Historical information

The design of the uniform with its silver, diamond shaped buttons with the Scottish thistle symbol on them, indicate that the uniform was made for a Scottish Pipe Band member.

There may be a connection with the local Warrnambool and District Pipes and Drums Inc, which began as the Warrnambool Pip Band in 1906, formed with the purpose of popularising Scottish music. Those with uniforms wore the Gordon tartan. In 1946 the uniforms were changed, with the Cameron or Errcht tartan chosen for the uniform. The Band now wears the Anderson tartan.

The maker, David Lack Pty Ltd, advertised as a uniform specialist. In 1941 the business was located at 35-37 Little Latrobe Street, Melbourne. In the same year the firm won a contract with the Commonwealth Government Department of Supply, providing blue trousers for the Department of Air. In 1946 a branch of the firm operated in Myrtleford, Victoria. The Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, branch provided new uniforms in 1948 for the Leeton District Band. In the 1950s and 1960s David Lack manufactured blazers for the Olympic Teams as well as for bowls teams and schools. The Broken Hills Cameron Pipe Band' was gifted with uniforms that were also made by David Lack. It was a "... a Cameron of Lochlel red kilt and plaid, with black doublets and cross belts, and silver trimmings.” [Barrier Miner, Broken Hiss, 15-03-1954].

Significance

The pipe band uniform jacket's design is associated with traditional Scottish pipe bands that originated in the United Kingdom and continue to this day in Australia and even locally in Warrnambool since 1908.
The maker, David Lack Pty Ltd, is renowned as the maker of good quality uniforms who has supplied many government contracts for clothing and uniforms since the early 1940s.

Physical description

Uniform tunic; red jacket; Scottish Pipe Band Doublet with silver braid and silver diamond-shaped button closure and decoration. The buttons have the Scottish thistle symbol on them. There are seven buttons on the tunic front, three on each skirt flap, three on each contrasting black cuff and one on each black epaulette. The tunic has a two-inch stand-up collar. The whole item is fully lined with black nylon/silk blend fabric, the shoulders are padded, and there are pockets under the front skirts. There is an inscription on the maker's sewn-in label. Made by David Lack Pty Ltd, a uniform specialist in Melbourne.

Inscriptions & markings

Label "David Lack Pty Ltd, uniform specialist Melbourne. "