The bodice is of a style from the Victorian Era and so provides a good example of women's clothing from that time. Although it appears to have been made at a later time the lace possibly came from an earlier time period. It is of historic interest as it was amongst the belongings of the donor's Great Aunts who were both dressmakers at the original Terang & District Co-Op which was established in 1908.The item is of significance socially as an example of women's clothing in the Victorian era.A short, waist-length bodice most likely made as a performance costume. It is representative of a Victorian bodice style though the lacing used indicates that it would not have been worn in those times due to its revealing design. Flexible metal stays provide shape to the bodice at the front and back. Sleeves are elbow length and lined with cream fabric. The bodice has a lace collar and the sleeves are trimmed with the same lace. Small gold coloured beads are stitched to the flower centres of the lace pattern. The burgundy coloured satin has an embossed floral pattern. The lace is of interest as it is from an older time period and being beaded would be especially sought after. Machine and hand stitched.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, satin bodice, beaded lace, victorian era, metal stays, terang & district co-op

Ladies black satin boned bodice. Centre opening, fastened with eighteen metal hooks and eyes. Waistband 2.5cm wide with eleven vertical fabric encased bones attached. There are two bones on either side of the front opening, bones on each side seam and five bones across the back. There is a decorative two cm wide ribbon attached to the RHS of the waistband that extends across the front of the bodice to the LHS with a seventeen cm black ribbon bow attached. This is fastened to the RHS waistband with a metal hook and eye. There are two decorative pin tucks across the waistband at the back of the bodice. The bodice and sleeves are lined with brown cotton fabric. The 6.5cm stand-up collar is lined with dark green cotton fabric. The shoulders seams and eight of the bone casing are reinforced with black cotton fabric with green and pink checked edging. The long sleeves are gathered at the shoulders and shaped at the elbows. The wrist is finished with a decorative band of pleated fabric (2.5cm wide).costume, female, ladies black satin boned bodice

Ladies waist length black satin boned bodice. Chelsea style collar forming V shaped neckline dipping to eight cm above the waist. Centre insert of horizontal pintucked fabric extends at centre front from throat to just above wrist. Fastened at centre front with thirteen metal hooks and eyes and crossover fastened on LHS with four hooks and eyes. Bodice is lined with black cotton fabric. Collar extends over shoulders to form imitation collar at back extending to centre back waistline. Centre V shaped insert of pintucked fabric hand stitched in place. Nine fabric encased bones inserted into waistband. Two bones on either side of front of bodice, and one bone on each side seam and three bones across the back of the bodice. Stand-up collar with horizontal pleating (5cm wide). Fastened over left shoulder with three metal hooks and eyes. Long sleeves widening at elbow and gathered onto 25 cm lower sleeve narrowing to wrist. Lower sleeve has three X three groups of horizontal pintucks. Slit at wrist - eight cm fastened with two metal hooks and eyes.costume, female, ladies black satin boned bodice

Silk, satin, fully lined with silk (?). Eleven bones, ranging in length from 10 - 12 cm long, taper the bodice to the waistline. 15cm wide panels of beaded net come from the high back waistband, over the shoulder to the front waistband. These are loose panels with linear beading, and more decorative beading over the shoulders. Centre front panel has a net overlay, sheer above the bustline to the throat, with a 16cm high net stand-up, mandarin collar, edged in lace, and outlined at the throat with a row of tiny jet beads. Cotton perspiration pads under the arms.A beaded '' butterfly'' shape sits over the bustline where the sheer lace panel begins. Below the beaded motif, five roulet knotted and loops fasten into the finest of metal loops to close the bodice. Silk ''over -sleeves'' also have three roulet looped decorations at each edge. Below the elbow length ''over sleeves'', a double layer of net sleeves-the top layer finished with seven rows of tiny jet beads, the lower wrist length net sleeve, finished wit one row of tiny jet beads, and a two cm net fill. Beading and an embroidered ribbon flower trim the back centre net panel, and a roulet looped trim, sits at the centre back waistline. An extension of the beaded over -the-shoulder panels falls in a rectangular shape 38cm X 23cm. The front extension of the ''over the shoulder'' beaded net, falls in two oval shapes - one either side of opening 24cms long. A 4.5cm band of three pleated silk encircles the waistline.Waterfield, 14 Gleghow Terrace, South Kensington. ( Label on tape fastens around waistline).costume, female, black silk satin beaded bodice

