Australian Dress Register

The Birds selected were magpies, parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras, galahs and Regent bower birds while the animals were the 'much loved lumbering Koalas ... and the world-renowned Kangaroos'. The display culminated in a series of tableaux: the Spirit of Australia, Federation, the Call of 1914, the British Commonwealth of Nations and the Wheel of Progress, 'a symbol of world unity through understanding and co-operation'.

William Miller recalls having to form up into lines 'and wave your wings about at the appropriate time'. He was photographed wearing the costume in the backyard of his home at Burwood.

Each child was presented with a sesquicentenary medal for taking part in the parades.

His mother Lila had herself taken part in the MLC Empire Day parade in 1915.

The gum blossom outfit was worn by three year old Pat Dale of Mosman, one of twelve thousand children who took part in for the Public School Children's Festival / Sesquicentenary of European settlement of Australia. It took place on the sixth and seventh of April 1938 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Festival was divided into a series of sections including 'Our land', 'Wheat', 'Wool', 'Garden of Native Flowers', 'Native animals' and the 'British Commonwealth of Nations' and, finally, 'Nations of the World'.

Pat Dale wore this outfit in the section called 'Garden of Native Flowers' section where girls attended a girl representing Australia in 1788. A second girl represented Australia in 1938 attended by the 'fruits of civilisation and industry'. Pat's sister whose costume has not survived was dressed as Britannia. Another child, Marie Day, was one of two 'English' girls who presented bouquets to dignitaries. The boys wore costumes depicting native birds and animals while the girls wore more passive costumes relating to wheat-sheafs, flowers and plants. The event was highly choreographed and the children wore the costumes twice, once for rehearsal and once for the event itself.

All children were given a medallion by the state government in gratitude for the many hours of preparation and rehearsal that they had endured.

Fancy dress is a way to lift the spirits especially in times of constraint. Crepe paper afforded a colourful and inexpensive way to enjoy acting out an alter ego and joining in a festive celebration. Unfortunately crepe paper had its downside. When wet the colour would run onto skin and clothing and leave nasty stains.

The pageant committee thought long and hard about how to represent Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald 22/2/1938 reported committee discussions that led to the choice of two female figures to represent Australia. Other contenders were a surf lifesaver, a jackeroo and a farmer but it was thought these pushed sport and primary production too much. Director of Cinesound Ken Hall, thought choosing a young boy wrongly emphasised the 'infant nation' idea, which Australia had outgrown . Mr L.A.Robb president of the Returned Serviceman's League wanted an Anzac (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) 'I don't like the idea of a female symbol at all. It does not give enough strength' he said. An indigenous figure was not discussed.

From Pat Dale herself in 2002.

Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales exhibition 'Fancy Dress' at Elizabeth Bay House 2002.

It was through advertising for fancy dress costumes from the public for this exhibition that the outfit came to light and Pat Dale was able to tell her charming story.

At the opening of the exhibition Pat (aged 67) met her friend William Miller (a magpie) whom she had not seen since the sesquicentenary celebration when she was 3.

Fringing has been created by cutting the crepe paper.

Crepe paper forms the main visible fabric of this costume.

It is lined with a green plain weave cotton fabric.

The lining is sewn by machine and the finishing and fastenings by hand. The crepe paper is cut vertically to create the effect of gum blossom petals.

No label.

No alterations.

The crepe paper is cut to create a generously layered fringed effect like a flower petal.

The back opens from top to bottom and fastens with a hook and eye at waist and 2 pairs of press studs at neck and centre back.

Green cotton lining.

Fancy dress was a popular party theme when people had more time to make things before television dominated family life. Most women sewed to stretch the weekly budget a bit further. Patterns for crepe paper fancy dress outfits were available for purchase.

Sydney Morning Herald 22/2/1938

'Great Australian Girls and the Remarkable Women they became' by Susan Geason, pub. ABC Books 1999.

2006/2/1 Magpie costume worn for the same event by William Miller. His sister was a sunflower. Alan's mother Lila Froud made the costumes at workshops at Burwood Primary School.

William Miller (born 1929) was aged nine and at Burwood Public School when he was selected to take part in the Public School Children's Festival at Sydney Cricket Ground to celebrate the 1938 sesquicentenary. He can remember going to the cricket ground twice, once to rehearse for the Schools Display and once for the performance on Wednesday 6 April 1938. In fact the performance was repeated on 7 April. The program described the display as not a 'panoramic review of the historical incidents of the century and a half but a children's jubilation depicting in happy, joyous, dancing strains the spirit of our land and our national background'. There were thirteen parts to the Display beginning with Homeland -- 2,064 girls from Domestic Science Schools dancing in 'picturesque national costume' -- and including a Living Southern Cross made up of 1400 primary school girls, a Garden of Native Flowers formed by 2016 infant and primary girls in costume and Birds and Animals with 1500 primary school boys dressed in 'the rich plumage of birds ... [who] by characteristic movements finally provide a background for a few of our animals'.

Some tiny holes indicate insect damage.