POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

This dress was worn by Elizabeth Cabrera (nee Shelley) shortly after her marriage to Francis Charles Cabrera at St Mary's Church Balmain in 1896. Elizabeth and Francis spent their married lives in Thirlmere, New South Wales, where they ran an orchard and brought up two children, Frank and Margaret. Francis was born in London in 1859. As a youth, he went to Canada and spent four or five years there before travelling to Australia with a couple of friends. When Francis' friends returned to Canada, he remained in Australia, finally settling in Thirlmere, after living in various locations in New South Wales. In Thirlmere, he became interested in the timber industry and growing fruit. He planted his orchard soon after his marriage and began business ventures with Mr C. H. Pickard, the owner of the general store. As a devout member of the Anglican Church, Francis was amongst those who established St Stephen's Church of England, the mission church in Thirlmere. He was a church lay-reader who often took the minister's place when he was held up by bad weather. Elizabeth died in Canideu District Hospital on 3rd May, 1932, four years before her husband. She was 74 years old. Francis died at home in Thirlmere on February 13 1936, nursed by his daughter, Margaret. He had sold his orchard 15 months before his death and was bedridden for the last year of his life. Elizabeth and Francis were laid to rest side by side in the Church of England section of Thilmere cemetary. Elizabeth can be seen wearing the dress in the photograph taken at The Crown Studios, corner of George and Market Streets, Sydney. It was donated to MAAS by Francis and Elizabeth's grandchildren in 1982. Information from death notice, Elizabeth Bath Cabrera, Picton Post, Wednesday 7th September, 1932 and Obituary, Francis Cabrera, Picton Post 4th March, 1936.