Cream silk satin bodice, with a high round neckline, finished with a seven cm deep, cream lace, boned, mandarin stand up collar - five bones-(one missing) to support the collar. Nine 16cm bones support the shaping of the tapered firmly fitted waist. A ten cm deep yoke at front and back shoulders. Below the yoke is a panel of eleven cm long pintucks right across the front, and on either side of the back. Centre front gathers into a cotton tape band at the waistline. Below the neckline of the centre front, is a panel ten cm deep of cotton lace, then a 13cm deep fine silk, gathered frill, edged with a reinforced silk ruffle. The centre back opening has a double placket, each fastening with alternate hook and eye,hook on either side of opening. Two large hooks facilitate a joining with a skirt.The three quarter length satin sleeves, are a bell shape, and gather into a cream net, eight cm deep band, which fastens with two metal hooks and hand made loops. Over the net is a double frill, 13 cm deep, and edged with a reinforced silk ruffle, as in the centre front panel. This bishop-type sleeve has five X 12cm long pintucks at the shoulderline. A ten cm long row of a feather stitch type of hand embroidery on either side of front bodice-one each side of the gathered centre front panel. Bodice is fully lined with polished cotton.costume, female, cream silk-satin long sleeved bodice

Ladies brown satin bodice with green satin pintucked insert in centre front. Front opening with a row of 17 buttons and button holes on either side of the centre insert. Buttons are brown metal with diamente centres-long sleeves tapered at wrist. Small mandarin collar with press stud fastener at front. Boned at front and side seams. Fishtail back with green satin flaps. Bodice lined with yellow, green and red striped cotton.costume, female, bodice

A wedding bodice made for Mary Jane Schroder for her marriage to Ralph Pardy Rudd on 24th Nov 1886 in Ceylon1886 satin bodice, boned and paneled to fit 24 ins waist. Closed at front with 18 pearl buttons. Long sleeves, beaded and embroidered cuffs also lace trimmed. Pocket on left side for watch. Peplum at back to sit on bustle of skirt. Beaded collar to fit over bodice neckline. See also Fan NA3582, shoes NA3578 and bridal headdress NA3489.costume accessories, clothes accessories

This bodice belonged to Mary Crombie, an early Victorian dentist, who lived in Brighton while she was studying at the Australian College of Dentistry in the mid-1900s, and later returned to the area in her retirement from 1949-1971. Mary Margaret Crombie (1884-1971) was born at Coan Downs Station near Walgett, northern New South Wales, where her father Henry was station manager. After Henry’s untimely death in 1895, Mary and her mother loved for a few years with family members in St Kilda, before moving into a cottage of their own, ‘Rosewood’, at 42 Asling Street, Brighton around 1899. From here, Mary attended Oberwyl Ladies College in St Kilda and later the Australian College of Dentistry, one of only a few women to study dental surgery at the time. She was apprenticed to Ada Tovell (1865-1932), one of Victoria’s first female dentists, who had her own practice in Collins Street. Mary graduated in 1907 and the following year moved with he mother to Yarram in South Gippsland, where she took over the running of a practice owned by Sale dentist Charles Trood, eventually purchasing it from him in 1915. Speaking to a Brighton newspaper in 1961, Mary said she believed that she was the first woman to start a dental practice in Gippsland. For some locals, this took a little getting used to: “Many were amazed, and had some misgivings, when they found that the local dentist was a woman,” she said. “I always remember a huge farmer (he was about 6 ft. 4 in.), who had fortified himself at the local hotel to face the ordeal of visiting the dentist. He almost turned and ran when he saw me. … He was still more amazed when I pulled out his tooth without undue trouble.” The farmer was the best advertisement she could have asked for, telling everybody about the diminutive lady dentist who had calmly extracted his tooth. Mary practiced in Yarram until her retirement in 1949. After selling her practice she returned to Brighton, where she spent the last two decades of her life residing at 25 Oak Grove. Following her death in 1971, her relatives in Brighton donated a number of items from her home to BHS.Black satin bodice, boned, with black faceted glass buttons down the front. High collar. Both collar and cuffs are edged with a black net ruffle. Two rows of seven black crochet-covered buttons at each cuff, fastening with loops. Stray brown threads poking through fabric around the collar, shoulders and back indicate that these areas may originally have featured lace embellishments.mary crombie, 1900s

