Fancy Dress and Dressing Fancy

Curated by the Western Australian Museum

From a girl dressed as the Guardian Newspaper to three men dressed in an elephant costume, explore the strange world of Western Australian fancy dress and fashion from the early 1800s to the late 1960s.

An elephant with its keeper.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4724432_4

Late 1800s

Hilda Cowan and Lillian (Frances Lillian Stone) Hillman in fancy dress, 1887.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4879346_2

Douglas Gawler in fancy dress, ca. 1890?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2989338_1

Bessie Laffer in fancy dress for the Roebourne Ball, 1898.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4721799_2

Early 1900s

K. E. Stafford in fancy dress, ca. 1900?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2958279_1

Elsie Brockway in fancy dress as the "Guardian Newspaper", ca. 1908.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3878479_1

Olga and Len Liddell in fancy dress, ca.1909.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4546055_1

A man signing himself Mary Burkett dressed in women's clothes, 1910-1920.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2085318_2

Studio portrait of Miss Morrison in fancy dress 1912 - 1914.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2871095_1

After a fancy dress ball in Barnard Hall, Busselton, ca. 1913. Left-right: Back: Charles Barnard, Ethel Yelverton, Mr Collett, Vi Yelverton, Mr Irwin, ?, Hector Aitkin; Seated: Jack Bignell, Nee Lomax, Mrs J. Bignell, Nan Ross, George Barnard.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3306260_1

World War I

Postcard, World War I - with colour tinted photograph of man in red had, green jacket and red pantaloon style trousers looking at woman in pink dress. Message on reverse in purple pencil "Note the dress".
Western Australian Museum – H1999.255

Postcard, World War I - colour tinted photograph of woman in pink dress sitting at a table, looking at photograph. In top corner is photograph of soldier in blue uniform. Caption at top in white "Baiser/D'Amour". Written in purple pencil on reverse "1916".
Western Australian Museum – H1999.274

Postcard, World War I - colour tinted photograph of woman in pink dress and man in suit standing behind a chair. Both are holding pink roses. Written on reverse in purple pencil "1916/Sep".
Western Australian Museum – H1999.282

Belgian Relief Fundraising

Fancy dress in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund at Narrogin, 1915.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4544056_1

Fancy dress in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund at Narrogin, 1915.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4544056_2

France, England, and Paper Hats

Mrs N. Moulton in fancy dress, ca. 1915.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3300801_1

Studio portrait of Ella Mackay wearing a paper hat, 1915?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2474449_2

Nannup Fancy Dress Party

Fancy dress party - Mrs Fish & Mrs Kidd, Nannup, ca.1917.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4393953_1

Fancy dress party - Mr McLeod, Mrs Kidd & Cherry Lord, Nannup, ca.1917.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4393953_2

Sharman Children

Sharman children in fancy dress, 1920-1925.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2870849_1

An Elephant and it's Keeper

Three men in an elephant with its keeper costume for a fancy dress party in Wyndham, 1924?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4724432_3

Three men in an elephant with its keeper costume for a fancy dress party in Wyndham, 1924?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4724432_4

Fancy Dress in the late 1920s

Bobby in his (bear) sheepskin, Wyndham, 1924?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4724726_2

Fashions at the 1926 Perth Cup.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2007078_1

Donald and Audrey Leslie in fancy dress, Kalgoorlie, 1927.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2398960_2

Donald and Audrey Leslie in fancy dress, Kalgoorlie, 1927.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b2398960_1

Advertisement for the Lord Mayor's Unemployment Fund Plain & Fancy Dress Ball to be held Thursday 24th October 1929.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3473470_1

Children of Group Settlement No. 139 in fancy dress for centenary celebrations, 1929.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3005631_1

Edith Cowan at the Old Time Ball

Learn more about Edith Dircksey Cowan

Edith Cowan in fancy dress at the Old Time Ball, 1930.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4879397_2

Kids in Costumes

Children in fancy dress at a school in Gutha, ca. 1937.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3783928_1

Fancy dress ball at Dalwallinu, ca.1937.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4615668_1

Children at Allawah Grove prepare for a fancy dress party, 1960?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4773483_1

Children at Allawah Grove prepare for a fancy dress party, 1960?
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b4773298_1

Commemorating Saint Mary's Church

Members of Busselton Historical Society and Junior Farmers in period dress to commemorate the 120th anniversary of St Mary's Church, November 1968.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3305390_1

Highland Dress

Girl in highland dress, 1969.
State Library of Western Australia – slwa_b3048423_1

From a girl dressed as the Guardian Newspaper to three men dressed in an elephant costume, explore the strange world of Western Australian fancy dress and fashion from the early 1800s to the late 1960s.

Acknowledgement of Country