Historical information
This swimsuit is part of a collection of clothing donated to the Brighton Historical Society by Dr William and Helen Wells. It belonged to William's mother, Dorothy Wells (nee Marshall, 1910-2000).
William's family has had a long association with Brighton, dating back to the town's earliest days in 1843 when his ancestors Robert and Eliza Hayball, who had emigrated to Melbourne two years prior, established a wattle-and-daub hut in what is now New Street, close to Tovell Street. Robert established a business as a timber merchant on the opposite side of New Street. His sons, Robert, William and Edwin took over the firm following his retirement, trading as the Hayball Bros. Hayball Court, which runs off New Street, is named after the family.
Robert's son William (1855-1926) married Jessie Robertson and had four children. Their eldest, Winifred Grace Hayball (1886-1971), married Andrew Hollingsworth Marshall at the Black Street Congregational Church in 1907. They subsequently lived in Hill Street, Hawthorn, before moving into a house designed by Andrew and Winifred's brother Robert at 39 Bay Street, Brighton in 1915.
Their daughter, Dorothy Marshall (1910-2000) married Robert George (Argie) Wells in 1937 at Wesley College Chapel. They lived in East Malvern until 1947, when they moved into a newly built home in Hawthorn Road, East Brighton, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Their son, William Wells (b. 1939) married Helen Pickering in 1968 and the couple have lived together in Brighton ever since.
Physical description
Blue knitted woollen women's one-piece swimsuit featuring a scooped back and braided crossover shoulder straps which thread through loops at the back. Small shorts cover the tops of the thighs, underneath a short modesty skirt.
Inscriptions & markings
Designer's label near front hem, proper left: a narrow white triangular lance logo, bordered with black and featuring black text: "BLACK LANCE".
Small label proper left inside seam: "BLACK LANCE / KNITTED WEAR / 38"