Cream coloured satin bodice with cotton lining. Deep V shape at waist front and back. Front opening has twelve cream coloured bowl shaped buttons with bound button holes. Two centimetre stand up collar.Front has two vertical darts on either side of opening - one on each side has plastic stiffening insert.Two inserts at back. One stiffening insert in RHS. Long sleeves have split on upper edge at hem. Sleeves have trim of gathered fabric attached above wrist. Black cotton stitches visible on both sleeve seams.costume, female, bodice

1880s women's dress featured tightly fitting bodices with very narrow sleeves and high necklines, often trimmed at the wrists with white frills or lace.Beige coloured silk top with narrow mauve stripes. The top has a piped mandarin collar. The top has satin trimming. The bodice is badly stained.women's clothing, australian fashion, costumes, bodices

Purchased from Baptist Community Care Shop in Station Street , Mitcham1980s Wedding dress with vee neckline, bodice coming to a point over waistline. Satin bodice with lace motives re-embroidered with pearl and sequins. Tulle yoke and sleeves with embroidered pattern lace motives and sleeve edge also re-embroidered. Satin bow on shoulders with pearl and sequins embroidering. Back of bodice to point over waistline, buttons down back - eleven self covered buttons over zip fasteners. Back waist finished with large bow at waist. Circular skirt gathered at bodice. Three panels inserted in centre front to 67cm high and 60cm wide. Attached underskirt. Train gathered to back waistline, two widths of material with embroidered lace inserts around hemline. Nine arrangements of embroidered lace flowers inserts over the train coming out of satin petal shaped pouches gathered at top to give an impression of a vase.costume, female ceremonial

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

Summer wedding - 17th January 1942 Norman Stanley Garden and Ida Victoria Goodes Methodist Church, Box HillExample of wartime wedding dress.1942 Pink silk satin dress with fitted bodice ruched into bow shape v shaped into skirt and neckline has v neck with a train, gathered sleeve at shoulder narrows to point over hand pale pink wedding dress

This dress belonged to Louris White, nee Larsen-Disney, whose wedding dress from 1948 is also in the collection. Louris and her husband lived at 49 South Road, Brighton, just a few doors down from her family.Strapless pink organza cocktail-length dress. Finely pleated bodice and skirt laid on to a heavy vilene. Decorated around the waist with pink organza flowers and two bands of pink satin, one around the bodice and the other around the lower part of the skirt.Label: printed black on cream acetate side front bodice: "Original / Margeaux / REGD. / of Melbourne / IMPORTED FABRIC"evening dress, 1950s fashion, louris holly white, brighton, margeaux of melbourne, joseph haskin

Two piece ivory satin evening dress. Bodice (.1) is decorated with central panel of finely pleated chiffon and embellished with ready-made strips of beading and artificial pearls. Short puffed sleeves. Russet coloured velvet band applied to waist of bodice and finished with a metal rosette. Plain gored satin skirt (.2) with cream velvet binding around hem. Label, printed grey on cream cotton, centre back bodice waist: Bussell, Robson & Bussell / MELBOURNE.evening dress, bussell robson & bussell, 1890s

