland that had become known for producing quality textiles. At the beginning of the 19th century, the first embroidery machines were developed in St Gallen. Factories used embroidery machines but people also had them in their homes. They were able to produce broderie anglaise for export. By the early 20th century, machine made lace, fabric, ribbons etc. were being sold in drapers shops all over England and Wales to women who were making clothes and furnishings for their families. It is highly likely that the lady who made this petticoat brought the lengths of broderie anglaise already made to embellish and personalise her petticoat.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the late 19th century - creating pintucks and adding lace to personalise and embellish a practical item of clothing. A lady's fine cotton and lace ankle length petticoat featuring a deep decorative hem made from sheer pinspot fabric and bands of eyelet lace. The top section of the petticoat is made from five sections of fine cotton sewn together with french seams and gathered with pleats and darts into the waistband. The waistband opening has two button holes and one button (the top button is missing) and a front section with a drawstring. The lace hem is lined with the same fine cotton as the top of the petticoat. There are three different lace bands - a narrow one featuring small flowers, a similar wider band with larger flowers and it is finished at the bottom with a broad band of lace with an intricate leaf design.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, petticoat, lady's petticoat, broderie anglaise, decorative petticoat, draw string waist, machine sewn, dressmaker, stephenson family, pintucks, needlework

A pair of cream coloured cotton drill pants with draw string waistclothing, mcphail collection

From Mitcham RSLArmy field jacket (winter) M65, removable insulating lining, Zip and button front fastening,$ pockets Draw string waist. Epaulets on both shoulders, label instructions re useLabel (instructions only)uniforms, army

This Baby's long white Christening gown is made from fine muslin, with short sleeves and cut-work and pin tucked front panels The women of the early settler families were very skilled dressmakers and made the clothes for their families. The early settler families followed the religious rites of their Christian Church and this Baby's Christening gown shows the dressmaking skills of the pioneer women of Moorabbin Shire c1900 , A Baby's Christening gown of fine white muslin with cut-work and needlework on yoke, gathered skirt and short sleeves with a draw string waist and neck . The front panel has 5 sections of pin tucks and cut work . clothing, christening gown, methodist church, church of england, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, lacework, cutwork, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork , bentleigh, , moorabbin shire blackburn nance, dairy farms, fruit orchards

This Christening gown belonged to William Edward Housden who was born in Castlemaine in 1890 and died in Warrnambool in 1972. He served in World War One and married Lucy Knowles in 1921. It was on occasions, and still is, a common practice to make a special dress for a baby's Christening or to use a gown that has been handed down over the generations. This is a fine example of a Christening gown made for a baby 130 years ago.This is a Christening gown made of cream cotton. It is high waisted with a gathered skirt and a pintucked bodice with hand embroidered leaves and fine drawn thread work. The draw string waist opens at the back. It has long sleeves with lace and embroidered cuffs. There is lace and draw string tape around the neck. The seams have been machined.william edward housden, christening gowns

Donated by DonorWhite cotton petticoat. Draw string at waist. 21cm placket, with three buttons closing the back; 38cm added frill of cotton and lace to the hemline.costume, female underwear

Part of the "Kevin John Herdman", No. 397661 Collection. See Cat No. 5942P for details of his service.Green coloured cold weather waterproof field coat. Metal zippered front with press studs. Four button down pockets on front. Cuffs adjustable with Velcro. Collar has a metal zippered pocket for hood. Coat is lined with green poly cotton fabric. Facility inside for the attachment of a padded liner. All buttons plastic. White care label on inside right. Draw string waist band for adjustments.Handwritten on care label in black ink: "McNEILL" cold weather coat, uniform, australian army, kevin john herdman