A visit to Ada’s frock shop at the very least will have visitors in awe of the steely endurance of pioneer women.
So many clothes to wear in such an unforgiving climate. It may seem incredulous today – and a slow form of torture – but Ada’s Frock Salon takes you back to when women wore layers of thick clothing all day every day.
The wardrobe of Victorian England was transported literally to tropical and outback Australia with all its heavy black brocade, numerous undergarments of fine lawn, muslin and silk and more accessories than you can poke a walking stick at.
The clothes are beautiful, skilfully made and often delicate but so very impractical.
What would they make of today’s trackies, t-shirts and trainers?