Formal mourning dress possibly worn by Mrs Vyner senior. This dress would have been made circa 1930s - 1940s. The McKendrick family came to Mt Beauty very early in the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme (KHES) days. Their son, Ian, worked in the Mt Beauty Post Office for 40+ years. The Vyner family also were long time employees of the SECV working on the KHES and were residents of Mt Beauty. Margaret was a nurse at the Tawonga District Hospital at the Tawonga site and the Mt Beauty site.Three quarter length black crepe dress with an 8 gored skirt and with a sash made of black crepe attached to the dress. Fitted long sleeved V neck bodice with satin applique and a pink nylon ruffle pleated around the neckline. Fitted sleeves with 2 covered buttons at the end. mourning dress, mckendrick family, vyner family

Owned and worn by Patricia Capp of Dimboola, on her wedding day, when she married Mr. Walter Clark of Nhill.Bridal gown of figured de-lustered satin, with a fitted bodice and scooped neckline with long pointed sleeves and a full-length skirt with deep unpressed pleats. The three-tier veil was held by a circlet of flowers in front with a Dior bow, The bride carried a trailer of white roses and lily of the valley.1964 wedding gown, wedding attire, clothing, formal - clothing, textiles - satin

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 evening gown is one of a number of items donated to the Collection by Rosemary-Vaughan Smith.Full length ivory satin evening gown, possibly used previously as a wedding dress. Inset figured brocade panel on front of skirt and bodice, with flared plain satin panels at sides. Bodice has a wide rounded neck decorated with bands of pleated satin, and broad satin shoulder straps. evening dresses, women's clothing, vaughan-smith collection, evening wear, australian fashion - 1950s

Clothing. Floor length silk costume. Purple silk bodice front and back with 16 cm slit at centre back from neckline. Round neckline edged with pink satin binding. Unshaped bodice dips to dropped waistline. Bright green silk skirt gathered slightly onto bodice. Triangular pieces of green silk gathered onto arm holes to form sleeves. The sleeve is open along the top edge and point of triangle ends underneath the wrist. No fastenings. No shaping.costume, female, floor length green silk costume

In 1880 Melbourne hosted its first major international exhibition the "Melbourne International Exhibition". In 1888 Melbourne hosted its second major international exhibition the "Melbourne International Centennial Exhibition".Two-piece evening dress comprising separate bodice and skirt made of gold-coloured silk damask woven with large curvilinear design in cream. Cream tulle trim around neck embellished with beads and artificial pearls. Similar trim down centre front and around lower edge of bodice. Short puffed sleeves Neckline trimed with wide gold satin riboon and bows. Bodice is boned and fastens centre back with hooks and eyes. Gored skirt pleated into waist. .1 - bodice . 2 - skirtLabel, woven blue on cream, centre back bodice: QUOD FACIMUS VALDE FACIMUS, George & George Ltd / Federal Emporium / Melbourne, International Exhibition Melbourne, Costumes and Mantlesgeorge and george, evening dress, georges of collins street, 1888

Silk organza wedding dress with a creamy satin strapless bodice under silk organza with a silk organza circular skirt, which was worn over a cream satin under-skirt (see 11400.529) Bodice has a dropped waistline, sitting at the hipline. Skirt gathers to the bodice and has a draped organza panel, passing through two satin and organza pleated loops at the hipline. Extending across the back from these loops is a 28cm wide tie, which extends to the hemline to be 44cm wide, and forming a tiny train. 41 covered buttons and loops extend from the neckline to below the hips. Sheer sleeves, lily pointed at the wrist, fastened with 7 covered buttons and loops. Floral lace motifs are scattered on bodice and front of skirt. Lace outlines the sweetheart neckline, and wrists. Eight V shaped panels are inserted into the lower skirt to produce the circular shape handkerchief hem. Skirt extends to a small train at back. Documents and photo linked to file. Wedding dress worn at marriage of Barbara Johnson to her first husband Ian Bulte. Part of wedding dress collection 11400.528, 11400.53029, 11400.530, 11400.531.costume, female ceremonial, wedding dress

