era garments to go on show

FROM everyday working outfits to ceremonial regalia, the sort of clothing worn by Chinese people on the region’s mid-to-late-1800s goldfields is about to be displayed as part of an exhibition at Smythesdale.

The Woady Yaloak Historical Society is holding its Gold Rush Clothing Exhibition in the town’s old courthouse building from 10am to 2pm this Saturday 16 May.

Coordinating the exhibition, the historical society’s Dean McDonald said the collection features culturally significant replica pieces from Sovereign Hill’s collection.

The clothing is surplus to Sovereign Hill’s needs and was donated to Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council’s Jeannette Vervaart, also a member of the local historical society and a keen appreciator of goldfields history.

“We also have Charles Zhang from the Chinese Australian Cultural Society helping us with correctly labelling each item of clothing that will be exhibited to ensure we are providing authentic information about each piece,” McDonald said.

“The Chinese were very good miners and as such they faced some political pressure on the goldfields.

“We are keen to increase knowledge about both the Chinese and the First Nations journeys through that era.”

Woady Yaloak Historical Society president Kylie Fenton said the clothing exhibition coincides with the town’s Country Market and also with a Golden Plains Shire Council Winter Warmer event happening at The Well building nearby from 10am to 12pm on the same day.

“I would encourage everyone to get along,” Fenton said.

“As a historical group we’re always thinking about how to encourage more people to visit the area and we also want to encourage people to become members of the historical society.

“We ‘d also encourage anyone with items relating to their own family histories to bring in materials rather than just dumping them.”

Entry to the exhibition is by gold coin donation with proceeds benefiting the ongoing work of the historical society.