The Doctor Blake Mysteries Costume Exhibition, Ballarat – June 2014

The Doctor Blake Mysteries is an Australian period drama TV series that is simply brilliant. Sorry – I meant BRILLIANT!

Stephen poses with Craig McLachlan as Doctor Blake

Following hard on the heels of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries – which is light, bright, fun and glamorously over the top, as it’s set Melbourne in the 1920’s – one of my first thoughts when the show started was, ‘Why would the ABC be running another Australian period murder mystery series right after a fantastic one just ended?’

But instead of trying to out sass Phryne (I’m not sure anyone can do that – but give him a pair of fishnets and I bet Craig McLachlan (who plays Dr Lucien Blake in this series) would give it a go!), The Doctor Blake Mysteries are set in the bleak post war period of 1950’s Ballarat. Fans like Stephen and myself have been drawn in by the haunting music of the opening titles composed by Dale Cornelius (see more on his YouTube page), the sublime casting, wonderful plots and character threads, and great production of this award-winning series. The deliberate fading of colour in post production does take a bit of getting used to, but it’s done to reinforce the post war feeling of the era (I think).

The best news recently is that season three is going to be shot by the end of 2014 and – somewhat amazingly – the show’s official Facebook page was even saying that it could be airing by February 2015! Woohoo!!

But onto the costume exhibition…

From 1 May to 9 June this year, M.A.D.E. (Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka) in Ballarat hosted The Doctor Blake Mysteries costume exhibition. Since Ballarat is only a 1.5hr drive (these days! It would have been much longer for Dr Blake) from Melbourne, and Ballarat is a great place to visit, we thought it was definitely worth going, especially since we hadn’t visited MADE before.

First port of call was The Design Exchange market in the glorious old Mining Exchange building on Lydiard Street. Definitely worth a stop if you’re visiting on a Sunday. The only downside for Stephen was that there wasn’t much in the way of menswear to browse, whilst I on the other hand, managed to pick up two items of clothing. Not bad for someone who doesn’t usually like clothes shopping! There’s also plenty of funky handmade craft items to browse.

Mining Exchange Building, Lydiard Street, Ballarat

The Design Exchange market – lots of treasures here

We stopped for lunch a door or two along at the cafe attached to the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Also worth spending some time there if you haven’t been before… (You can find out whether Dr Blake’s mother’s painting hangs in there or not!)

Art Gallery of Ballarat – photo from March 2012

Admire the cinema as you cross Lydiard Street in front of the Art Gallery, and not just because it was featured in definitely one Doctor Blake episode (Series 2 episode 5 “Crossing the Line” – but possibly more, in general street-scape shots. The tourist information shop is also across the street. You can pick up this Doctor Blake Walking Tour brochure from them if you don’t want to print it out for yourself. Pity there doesn’t seem to be any organised guided tours of Doctor Blake filming locations with insider (or at least local) information to impart…

Regent Theatre, Lydiard Street, Ballarat

After a quick drive around Lake Wendouree – no trip to Ballarat is complete without a drive around the lake to check the water level, see the birds, and admire some of the houses, old and new, but all with great views – we headed off to M.A.D.E.!

People enjoying Lake Wendouree, March 2012

Located just outside the centre of town at the physical site of the Eureka Stockade, M.A.D.E. uses the history of the site to encourage visitors to explore concepts of democracy. As it opened fairly recently (May 2013) there’s no excuse for children and adults alike to visit and learn something new. I thought the lecture theatre was also very comfortable and inviting.

M.A.D.E., entrance

Emergency Assembly Point in front of the toy soldiers at the kids play area – somewhat ironic?

Theatre

Yes, I’m getting to the photos of costumes…

It didn’t feel like there was as extensive a collection as was set out in the Rippon Lea mansion for the Miss Fisher exhibition (see here), but it could be that there just aren’t as many costume changes in Doctor Blake as in Miss Fisher. Gorgeous furs and ostrich feathers went out the window in these lean post-WWII times, and synthetics were now in – although there are still a lot of cotton items in the collection, and the suits are wool, of course. The exhibition space was also unrelated to the series – maybe if it was being displayed in the house they use as Dr Blake’s residence in the show there would have been more opportunity for costume and prop displays. But it’s possible that someone may actually live there – I don’t know.

