Aprons 1890s to 1990s: Textiles Exhibition

Join us for “Aprons 1890s to 1990s”, an exhibition running from May 2025

Some special features of this exhibition, include:

• Three very special rare aprons made during WW11 and finished in 1945.
  • The blue lady is beautifully made with the entire apron covered in surface embroidery, it is unusual to do this as it is so time-consuming and people usually only embroider a small area. It is shaped as an old-fashioned lady with a bonnet, the apron has been cleverly designed to give the 1 illusion of her wearing another smaller apron this was achieved by outlining the smaller apron with narrow blue lace and using darts to give the illusion of a full skirt behind the apron.
  • A similar beautiful red apron in the display, with a very large coverage of surface embroidery, also features a lady.
  • The third of the trio of special aprons is displayed in a separate cabinet and was “much-loved”, it features a less intricate design.

These aprons were created in Townsville and then brought to the Redlands. They were donated by Stan Bloomer in 1910. Archibald Bloomer had a garage at Redland Bay in the 1920s-30s.

• A Red Cross apron from the First World War- WW1 and a Red Cross cape from WW1 – a tribute to the special memories of Anzac Day.