Historical information

Through the address on the box, this dress has a local connection. Miss Mavis Hedrick operated a dress salon at 162 Liebig St Warrnambool in the 1940's. Her parents lived at various houses in Warrnambool, including Skene, Spence and Princess Sts. She married John William Freeman in 1942 and left Warrnambool some time after that date. From wedding reports of the day it doesn't seem that this is Miss Hedrick's wedding dress. It seems more likely that it was purchased from her frock salon in Liebig St Warrnambool.

Significance

While the owner and original wearer of this dress has eluded us, the dress has a strong link to Warrnambool through the original box with its identifying labels. The dress is very much in the style of the era of Miss Hedrick's dress shop..

Physical description

This cream silk wedding dress and slip was donated in original cardboard box with the address written in large letters on the front. The dress is cream silk with gold metallic trim in two lines across the bodice.There are silk covered buttons on the front and back of the bodice and it has a high rounded V neckline.It has long lily point sleeves .There is a side opening with hook and eye fastening.The skirt is cut on the cross and a small train flows from the back of the dress. A simple A line slip accompanies the dress. It has ribbon shoulder straps and the top is edged in a fine narrow lace.
The large box is rectangular and grey in colour. The addressee's name is written in large lettering in black (possibly crayon) . A label is pasted to the top right hand corner. A Victorian Railways stamp is loose with the item.

Inscriptions & markings

On the Box : Miss Hedrick Frock Salon Warrnambool On Label in top RH corner: Mollard & Williams 238 Flinders Lane Melbourne. Stamp: Victorian Railways Parcel stamp 8d Melbourne