-
Australian dress register ID:
241 -
Owner:
Grenfell Historical Society -
Owner registration number:
2008/1358 -
Date range:
1880 -
Place of origin:
Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia -
Gender:
Female
Object information
Significance statement
This dress was worn by Mary Napier when she married Alfred Hilder in Grenfell on 24 May 1880. Both families came to Grenfell following the discovery of gold in October 1866 and remained after the gold ran out. The dress appears to be hand made and could possibly have been used again on formal occasions. It is significant in that the dress is one of only a few garments that survived from this period that can be directly linked to the history of Grenfell. It is well provenanced and in fairly good condition. Author: Lisa Eastaway, 2nd July 2010.
Description
A coffee coloured brocade wedding dress with a fitted waist, layered gored skirt with bows and satin ribbon.
History and Provenance
Births, deaths, marriages, children or family information
Alfred and Mary Hilder (nee Napier) had seven children, all born in Grenfell between the years 1880 and 1897. Alfred died on 16 Jul 1936 at the age of 80 and Mary died 16 Feb 1954, aged 95 years. They are buried together in the Anglican section of the Grenfell Cemetery.
Do you have any stories or community information associated with this?
The Hilder family came to Grenfell in the 1870s, probably on the tail of the gold discovery in 1866. Alfred Hilder held several mail runs in the district in the 1880s and was obviously civic minded as he appears as a Trustee of Grenfell Common in 1883. By 1894 Alfred was a shearer and a member of the Amalgamated Shearers Union of Australia. There are descendants still in the district today and Hilder St is named after the family.
How does this garment relate to the wider historical context?
This wedding dress fits into the wider historical context by being an example of bridal dresses of rural Australia. It is believed the dress was hand made as were most dresses of the period. The modern day perspective of a white wedding is disproved here where practicality takes over. It is likely that this dress was worn more than once. It is an example of how the dress was cherished that it was gifted to the museum 128 years after first being worn.
Where did this information come from?
Grand daughter and files held at the Grenfell Museum.
This garment has been exhibited
On temporary display at the Grenfell Museum.
Place of origin:
Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Cost:
Unknown
Owned by:
Mary Hilder nee Napier.
Worn by:
Mary Napier
Occasion(s):
Wedding to Alfred Hilder.
Place:
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Grenfell.
Designed by:
Unknown
Made by:
Unknown
Made for:
Mary Napier
Fibre / Weave
Colour: Coffee
Fibre: Brocade
Weave: Brocade
Location: Satin ribbon on layers of skirt and bows, lace collar, metal buttons on bodice and sleeves
- Natural dye
- Synthetic dye
Manufacture
It is assumed that the garment is hand sewn. There are no manufacturer's labels.
- Hand sewn
- Machine sewn
- Knitted
- Other
Measurements
| dress | |
|---|---|
| Girth | |
| Chest | 810 mm |
| Waist | 590 mm |
| Vertical | |
| Back neck to hem | 1450 mm |
| Sleeve length | 520 mm |
| Convert to inches | |
Condition
Evidence of repairs
Nil
Insect damage
Nil
Mould damage
Nil
State
- Excellent
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
Damage
- Stained