A bodice belonging to the family of George Ward Cole in the late 1800s. George Ward Cole was an early member of the Victorian Parliament and the family featured prominently in Melbourne Society in their time. They established a substantial home known as “St Ninians” at 10 Miller Street in 1841. The family reportedly entertained Melbourne’s first Royal visitor The Duke Of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son, at St Ninians in 1867. In later years St Ninians was subsequently subdivided and later demolished. A hand sewn cream silk satin evening bodice from c.1865. This bodice features a very low, wide scooped neckline with a set in sleeve and four small pleats across the head of the shoulder. The elbow length, straight fitted sleeves are trimmed with a pleated ruffle that extends around the arm finishing at the elbow crease at the inside arm and tapering to mid forearm length at the back. The fitted bodice, lined with waxed linen, fastens down the centre front with eight covered buttons of the bodice fabric. The front two panels wrap around the sides of the bodice to meet another series of panels creating a princess line with a delineated central spine. The waist position is just below the natural waist at the sides, tapering to an elongated front covering the belly. From the sides towards the back it curves up to the natural waistline and then down again to a central point. The bodice is decorated with strips of the same fabric, which has been tucked, pleated and padded to create ruching. The ruching edge has a multi coloured thread, suggestive of rosettes, on both sides. In the front of the bodice, a strip runs down the centre front, concealing the buttonholes, and finishing at the elongated point. It then goes up the bodice over the bust line where it meets the neckline. It follows the neckline around the nape of the neck and back down the front over the bust line to the centre front. More strips run around the base of the fitted sleeve near the elbow above the ruffle. The rosette like coloured thread finishes the base of the ruffle. st ninians, george ward cole, bodice, late 1800s, brighton, margaret morrison ward cole

Wedding Dress. A very delicate, beautiful dress, in a very fragile state, worn over a satin petticoat(11400.1154). Lace bodice, and full length tapered, lace sleeves. Boat shaped neckline, outlined with a tulle insert, that brings the neckline to a high round neckline at the throat. This fastens with two metal press-studs on the left shoulder. This high yoke is edged at the bodice edge with an 8 cm deep frill of tulle, edged at both sides with a narrow frill of tulle, and sewn to the yoke to give a scalloped effect. Skirt is sheer and made from two layers of tulle. A band of lace, 9 cm deep borders the hemline, at knee level and at hip level. Three metal hooks and stitched loops fasten a placket on the left hand side.costume, female, cream tulle and lace wedding dress

The donor and family of this gown were long-term Brighton residents, and the gowns were held by them as family heirlooms prior to donation to Brighton Historical Society. Originally owned by Elizabeth Emma Adams and Cecilia Elizabeth Adams, it is believed that the dress was brought to Australia by either a half brother, James Smith Adams, or a younger sister, Sophia Charlotte Louisa Adams (later known as Mother Rose Columba Adams). Elizabeth and Cecilia were the daughters of James Smith Adams (a squire, 1780-1860) and Elizabeth Emma McTaggart (1793-1843) of Tower House, Woodchester in Gloucester, a property which Elizabeth later inherited. Originally a monastery, Tower House had been converted into a stately home after the Reformation. According to information originally provided by the donor, both this dress and the dress T0004.1 were made for Elizabeth and Cecilia, to be worn at the young Queen Victoria’s first 'drawing room ball' following the end of court mourning in 1838 for her uncle William IV who died in 1837. In 1838 Cecilia would have been twelve years old and Elizabeth would have been ten years old. It is possible that this dress was worn by one of the girls to this event as it is of appropriate dimensions for a child of that age, although its design is very formal and adult. Elizabeth was born on 30 June 1828 at Tower House and died on 1 May 1909. She created a scandal when she eloped with her first husband, Thomas Charles Gardiner at the age of 18. The validity of the marriage was later formally investigate and, while it was confirmed as valid, a second church wedding was subsequently held. Thomas died in 1878. Elizabeth subsequently remarried Reverend R. E. Blackwell, but was widowed again by 1889. Cecilia was born on 17 December 1826 and died in 1902 a spinster recluse in England. At the inquest into Cecelia's death in 1904 it was revealed that she had clearly come from a family of means as her home was filled to the brim with highly valuable goods, many in boxes. She was buried in the family vault at Woodchester. Elizabeth and Cecilia's sister Sophia converted to Roman Catholicism in 1851 and became a nun, taking the religious name 'Rose Columba'. In 1883 Mother Rose Columba led a group of eight to Australia, answering a call for Dominican sisters to nurse the sick in Adelaide. Upon arrival, she founded St. Dominic's Priory and the Church of Perpetual Adoration in North Adelaide, using her inheritance to build the chapel. Elizabeth's second son, George Henry Somerset, who inherited the Adams family estate dropped the 'i' in Gardiner and added the maiden name of his grandmother. Therefore, the family name has now become Gardner McTaggart. These Adams family entries have been updated with information provided by Dr Herbert Gardner McTaggart, great-grandson of George Henry Somerset in April 2016. Mr McTaggart contacted the society after finding our entries online.A hand sewn cream, pale blue, orange and gold embroidered satin formal dress, the bodice dates from circa 1840. This dress shares a skirt with T0004.2, which dates from a different period (circa 1890). The bodice features a wide shallow neckline finished with a beige coloured cord in two decorative lines. The sleeve is set on the true shoulder and is a short fitted sleeve with decorative gathering and two lines of corded detail. The bodice is shaped to the body with 2 sets of six fine knife pleats diagonally positioned narrower over the waist and spreading out over the bust. These pleats are secured with six double lines of stitching. The bodice finishes high on the waistline at either side and points down to a point over the centre front. The base of the bodice is finished with a piped edge and beige decorative cording. The bodice encloses the body at the centre back where it has holes that presumably would have held lacing. The back features four diagonal knife pleats finishing at the centre back and splaying out over the shoulders. The waistline at the back features only a very gentle point.cecilia elizabeth adams, elizabeth emma adams, james smith adams, elizabeth emma mctaggart, sophia charlotte louisa adams, queen victoria, drawing room ball, 1840s fashion, tower house, woodchester

