Girl's fancy dress costume

This dress was worn by a girl whose parents hoped it would win a cash prize in a Depression-era competition.

It is painted with images and slogans which promoted the work of the Heidelberg Unemployment Bureau and the father’s availability for a job.

The dress is a reminder of the hardship and desperation that many families faced during the Depression years, and the ingenuity with which they tried to overcome their circumstances.

Depression

The Chalcrafts emigrated to Australia from Wales with their three-year-old daughter, Patricia, in 1926. They settled in Heidelberg, Melbourne.

With the onset of the Depression, Patricia’s father lost his job at the Shell Company. Desperate to make ends meet, the Chalcrafts became involved in the Heidelberg Unemployment Bureau. The bureau brought the unemployed together and offered odd jobs and social activities to members of the local community.