Historical information

Marion “Annie” (Cooper) Harrison, a milliner by trade, designed and made women’s hats, initially in the 1940s in High Street, and later in the 1950s and 60s at 5 Princess Street. The hats were constructed upstairs in her shop in Princes Street while the ground floor was reserved for sales and display. She employed other milliners to assist but always ran the showroom herself. Hectic periods were in the weeks before the big racing carnivals when the many wealthy race-goers of Kew kept her busy. She typically walked to her business as she and her husband, Fred Harrison, lived locally. Annie died in April 2016, at the great age of 107 years. Her hats are held in local and national collections. This hat was purchased and worn by Kathleen Gervasoni, a long-term resident and former Mayoress of Kew.

Significance

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.

Physical description

Faux leopard skin brimmed hat, lined in black, trimmed with two pom poms at back. Designed and made by milliner Anne Harrison of Kew. Anne Harrison designed hats to order for clients, or you could choose a style and have it trimmed to taste.

Inscriptions & markings

Label, inside centre crown, woven in black on white polyester: "WM 9906 / Anne Harrison OF KEW"