Fancy Dress Friday – Japanese Girls

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

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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