Historical information

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 23/12/1942

Significance

This 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.

Physical description

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.