Before taking photos I did check for any signs indicating that photography, even on my phone (which, incidentally, was what I was using) was not allowed, but saw nothing. No mention was made at the front desk about photography (or its prohibition) when we enquired about the exhibition, so I don’t think I’m breaking any rules in sharing this with you.

I have titled the full-shot photos as per the display descriptions, and certainly tried to photograph everything on display. Due to guide ropes and glass cases keeping visitor from getting too close to the costumes and props (which is completely understandable), indoor lighting and not taking my proper camera, some of the photos are not quite as good as I’d hoped.

Nell Clasby – Brown with pink & green sport ‘Parade’ dress with plaid leather belt

Nell Clasby – Close-up of dress pattern & belt

Nell Clasby – Sleeve cuff detail

Jean – ‘Vanity Fair’ Pajamas & pink chenile dressing gown

Jean – Close-up of top of pajamas & dressing gown

Jean – Cream rayon blouse, brown-multicoloured skirt with belt & blue, red, yellow floral apron with bib

Jean – Close-up of brown-multicoloured skirt

Mattie – Navy Blue with red trim short sleeve knit [shirt], red wool A-line skirt & cotton voile & tulle petticoat

Mattie – Close-up of red wool A-line skirt fabric

Mattie – Close-up of Mattie’s uniform with Ballarat District Nursing Society badge and watch

Mattie – Red Nurses cardigan & Blue nurses Dress with belt

Nurses Uniform [red half cloak & blue dress with belt & watch]

Nurses Uniform [bodice including Royal Australian Nursing Federation Badge Nurses Watch]

Lawson – Black police tie, black police belt, police shirt, 2 piece suite & belt with ribbons & epaulette badges

Lawson – Right shoulder & sleeve badges & epaulettes

Lawson – Front buttons

Ribbons on Lawson’s uniform

Lawson – Epaulettes & pips on Lawson’s left shoulder

Alice Harvey – Sage green & red trim dress with belt

Alice Harvey – Close-up of bodice of sage green dress

Dr [Lucien] Blake – ‘Phillips’ white cotton shirt, brown Tweed wool 3 piece suite, brown & blue diagonal triped tie ‘Ensign’, white cotton drill Dr’s coat & brown ‘buckle’ belt

Dr [Lucien] Blake – Close-up of suite vest & tie

Jean – Green rayon evening ‘date’ dress with belt & green jade & silver broche (on green dress)

Jean – Close-up of bodice on green evening dress

Jean – Close-up of Jean’s jade broche

Virginia McKay – Close-up showing floral silk slip & brass buckle detail

Virginia McKay – Cream ‘bloodied’ silk slip & cream ‘bloodied’ cami knickers

Virginia McKay – Cream cotton blouse, chocolate brown cotton skirt, brown leather belt with brass buckle & floral silk slip

Joy McDonald – Cornflower blue wool 2 piece dress suit with belt, pale pink stripe with ballarina blouse & white Tulle petticoat to be worn under Joy’s dress

Joy McDonald – Close-up of bodice of cornflower blue dress suit

Joy McDonald – Close-up of pink stripe blouse detail & suit fabric

Joy McDonald – Belt, pocket & cuff detail of 2 piece dress suit

Dr [Lucien] Blake – 3 Piece blue wool suit, overcoat fawn ‘Andrew Roberts’, ‘Phillips’ white cottom shirt, black belt & ‘Lavin’ blue tie

Dr [Lucien] Blake – Close-up showing details of tie and vest of blue suit

Mattie – Pale hale spot tulle evening dress, cotton lawn & tulle petticoat to be worn with evening dress

Mattie – Close-up of accessories on pink tulle dress

Mattie – Close-up of flowers attached to waist band on pink tulle dress

Jean – Dove grey textured wool swing short coat & ‘Atomic’ dress with belt

Jean – Close-up of button & fabric of grey swing short coat

Widgey – Cotton voile & tulle petticoat, lemon nylon slip, yellow floral cotton [s]kirt, white cotton lace blouse & white vinyl belt

Widgey – Close-up of white cotton lace blouse

Little Girl – Blue & white checked cotton with anchors & wheel, blue open knit short sleeve cardigan & white cotton blouse ’42’