This evening dress belonged to Clara Johnstone Miller (nee Bell, 1866-1910). Clara was the only daughter of Mr James Bell, a councillor of the Shire of Leigh (today a part of Golden Plains Shire) and owner of Woolbrook Homestead in Teesdale, near Geelong. In 1888, Clara married prominent businessman, racehorse owner, racing identity and pastoralist Septimus Miller (1854-1925). Septimus was the sixth of seven children born to Henry 'Money' Miller and Eliza Miller (nee Mattinson). 'Money' Miller was a well known financier and politician and reputedly one of Australia's wealthiest people in his time. In 1889, Clara and Septimus moved into the house 'Cantala' in Dandenong Road, Caulfield. They had one child, Gwendoline Stewart Miller, who died in 1902 at the age of thirteen of diabetes - a largely untreatable condition at the time (insulin would not be discovered until 1921). Clara died in 1910, aged only 44. Septimus subsequently married Helen (nee Henderson), with whom he had a son, Ronald (1915-1990). The Millers were buried in the Brighton General Cemetery in a large Gothic-style vault. Upon Clara's death, Septimus sent much of her clothing and Gwendoline's to her mother Mary Bell. Some of these items were passed down to two of Clara's nieces, Miss Mary Bell and Mrs Lois Lillies, who donated them to BHS around 1973.A yellow and lime green silk and net evening dress from c.1909. The bodice is constructed of a golden silk satin with an over bodice of a very soft gold net with soft gold and lime green embroidery decorated with flower and bow motif's. The neckline is bateau like in shape with the edge following the flowers of the lace design. The bodice is sleeveless with a loose detached cap that hangs down over the top of the arm with a lace covering. The under fabric of the bodice is shaped and lightly boned but the over lace is looser, nipping in at the waist where it joins the skirt. At the back, the bodice neckline scoops lower than the front with the lace overlay creating a v shape at the centre back. The bodice is secured with hooks and eyes and waist tapes. The skirt is flat fronted and floor length consisting of the same golden yellow silk with soft gold and lime green embroidered net over skirt. The lace net over skirt features larger motifs and greater embellishment towards the bottom of the skirt. The lace over lay also has an edge that follows the design of the lace rather than a straight edge. At the back the underskirt is flat and shaped but the over skirt is lightly gathered and loose hanging. The skirt finishes in a full skirt and a rounded, small train.woolbrook, septimus miller, cantala, henry 'money' miller, gwendoline miller, clara miller, 1900s fashion, caulfield, brighton general cemetery

