Bridesmaids dress worn by Isabella Murray
Object No. A7538
This bridesmaid's dress was worn by Isabella Cameron Murray at her younger sister Mary's wedding on March 21st, 1883 to Varney Parkes, architect, businessman, politician and son of New South Wales Premier and 'Father of Federation', Sir Henry Parkes. This dress, along with her sister Mary's wedding ensemble comprising dress, kid gloves, shoes and orange blossom wreath is held within the collection of the Powerhouse Museum. The items are well provenanced and enable us to gain considerable insight into wedding fashions and practices in Sydney in the 1880s. Their provenance also reveals the intricacies of family relationships within the Parkes family. The style of the dress with its fitted bodice and decorative skirt was popular in Britain in the early 1880s and shows that Australian wedding parties were able to keep up with trends of the 'old world'. The high quality of the fabrics and exquisite tailoring and finish reflect the Murray family's social status.. Investigation into the provenance of the dress and related items reveals a fascinating story of tangled family relationships between the Parkes and Murray families. Mary's father, George Murray, a Scottish immigrant who owned a successful paper mill in Liverpool, New South Wales, was a widower when he moved to Australia. In the early 1880s, he married Mary Parkes, Varney's sister. Therefore, Mary Cameron Murray's sister-in-law was also her stepmother. Unfortunately, Mary Cameron Murray died suddenly from a TB lung haemmorhage after only five months' marriage. At that time, Isabella was overseas with Varney's father, Sir Henry Parkes, acting as his travelling companion. Soon after Isabella's return, Varney proposed to her and they were married on Christmas Eve, 1884. The marriage was not a happy one, and although they sought a divorce and endured intense media publicity throughout the trial, divorce was not granted. Subsequently, Isabella lived with her children in Waverley, Sydney. She found employment and brought her children up successfully. Due to the connection to Sir Henry Parkes who had a profound influence upon Australian Federation and to his son Varney, who is now best remembered for designing the Marble Bar in Sydney's Hilton Hotel, this bridesmaid's dress opens a unique window into Australian history.
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Summary
Object Statement
Bridesmaids dress, comprising bodice and skirt, wool / satin, worn by Isabella Murray at marriage of Mary Murray to Varney Parkes, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia, 1883
Physical Description
Bridesmaids dress comprising bodice and skirt of cream coloured merino wool. Bodice has pointed back and front with panniers, three-quarter sleeves, round neck and centre glass pearl button fastening. Large royal blue satin bow at back point, piping at bodice base, neck and sleeve top and edge. Triple lace frill at neck, single frill round pannier edges. Bodice lined with blue sateen, giving it a darker hue. Skirt of tan sateen covered in front from hip with cream merino arranged in five rows of ruching of increasing size to hem. Cream merino gathered at back and pleated from sides to form bustle. Box pleats over narrower band of smaller blue satin pleats. Side placket opening, pocket in opposite side and two tapes gather back skirt.
PRODUCTION
Notes
The gown is styled in the mode fashionable for 1881, when a two year fashion lag was typical in the colony of New South Wales. The gown would have been made in Sydney by a dressmaker or small drapery establishment.
HISTORY
Notes
This bridesmaid's dress was worn by Isabella Cameron Murray at the marriage of her younger sister, Mary, to Varney Parkes, only son of Sir Henry Parkes. The wedding took place on 21st March, 1883 in Forbesville (house), Liverpool, New South Wales. The wedding created a remarkable intermarriage between the Parkes and Murray families. Two years earlier, Sir Henry's daughter, Mary Parkes, had become Mary Murray through marriage to George Murray, the bride's father. On Mary Cameron Murray's wedding to Varney, she exchanged names to become Mary Parkes. This meant that Varney's sister became his mother-in-law while Mary's stepmother became her sister-in-law. After Mary's wedding her sister, Isabella, who wore this bridesmaid dress, travelled to Britain and the United States as companion to Sir Henry Parkes. Isabella and Sir Henry were away when Mary died of tuberculosis only five months of marriage. On their return Varney took Isabella to Rookwood cemetary to see Mary's grave. Within a month he proposed and Varney and Isabella were married on Christmas eve 1884. Their marriage ended in separation after an application for divorce was rejected.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs Jane Gray, 1981
Acquisition Date
16 March 1981
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