The day dress was made by W H McClelland and Company, a dressmaking establishment which occupied the premises at 94 King Street, Sydney, during the late nineteenth century. The dress was worn by Lady Mayoress Lizzie Henrietta Harris at a ceremony to mark the laying of the Town Hall's foundation stone in 1883. The style of the dress closely follows European fashions. The elaborate construction of the dress demonstrates the development and availability of the sewing machine in the colony. The labelling of clothing with the manufactures name became standard practice in the 1880s and reflects the growing professionalism of the dressmaking industry.

The day dress was worn by Lizzie Henrietta Harris (nee Dingle Page), the wife of John Harris, who was the Mayor of Sydney in 1881-1883 and 1888-1889. She wore the dress at a ceremony to mark the laying of the Centennial Hall's foundation stone in 1883. The Centennial Hall is now known as the Sydney Town Hall. According to contemporary accounts Mrs Harris was a leading figure in Sydney society and held popular monthly receptions at the Town Hall during her husband's term (Town and Country Journal).

John Harris was a descendent of Surgeon John Harris who between 1794 and 1818 acquired most of the Pyrmont Peninsula. Harris Street roughly follows the early foot track through his Ultimo Estate. The Harris descendants maintained a long involvement with the area.

Day dress, silk, Lizzie Henrietta Harris, W. H. McClelland and Company, Sydney, 1883.

The day dress consists of a tight-fitting bodice and a boned bustle skirt with a detachable train. The dress is made from green-gold shot silk and patterned with blue sprigs. The bodice is made from plain and patterned fabric with frogged lappets. The front of the bodice has four gold and silver coloured buttons, decorated with a floral motif, which hook together to close. The skirt of the dress has a built-in boned bustle within the patterned fabric and has vertical pleated panels of plain fabric. These panels, the bodice collar and cuffs are trimmed with cream lace. The dress has a detachable train which hooks under the back of the skirt for formal occasions. The dress is labeled 'McClelland and Company, 94 King Street, Sydney' on the waistband.

Made: W H McClelland and Company; Sydney

Used: Harris, Lizzie Henrietta; Sydney Town Hall; 1883

96/69/1

1100 mm

650 mm