Image of close up detail of the skirt section of the dress
Close up detail of the skirt section of the dress

A slice of history returns to Highfield Historic Site

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​Staff at Highfield Historic Site, on the outskirts of Stanley, are delighted with the return of a piece of the homestead's history following the donation of a period dress circa 1874.

The dress was originally owned by Mrs Ellen Ford, a member of the Ford family who lived at Highfield from the 1850s to the 1930s.

Omage of the dress showing some of the detail































The dress showing some of the detail


The Ford family lived at Highfield a total of 76 years over three generations. The Fords were very successful beef farmers and ran a merchant and supply business out of Stanley.

Highfield Historic Site coordinator Lesa Scott said the dress was donated by Patricia Nixon, a collector who purchased it in Brisbane 45 years ago to wear to a fancy-dress party. It then become a permanent display in her dining room for many years.

Image of close up detail of the skirt section of the dress

Close up detail of the skirt section of the dress

“The detail in the dress is stunning, hand-sewn in parts, lined with metal rib bracing around the waist, and a cute little pocket on the left side top, possibly for a pocket watch," Ms Scott said.   

“It is fantastic to have pieces returned to Highfield after so many years. This important donation is not the first and hopefully will not be the last."

The note provided with the dress by the antique dealer in 1979 reads it was owned by Mrs Ellen Ford, (for her daughter Selina Ford) and that the dress was made by Miss Lyons, the aunt of 26th Premier of Tasmania and Australian Prime Minister from 1932 to 1939, Joseph Lyons.

Image of note from antique dealer about the Ford dress 

Note from antique dealer about the Ford dress
Photo: Rodriguez, Stella

Selina Ford was born at Circular Head in 1847 and was 27 years old around the time when the dress was made. She died in Wynyard in 1934. Her daughter Elizabeth Eleanor Smyth was born in 1881. Records show Elizabeth died in Brisbane in 1964.

Without any documented details it appears Elizabeth's location in Brisbane is the possible connection to the dress ending up in Queensland. Mrs Nixon was going to donate the dress to a museum in Queensland when in a fateful twist a friend who grew up in Stanley was making a visit and suggested it should be returned to Highfield.

 Intricate detail of the body of the dress 

Intricate detail of the body

“P​hotographs of the dress don't do it justice, as it was stored flat for many years before making its comeback," Ms Scott said.

“The dress will hopefully be displayed at Highfield so it's beauty and intricate detail can be fully appreciated."

Published 29/10/2024

Contact

Highfield Historic Site
PO Box 74
Stanley TAS 7331
Phone: 03 6458 1100
Email: Highfield@parks.tas.gov.au

​Opening hours
Open 7 days
9.30am to 4.30pm