Elva's Wedding Dress

Image courtesy of Brain Watkins House Collection. Ref. 2005-0093

A bride for the first and only time at age of 72 Elva Brain chose for the occasion a silk crepe and lace dress that she had worn as a much younger woman.

Image courtesy of Brain Watkins House Collection. Ref. 2004-0550

These images of her wearing it are obviously in different decades and demonstrate her frugality in 1964 when she married long time family friend Willie Watkins.

Image courtesy of Sun Media Ltd.

The dress is still in very good condition and part of the Brain Watkins collection. Here you can see it laid across the bed in the master bedroom on display for the recent wedding display for the  Tauranga Historical Society’s annual fundraising Garden Party.

Vintage Garden Party 2020

Tauranga Historical Society’s 2020 Vintage Garden Party was abuzz with one of the largest crowds seen at the Brain Watkins House in the 40-plus years the Garden Party has been going. A colourful gathering of more than 200 people enjoyed the music, stalls, food and fashion. Many visitors took the opportunity to dress up in period costume, which was much appreciated by the Society.

Society member Bev Hodges, who ran the ‘Gangster Mug Shot’ booth, takes the photograph of two visitors who dressed up for the occasion
Image: Fiona Kean, private collection

The crowd gathers for the fashion show that took place on the back lawn of the Brain Watkins House
Image: Fiona Kean, private collection

The fashion show, coordinated by Amy Turner, was a real highlight of the afternoon and featured vintage wedding dresses from the '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and 2000s. Many of the gowns' owners were present to see their dresses modelled and this was a lovely feature of the show.

Emily wearing a 1983 belonging to Carole Signal
Image: Lee Switzer, private collection

Glorious colours in this 2011 wedding gown worn by the bride Pushpinder
Image: Lee Switzer, private collection

Wedding dresses were also sprinkled throughout the Brain Watkins House and included a display celebrating the wedding photography of Alf Rendell. The display was a collaboration between the Tauranga Historical Society and the Tauranga Heritage Collection and featured Barbara Murray’s beautiful gown which she wore in 1955.

Barbara Murray in front of display boards that captured her 1955 Tauranga wedding. Barbara’s wedding dress and items from her going away outfit were also on display in the Brain Watkins House
Image: Lee Switzer, private collection

The Society would like to thank everyone who supported the event, from Society members who gave their time and talents to the public who attended in record numbers. Funds raised will go towards the care of the Brain Watkins House and the continued protection and promotion of heritage in Tauranga. If you would like to join the Society contact us at tauranga.historical@gmail.com.

A beautiful 1940s wedding dress modelled by Arumia
Image: Lee Switzer, private collection

How the Society’s annual Garden Party began

As the Tauranga Historical Society prepares for their annual Garden Party, to be held on Sunday March 1st, let’s look back at the Society’s first garden party which took place on Saturday December 1st, 1979.

Garden party visitors at the Brain Watkins House, 1 December 1979
Image: Tauranga Historical Society Collection

Hailed as a ‘Victorianarama Garden Party and Picnic’ the invitation promised entertainment for ‘edification and pleasure’ and included the Otumoetai College Choir, a piano accordionist and an organist. Undine Clarke’s dancers were also part of the line-up. Undine, ‘who pioneered the art of dance in Tauranga’, taught ballet, Spanish, musical comedy, ballroom and traditional highland and on the day her students performed ‘period and national dances’, no doubt on the grass between the flower beds. Spinning and weaving demonstrations also kept the crowd, of approximately 150 people, entertained.

Otumoetai College Girls’ Choir with Bob Addison, who was a teacher at the College at that time
Image: Tauranga Historical Society Collection

Spinning and weaving demonstration under the pack porch of the Brain Watkins House
Image: Tauranga Historical Society Collection

Several prizes were awarded to those who came in Victorian dress. According to The Bay of Plenty Times “the best dressed Victorian lady was Mrs Fay Steel of Welcome Bay, wearing the wedding dress of Mrs Harry Graham’s grandmother. Mr B.C. Julian won the best dressed gentleman’s prize and the child’s prize was won by Becky Hyde. Miss Violet Macmillan wore the best Victorian bonnet.”

Mrs Fay Steel and Mr B.C. Julian, winners of the period attire competition
Image: Brain Watkins Collection

Although on the day a great deal of fun was had there was a serious side to the gathering. The goal being to introduce members of the Tauranga Historical Society to the Brain Watkins House. Earlier that year the house had been gifted to the Society by Mrs Elva Brain Watkins. Society President Mr Eagle was reported as saying, “we are still flexible in our plans. It is up to our members to suggest how they would like to see the house used.”

Mrs Flo Pearson and Mr Duff Maxwell of The Elms Mission House wearing Archdeacon Brown’s top hat with Mrs Pat Eveson, the well-known TV personality

More than 40 years later the Society continues to maintain the house for the enjoyment of Tauranga residents and of course hosts a fabulous Garden Party every year.

Talented dancers perform moves from the 1950’s at the Tauranga Historical Society’s Vintage Garden Party, Sunday 3 March 2019
Image: Lee Switzer, Private Collection

Tauranga Historical Society’s Vintage Garden Party 2019

Talented dancers perform moves from the 1950’s at the Tauranga Historical Society’s Vintage Garden Party, Sunday 3 March 2019. Image: Lee Switzer, Private Collection

A fun and festive vintage garden party, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Society’s custodianship of the Brain Watkins House, was enjoyed by a large and colourful crowd on Sunday. A highlight of the afternoon was a fashion show co-ordinated by Amy Turner. It featured clothing from her own vintage collection, while inside the house visitors were able to enjoy a display of garments, dating from the 1930s, that once belonged to sisters Elva and Bessie Brain.

Fashion parade model wearing a vintage dress is admired by the crowd.
Image: Lee Switzer, Private Collection

Society members received many positive comments about the afternoon, including this email:

Well done to the Historical Society team for how this afternoon flowed (from a first time attendee.) The music was great and that Welsh fiddle player really complimented Marion Art’s guitar and voice. I loved the fashion parade and the dances between runway walks. The models were great, their clothes wonderful, hairstyles astonishing, hats, shoes etc. - very professional. I appreciated my tour of the house and talked to each of the guides (Shirley, Lois, Susan and Justine) and learned something from each of them. I loved the timeline and even noted the first jazz festival was included! I seemed to be the only person reading the timeline but other people in the room were responding to the artefacts. Thanks for having such a wonderful celebration!

Tauranga Historical Society President, Julie Green, opening the garden party.
Image: Lee Switzer, Private Collection

Stall organiser Beth Bowden (far right wearing hat) admires garments for sale with Society member Justine Neal. Image: Lee Switzer, Private Collection

Vintage Garden Party & Fashion Show