c1913 Hope

This is a child’s silk satin and cream lace bridesmaid’s ensemble, consisting of a dress, bonnet and shoes.

The dress has a square neckline trimmed in bobbin lace, with ruching at the centre panel of the bodice which is accentuated with pearls.  The short sleeves also have lace and pearl embellishment.

The skirt is knife pleated where it attaches to the bodice and has metallic lace trim at the hem.

Hope wore this outfit as a flower girl for her aunt’s wedding in 1913 at St James’ Church, Sydney.

Hope was born in 1910 and lived at the family property Arnprior near Braidwood. In 1937, Hope travelled to England where she studied dance at the Victor Silvester Dance Studio. Victor Silvester OBE was an English dancer, writer, musician and bandleader from the British dance band era. He was a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half of the 20th century, and his records sold 75 million copies from the 1930s through to the 1980s. Having completed her studies, Hope returned to Australia where she became as very successful dance instructor as well as the President of the Federal Association of Teachers of Dance for thirty years. During her years as a dance instructor, Hope taught thousands of students.  In the 1950s, she prepared many a young lad and gentleman for the then popular Debutante Ball.   Hope kept teaching well in to her 70s. Though Hope never married, she was well known in and around the Roseville community, playing tennis at Roseville and bridge at the Queens club as well as significant volunteer work for the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels.  Hope was almost 90 years of age when she stopped her community volunteering. Hope passed away in 2003 at the age of 93.