Fancy Dress – Eight girls dressed in Japanese costumes
Fancy Dress Balls and school performances were a very popular events in the early goldfields. A great deal of time must have been spent making the costumes as many were very elaborate. They would usually be in groups of four, six, eight and sometimes more. Each would have a ‘theme’ and the groups were called ‘sets’. There were prizes awarded for the best costumes and dancers and often these events were held in aid of a charity or to help a family in need.
The height of popularity in the Goldfields and in Australia of Fancy Dress was in the 1920’s but continued for many years especially in schools. These photographs from the North Kalgoorlie School show costumes from 1911 to 1956.
Fancy Dress Ball North Kalgoorlie School 1911 – Jesters
North Kalgoorlie School Ball 1956 – Sailors. Montgomery Twins, Maxine Cruickshank, Judith Wills, Dennis Basset, John Emerson
Moya Sharp
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The Asian costumes are Chinese actually, not Japanese. The hat and pigtail were very common in Chinese culture at the time.
Hi Violet
Thanks so much, yes you are quite correct, I thought Japanese as there were no Chinese on the Goldfields. Many thanks