Australia - Possibly 1899

[VictorianDreamer]

I thought this one would be of interest to the fashion fans in here. The headwear is something I've never seen before.
We think this photo may have been taken after her husband died (1899) in Tasmania, as she died within 5 years. Another photo with her at a similar age, and wearing the same hat, includes family that we are sure lived in Victoria, so we assume they may have been present for his funeral, or to look after her afterwards.

Victoria

[PrueM]

Hi Victoria,
Wow!    That's some bonnet...it's a work of art!  How old would the lady have been in this pic, do you think?
Prue

[VictorianDreamer]

Hi Prue,

She'd be about 80 IF it's in 1899 as we think. We haven't got much information on her, and several surnames she's used just confuse us even more, so she's a bit of a mystery, but I love the picture.

Victoria

[craizi daizi]

Sorry for butting in,  -  but -  just have to say i LOVE the hat,  never have i seen one like that before

Awesome ! 

Daizi

[chinakay]

Could be a widow's cap, as the rest of the outfit seems to be unadorned, unrelieved dark colour that could be black...although the white sashes were, I thought, more fitting to a child's death as they were supposed to represent purity and innocence...

Cheers,
China

[VictorianDreamer]

Thanks China.

None of her children died until they were over 60. The first child death we've found in this line was years after she had passed away.
One of her daughters actually moved into a house with her brother in Victoria, and she was the same daughter that was listed as the informant for her mother's death.
Her death was listed as Senile Decay, so our natural assumption was that, after her husband died, the spinster daughter stayed behind. or went back eventually, to look after her mother until she passed away.
She apparently never left Tasmania, so that leads us back to a family gathering. The other photo shows her wearing the same bonnet, what looks like a long cape, and possibly dark gloves. (The photo, at the following site, isn't in the best condition, and the area of the fingers could just be too darkened)
http://member.melbpc.org.au/~albonser/christies.html

Victoria

[maidmarianoops]

looking for the hat i found these.

i would not have liked to wear these in duck shooting season.


yuk
it is an aussie book i looked at
sylvia

[maidmarianoops]

HELLO I FOUND YOUR PHOTO AND HOPE IT IS OKAY TO SHOW IT
IF NOT I AM SORRY AND WILL TAKE IT OFF AGAIN


SYLVIA

DO YOU THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN THE SAME TIME  IN BOTH PHOTOS THERE ARE RATTAN CHAIRS.


oops sorry about capitals

[johngirl]

Hi Victoria,

Your lady looks pretty good for an eighty year old. Hardly a wrinkle to be seen. I wonder what she used to keep herself looking so young.
Also love her bonnet.
Whereabouts in Tasmania did she live. I`m just interested as I live in Tassie myself.

    Johngirl