Re published with permission of Brighton Historical Society This dressing gown, made from a double bed crazy quilt, shows the work of many hands over many years, from around 1860 to 1915. Initiated by the family of Emerald Hill hoteliers William and Polly Hodgens, the quilt became a communal work featuring contributions from relatives, friends, Read More
Re published with permission of Brighton Historical Society The winning entry in the 1963 Gown of the Year competition, this ball gown is a sumptuous creation of French guipure lace embroidered with silk ribbon and hand-beaded with pearl crystals and French paillettes. Designed by Lorna White for local fashion house Hartnell of Melbourne, the dress represents, Read More
Re published with permission of Brighton Historical Society In difficult times the need for love and romance prevails, offering hope and distraction from events. Family and community are an important source of support and sharing of resources. Worn by three Brighton brides between 1941 and 1948, this wedding dress holds a local story of love, family, Read More
Republished with permission of Brighton Historical Society For those living through the World Wars and financial hardship of the early-to-mid twentieth century, hard work and sacrifice were all too familiar. Through its design, wear, tear and repair, this 1940s grocer’s dustcoat innately reflects the interwoven world events and their impact on the everyday lives of ordinary, Read More
There are certain people who come into your life who make a significant impact. One of those people for me has been a women who has become a dear friend and colleague. A woman who puts all other people and causes before herself and so she would not want me to say too much, Read More
In the latter part of 2017 Brighton Historical Society was thrilled to receive a Local History Grant from the Public Records Office Victoria. The project is to catalogue a substantial selection of the most important pieces of its costume collection onto Museums Victoria’s Victorian Collections data base. Laura Jocic and I are honoured and, Read More
Unfortunately by the time you are reading this, the exhibition will be over! Ah well. Due to other commitments both professional and personal I have not managed to get this post published in a timely manner. Never mind. It was a lovely little exhibition held by the City of Glen Eira as part of, Read More
Can you hear it? Listen for it, after Marion’s laugh. It is the unique sound of beautiful sequinned lace, rustling as it moves, almost like soft rain on a tin roof. It is a sound that Marion Boyce, award winning Costume designer of crime series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and feature film The Dressmaker is, Read More
Over the last two years Jo Jenkinson has quietly but doggedly worked away on her new book ‘The Lure of The Beach’ a history of sea bathing in Brighton. Published with the aid of a Local History Grant from The Victorian State Government, it relates stories including the days of the early horse drawn, Read More
OK! I admit it…. this is a thinly disguised excuse to share this knitting pattern with you!!!! Oh how I laughed when I found this one! But as the saying goes…. things come around. Perhaps I’ll be seen sporting a pair of these some time soon?? Ok, not likely… It’s Terminology Tuesday again and, Read More