LOEL THOMSON CLOTHING COLLECTION

Fabric of time

LOEL THOMSON’S CLOTHING COLLECTION TELLS THE STORY OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

The amazing and important collection of 10,000 items of clothing, jewellery and accessories dating back more than 200 years is now on permanent public display for the first time at MOVE. Loel and husband Bryan had a successful truck dealership in Shepparton for many years and purchased and restored the 1879 Italianate mansion Noorilim on the banks of the Goulburn River near Murchison.

It was during research for the restoration that Loel became interested in what people had worn during the past 200 years in Australia. For the next 20 years she built a substantial collection which has enormous historical and social importance. “I was dealing with curtains, carpets, light fittings and the garden, and I realised that costume was also an important part of it,” Loel said. The collecting was serious, with courses undertaken in museum studies in Australia and overseas.

“It isn’t national costume or sporting costume or uniforms, it is the everyday clothes that would have been worn in Australia,” Loel said. “The collection is clothing that would have been worn in Australia for the last just over 200 years — ordinary, everyday clothes.” Rather than a study in fashion, Loel is careful to explain that her collection is a social history and, just like the trucks, cars, motorcycles, pushbikes and memorabilia elsewhere at MOVE, it helps reveal more about us — how we worked, lived and looked.

“I haven’t said no if somebody brings me a Dior, but not everyone wears high-class clothing; the collection is comfortable, affordable clothes.

“And with that in mind, I’ve got to be quite strongwilled not to accept every wedding dress that people bring to me, but during the war when fabric was rationed so severely, very often a bride could not have a full wedding dress, we do have examples made from curtain material which was not rationed.”

There are important local items in the collection, including the dress then Shepparton Lady Mayoress Nancy Vibert had made to wear when she was presented to Queen Elizabeth II during the Royal Tour of Australia in 1954. Royalty exerted a strong influence on fashion in Australia.

“THE AIM OF THE COLLECTION IS TO ILLUSTRATE

WHAT WAS WORN AT A CERTAIN TIME, AND A

CERTAIN PERIOD – STACY SHORT

“Death played an important part in fashion for a long period during the early part of Australia’s history. When Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria insisted on staying in mourning for the rest of her life, and you would wear black, including black jewellery.” It is a far cry from the bright and colourful clothing of the 1960s. Everyday clothes didn’t just change with the fashion of the day, they also reflected changes in what was perceived as the perfect human shape. “For the fashion of a certain period, you have to consider the underwear; the underwear is what creates the shape, so you have to get the underwear shape right, and if you’re starting right back in the 1800s to the mid-1800s underwear was very complicated with the corset and several layers of petticoat to give you the shape and the back of the dress,” Loel said. “Then then we get to the 1920s, where the straight boyish figure was the fashion, where you wore a bustier to flatten yourself, unlike the 1950s, where we had the twin peaks of the 50s and the full skirts of the 50s that required a skirted petticoat underneath.” The clothing collection is vast and will be forever changing as different elements are placed on display. The accessories and even the furniture and props are all meticulously researched and accurate to the period. “The aim of the collection is to illustrate what was worn at a certain time, and a certain period. And when one wears a dress, it is not worn on its own, a whole lot of things went with it,” Loel said. “From around 1850 we do have photographs, so you’ve got an accurate reference of what people are wearing. Prior to that, you had to rely on sketches in magazines. “The collection includes hundreds of women’s magazines from different periods that also illustrates the jewellery, the hairstyle, where the hat was worn and everything that goes with the story of the period. “What you’ll see in the collection is absolutely authentic costume. I haven’t added, I haven’t mended, I haven’t altered.”

Council proud to support MOVE

COMMUNITY LEADERS EMBRACE MOVE.

On behalf of Greater Shepparton City Council and our community, I am extremely pleased to congratulate the team at the Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) for their extraordinary efforts in transforming the previous well-established motor museum into a new state-of-the-art national icon. Council is proud to have supported MOVE and its journey by contributing almost $1.4 million to the new facility, which will attract many new and returning visitors to the region. Greater Shepparton is a vibrant and diverse community, with an impressive range of facilities and activities. We very much look forward to seeing the exhibitions take shape within the museum with its ever-evolving collection, highlighting the region’s strong transport history and honouring local industry pioneers. Once again, we are thrilled to see the doors open to MOVE, another exciting addition to the region’s offerings which will drive visitation and keep our economy strong. Congratulations!

Kim O’Keeffe Mayor, City of Greater Shepparton

City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe.

1988 | KENWORTH T-600 – THE ANTEATER

Launched in 1987, this model got its name because of its sloped nose—which also gave it incredible fuel economy. This was the first ‘new’ truck bought by Kreskas Bros Transport.

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