The donor and family of this gown were long-term Brighton residents, and the gowns were held by them as family heirlooms prior to donation to Brighton Historical Society. Originally owned by Elizabeth Emma Adams and Cecilia Elizabeth Adams, it is believed that the dress was brought to Australia by either a half brother, James Smith Adams, or a younger sister, Sophia Charlotte Louisa Adams (later known as Mother Rose Columba Adams). Elizabeth and Cecilia were the daughters of James Smith Adams (a squire, 1780-1860) and Elizabeth Emma McTaggart (1793-1843) of Tower House, Woodchester in Gloucester, a property which Elizabeth later inherited. Originally a monastery, Tower House had been converted into a stately home after the Reformation. According to information originally provided by the donor, the skirt portion of this dress (along with the bodice T0004.3) was made for either Elizabeth or Cecilia to be worn at the young Queen Victoria’s first 'drawing room ball' following the end of court mourning in 1838 for her uncle William IV who died in 1837. In 1838 Cecilia would have been twelve years old and Elizabeth would have been ten years old. It is possible that this dress was worn by one of the girls to this event as it is of appropriate dimensions for a child of that age, although its design is very formal and adult. Elizabeth was born on 30 June 1828 at Tower House and died on 1 May 1909. She created a scandal when she eloped with her first husband, Thomas Charles Gardiner at the age of 18. The validity of the marriage was later formally investigate and, while it was confirmed as valid, a second church wedding was subsequently held. Thomas died in 1878. Elizabeth subsequently remarried Reverend R. E. Blackwell, but was widowed again by 1889. Cecilia was born on 17 December 1826 and died in 1902 a spinster recluse in England. At the inquest into Cecelia's death in 1904 it was revealed that she had clearly come from a family of means as her home was filled to the brim with highly valuable goods, many in boxes. She was buried in the family vault at Woodchester. Elizabeth and Cecilia's sister Sophia converted to Roman Catholicism in 1851 and became a nun, taking the religious name 'Rose Columba'. In 1883 Mother Rose Columba led a group of eight to Australia, answering a call for Dominican sisters to nurse the sick in Adelaide. Upon arrival, she founded St. Dominic's Priory and the Church of Perpetual Adoration in North Adelaide, using her inheritance to build the chapel. Elizabeth's second son, George Henry Somerset, who inherited the Adams family estate dropped the 'i' in Gardiner and added the maiden name of his grandmother. Therefore, the family name has now become Gardner McTaggart. These Adams family entries have been updated with information provided by Dr Herbert Gardner McTaggart, great-grandson of George Henry Somerset in April 2016. Mr McTaggart contacted the society after finding our entries online.A hand and machine sewn cream, pale blue, orange and gold embroidered satin formal dress, the bodice dates from circa 1890. This dress shares a skirt with T0004.3, which dates from circa 1840. The bodice features a high scoop neckline with gathers at the base of the scoop and directly below where the bodice finishes creating fullness over the bust. The bodice front encloses the bust with a right panel over the top of a left panel and securing with two hook and eye closures over the left shoulder. The panels are secured together with 15 hook and eye closures. The sleeves are set neatly on the true shoulder and are elongated full puffs to just above the elbow. The fullness is created by nine pleats from the top of the shoulder over the back of the shoulder. At the base of the sleeve the fullness is gathered just above the elbow. At the centre back of the bodice are four inward facing pleats running from the centre neck to the waist. The bodice is secured around the waist with a tape and four hook and eye closures. The bodice is boned around the sides and back of the torso with eight bones. This bodice is finished at the waist with a pleated cummerbund of the dress fabric that is designed to appear to be a sash with two decorative bows. One front left of centre and one back right of centre. The skirt secures at the waist with an opening to the left of centre at the back. The skirt gathers tightly at the centre back with a dart on either side. The skirt has a front central panel and the skirt falls to floor length. At the back, the skirt is also floor length. The back of the skirt may have been modified at some time and may have originally finished in a train. It would be more appropriate to the period of the bodice, and the believed use of the dress with a train.cecilia elizabeth adams, elizabeth emma adams, queen victoria, tower house, woodchester, james smith adams, elizabeth emma mctaggart, sophia charlotte louisa adams, 1890s fashion

