Historical information

This afternoon dress was owned and first worn in 1875 by Alice (Henty) Hindson, the daughter of Francis Henty and Mary Ann (Lawrence) Henty. The outfit was worn in the same year as Alice's marriage to John Hindson at Trinity Church, East Melbourne, and may have formed part of her trousseau. Alice's father, Francis Henty, was the youngest son of Thomas Henty, who with his family, their retainers and property moved to the Australian colonies between 1829 and 1832. In 1834, Francis’ older brother, Edward, sailed from Launceston in Van Diemen’s Land to what was to become Portland in the western part of Port Phillip District [Victoria]. Francis, together with the first flock of Merino sheep [in Victoria], followed some months later. The first and second generations of the Henty family established vast pastoral properties in the Western part of the Port Phillip District. Francis Henty managed ‘Merino Downs’ near Casterton, while also living in his retirement at ‘Field Place' in Kew.

Significance

The Henty Collection of nineteenth and twentieth century clothing, including outerwear and underwear, was collected, stored and exhibited over time by female family members descended from Francis and Mary Ann Henty. During the twentieth century, items from the collection were modelled in two fashion parades by various descendants [1937, 1959]. The items in the collection are historically and aesthetically significant, with provenance provided by oral and written tradition within or held by the family. A number of the items in the collection are very rare survivors, and provide researchers with the evidence needed to reconstruct the lives of notable women in the Port Phillip District [later Victoria] during the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Physical description

Alice (Henty) Hindson's afternoon dress is a two-piece, two-toned pink ensemble made of silk taffeta. The detailing is done with fine knife-pleated trims piped in ivory satin and decorated with ivory silk moiré bows on the bodice and skirt. The panelled peplum jacket is boned and the front button closure has hand-embroidered buttonholes with handmade covered buttons. The gathered full buttoned skirt falls into a train. The skirt is decorated with rows of ivory tulle corded lace and the hemline is edged with crisp fluted organza and tatted lace.

Measurements (mm):
BODICE:
Girth - Neck 355.6, Chest 863.6, Waist 685.8, Hip 787.4, Cuff 304.8, Hem circumference 1422.4.
Vertical - From neck to hem 546.1, Front waist to hem 241.3, Back neck to hem 609.6, Back waist to hem 355.6, Sleeve length 330.2.
Horizontal - Neck to sleeve head 60, Underarm to underarm 419.1.
SKIRT
Girth - Waist 558.8, Hip 1473.2, Hem circumference 3911.6.
Vertical - Front waist to hem 1092.2, Back waist to hem 1524.