Did you know that not only has the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries exhibition at Rippon Lea Estate been extended to 1 December 2013 (due to popular demand) but also that photography is now permitted?!
Well, WE didn’t! At least, not until we looked it up today (for the first part) and not until we arrived there (for the second part)!!
To explain, my younger sister and her fiancé are visiting from interstate for the weekend and, having seen my previous post on Rippon Lea and being a Miss Fisher fan, asked if we could visit Rippon Lea today.
Had I but known photography was now allowed we would definitely have taken proper cameras – instead, these are pics from Stephen and my iPhones. Apologies for the quality, but I hope you enjoy them all the same if you are unable to attend the exhibition for yourself.
Costumes in the ballroom
Dress with bustle
Black & White oriental coat
An image of the crew filming – love the blue shoe covers
One of Aunt Prudence’s costumes
Black & pink dresses in room with hats
Green & Red coat
Clasp on green & red wool, sequin & feather/fur coat
The coat from the boxing episode with the material from Italy
Close up of italian coat
Dot’s costume
Close-up of Jane’s costume
Multi-coloured winter coat with white fur trimmings & accessories
Close-up of multi-colour winter coat
Coats and hats
Close-up of cuff detail
Blue shoes
Close-up of Dot’s costume
About Dot’s costume
Dot’s dressing gown
Downstairs corridor
Dresses in the dining room
Earrings
Cock-fighting dressing gown
Fan Dance
Hats displayed on dining table w white dress & cape
Jane wears this in the Christmas special…doesn’t she?
Jane’s costume in children’s room
Jewellery
Leopard spotted hat
Letter from Murdoch Foyle
Phryne costume & body
DI Jack Robinson’s costume
My favourite photo of Phryne
Original belts and buckles from the 1920’s
An original bedspread from the 1920’s
Original lace used for Aunt Prudence’s nightie
Dr Mac’s costume
People looking at Dot’s costume at top of stairs
Phryne in the hallway
Phryne in the window – excellent use of natural lighting
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!
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