This wedding dress came from the estate of Ena Heazlewood. Born in Warrnambool in 1920 Mary Josephine (Ena) Todd was a hairdresser at Josephine’s Salon in Warrnambool. In 1942 she married a Warrnambool man, Jack Heazlewood, a stoker on the H.M.A.S. Sydney at the time. She was wearing this wedding dress. The dress was also worn by two other brides – Ena’s sister-in-law. Mavis McDonald when she married Jim Heazlewood in December 1942 and her sister Rita Todd when she married Bill Kane in 1947 (the bodice of the dress was altered for Rita’s wedding). The photograph shows the wedding of Field James (Jim) Heazlewood and Mavis Marie McDonald who were married on 23/12/1942This dress is of of some significance as it is not only a lovely example of a 1940s wedding dress but it has local provenance, being worn by a Warrnambool person, Ena Todd when she married another Warrnambool identity, Jack Heazlewood in 1942. This is a white lace dress with a fitted bodice, a square neckline and a lace band at the waist edged with satin. The dress has set-in long sleeves with a press stud clips at the wrists. The waist at the back has a loose band of lace material. The skirt is slightly flared and is floor length at the front with a cotton net frill edging, now slightly tattered. The dress at the back has a wide rounded train with a net frill edging. The side ends of the train have inserted lace panels. The dress is slightly yellowed with age. vintage clothing, todd & heazlewood families, warrnambool

This dress was typical of those worn on special 'after 5 pm' occasions eg. dinner dances, weddings, balls. There were many such functions at Mt Beauty and in the Kiewa Valley eg. the Hospital BallThis dress was worn (and possibly made) by Margaret Mc Kendrick (nee Vyner) who lived in Tawonga when growing up. She married Ian Mc Kendrick and they lived in Mt Beauty. She worked as a nurse at the Tawonga & District hospital. Ian worked at the Mt Beauty Post Office. They had 3 children.Pink satin ladies cocktail 'after 5' dress. Sleeveless fitted bodice. Pleated skirt with straight front and back panels. Zip at back is full length. It's jacket has a matching lace, long sleeved, scalloped edge, with 5 covered buttons at the back and 6 press studs.'after 5' dress; ladies clothing; margaret mckendrick; tawonga

This dress was worn by Margaret Vyner on her wedding day to Ian Mc Kendrick. Margaret's mother's name was Rita. Margaret was living with her family at Tawonga, Ian was living at Mt Beauty.The couple were locals of the Kiewa Valley. Ian worked at the Mt Beauty Post Office and Margaret at the Tawonga & District Hospital. Their 3 children grew up in Mt Beauty.Ivory / off white satin wedding dress with a train at the back. Puffed with stiffening & padded long sleeves which come to a point at the wrist where fastened with a press stud. Ruched cross over bodice with a V neckline with a semi circular skirt. Plain back to the waist and a half self belt fastened at the back by 3 covered buttons and 3 loops. Left side as a plaquet fastened by 2 hooks and eyes. Semi circular skirt which has, at the rear, a 100 cm train with a finger loop.wedding dress; margaret vyner (mckendrick); tawonga; ladies' clothing

Long blue/pale green (or aqua) sleeveless gown with floating panels. Gloves are long and plain blue (or aqua). Bag has a chain and is made of the same material as the gown. Pale green embossed satin, short sleeves, long skirt. Fitted waist and bodice. Four gored skirt. Lined with taffeta. Scoop back with a chiffon tail. Matching satin long to the elbow gloves. Matching evening bag. Made of the same material and with a silver clasp.ball gown, reid family