Bodgy – Denim ‘Levi’ jeans, vintage brown leather jacket, white cotton Haynes T-shirt & cream cable knit ‘Ca Vernia’ vest

Collection of female character’s accessories

Jean – Blue satin ‘Bata’ slippers

Jean – Brown ‘Flexible’ style shoes

Jean – Brown felt ‘Raymor’ hat

Joy – Red suede shoes

Joy – Pink ‘Cotillion’ beaded cardigan

Matties – Gold evening ‘Anna’ shoes

Mattie – Grey felt ‘Gregory Lander’ beret with nurses [Ballarat District Nursing Society] badge

Policeman’s hat

Dr Blake – Grey ‘Akubra’ hat

Dr Blake – ‘Loakes’ shoes

Circa 1950’s telephone

Dr Blake – Medical supplies

Inside Dr Blake’s medical bag

Dr Blake’s blood pressure measuring kit & other tools

Pills, antiseptic, mortar & pestle, flask

So there you have it. May season 3 be every bit as good as the past two seasons have been, and may there be plenty more Doctor Blake goodness to come!

: )

 

Rippon Lea House & Gardens – Oct 2013

Rippon Lea – another in the ‘Haven’t you been there yet?’ places now ticked off our to-do list!

Lawn-side of Rippon Lea mansion

Frederick Sargood certainly left a fantastic mansion and beautifully designed grounds. The whole of the estate is currently managed by the National Trust.

The prompt for this visit was the current exhibition of some of the costumes used in Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries. The second of the TV series based on the books by Kerry Greenwood is currently being shown on ABC1 of a Friday night – the traditional who-dunnit time slot. Rippon Lea is used in a number of the television episodes as different locations, depending on which part view of the mansion is being filmed. Very clever. Also, I would say,  the reason, why the costumes are being exhibited there.

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on ABC TV – “Who says crime doesn’t play?”

We chose to visit on a Saturday, which meant we a) had a chance at parking within 1km of the entrance gate and b) were able to wander into the mansion to see the costumes when we arrived, instead of being allocated a set entry time. Had we gone the following day, when Kerry Greenwood was attending a high tea there, I can only imagine the nightmare that parking would have been and battling the crowds that came to flood the mansion and grounds to see her and the costumes – despite the prediction of showers through the day. I’m a fan of the books and TV series… but I’m quite averse to crowds.

Not unexpectedly, photography was not allowed inside the mansion, but believe me when I say the place is very grand. The photos on the website are better than mine would have been anyway. As for the costumes (mostly gowns and hats for the lead character, Miss Phryne Fisher), it was very interesting to see them up close. To really appreciate them as fashion though, watch the TV series!

Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher

We re-emerged into a bright sunny (warm!) day to explore the grounds. I’d been told that Rippon Lea is a popular location for weddings and I have now seen exactly why.

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We wandered around, exploring the different areas of the grounds – the fernery, orchard, windmill, the ponds/lakes, and yet we didn’t see everything. I guess we’ll just have to go back again!

With a picnic next time!
: )

National Rhododendron Gardens – 21 Sep 2013

“Again?” I hear you ask. Yes, I’m afraid so. But stick with me; it’s a short post (which is how it’s jumped ahead of a couple of others) and it’ll be our last visit to the National Rhododendron Gardens for a while, I think. As beautiful and ever-changing as the gardens are, I think after this trip we can tick the box that says ‘Done’ for now.

We didn’t think we could tick that box off before for two reasons: 1) last trip we were too early for the cherry blossoms and 2) we also hadn’t seen the rhododendrons in flower!

Well, no more dear people! Feast you eyes upon these photos and sigh (possibly with relief) for there are cherry blossoms (though not nearly quite as many as we had imagined), rhododendrons (many more than we had imagined) and other flowers brightening the park with colour everywhere you care to look!

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Not previously being very familiar with rhododendrons, I was thinking to myself that a lot of them looked quite like azaleas. It turns out that azaleas are of the genus Rhododendron! That would explain it.

The promise of cherry blossoms and reasonable weather drew plenty of people to the park yesterday, and we (like many others) had to park down the side-road a way and walked back up to the entrance. (Note: if you go, wear sneakers at least. I saw more than one lady with shoes she probably didn’t plan to get mud over.) Today they’re expecting 4,000 visitors to the park! I wonder where they’re going to park their cars…

: )