c1890 Laura

This bottle green cotton day gown was worn by Laura.

Laura’s bodice has pleated pieces of material extending in a V from the shoulders to meet at the waist. Inserted between this material, at the top of the bodice is embroidered net, which forms a high neck edged in cream lace.  Below this net the bodice has been decorated with green cornelli work.  This section has a sweetheart neckline.

The long sleeves are pleated, with a slight Leg O’Mutton shape at the shoulder and a wide cuff trimmed with cornelli work and edged with cream lace. Each pleat features one button.

The skirt has a shaped band of cornelli work at the waist and two panels extending down the front and the back to a frill. The back of the waist features a wide buckle with pleated fabric in the centre which extends to a roll on the edge. There is a wide single panel at the back which covers the opening

 

Laura Australia Miller was born in Richmond NSW in 1856, the youngest of seven.  Her elder brother, a wealthy grazier founded Riverstone Meat Works in 1878. It served as one of NSW’s major abattoirs until the 1980s.  Laura married Thomas Edward Miller in Glebe 1894 and their only child Keith was born in 1898 in Moree where Thomas was a shopkeeper. They later moved to Casino where Thomas had his own shop. Laura died in 1937 in Hornsby where her son had opened a law practice.