Australian Dress Register

William Moxey b. 06/10/1845 at Devon d. 03/05/ 1918 m. 1869 Sarah Dawson

Issue: Emily, George, Alice, Edith, Minnie, William, Lydia, Oliver, Alfred, Ada, Agnes, Frank, Oswald

Joseph & Martha Dawson arrived in Australia in 1841 with six of their children. Sarah was born in Australia. After tennant farming at Tomago the family moved to Williamtown.

Richard & Mary Moxey arrived in Australia in 1848 and eventually settled at Williamtown.

Their eldesr son, William was married to Sarah Dawson in 1869 and had 13 children, 11 of whom survived to adulthood. Both families were devout church followers, although the Moxey later became strong adherents of the Wesleyan Church.

In the early stages of their marriage a drought and crop failure tested their endurance but eventually they established a successful dairy farm followed later by cattle breeding.

Devon House, the Moxey family home was erected in 1889 and occupied by them up to about 10 years ago when the house was sold.

It is an important link with our history and heritage. It allows an insight into the working of a normal farming family living in a small community. The family through their own efforts prospered and had a lasting imput to the town of Williamtown.

The material for this project has been supplied through archival collection of the Raymond Terrace Historical Soc. information supplied by Marea Moxey both orally and via her family history publication.

This garment is considered to be in such a fragile condition as to preclude any thought of exposing it to public exhibition.

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coarse grograin type mid blue binding outer hem with lining

Thin cotton piping on middle of outer sleeve from shoulder to wrist - also around armhole, neck and wrist

narrow white cotton, left bodice front opening, and around armholes, neck and wrist

two large unpressed pleats forming bodice gathering to waist

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1. Colour: Mid blue with two smaller self stripes in lighter blue or blue/grey.

2. Taffeta or silk taffeta completely lines in cream bleached calico.

3. close weave.

4. In correct storage box wrapped and lined with acid free tissue with tissue inserted between layers of skirt, bodice and sleeves.

Originally a small coatee of white hail muslin was part of the ensomble

Main seams appear to have been done by machine, although all other joinings including

waist, edges and linings have been done by hand.

N/A

Two waist darts have been let out, possibly when Sarah Moxey had her photo taken in the dress

in 1941 to celebrate her 72nd wedding anniversary and her 90th birthday

section of the back bodice has been cut on the biaswith a curved insert from sleeve to waist line.

The rest of the dress has been cut on the straight with a gathered skirt.

Hook & eye fasteners have been hand sewn down the front bodice and at the wrist openings

This was a simple dress with no padding or whalebones or steel.

The entire gown, including sleeves, has been lined with a type of calico, and hand sewn to the dress at all the seams. As this was made for a February wedding, it would have been a rather hot dress to wear for that time of the year. The other alternative is that no other suitable material was available at the time. The addition of a sheer white coatee enhanced the appearance.

The Raymond Terrace Historical Soc. Inc. has also had donated to it the following Moxey articles.

1. History of Moxey family published by Marea Moxey

2. Family photo album

3. Moxey family Spring Cart, used to take produce to Newcastle and Raymond Terrace markets

Several attempts have been made to repair small tears around the hem. They appear to have been done in a hurry as they are crude in operation and not in keeping with the original work on the garment.