HISTORY

The women of today are comfortable wearing light, loose and brief clothing, but it hasn’t always been that way. DIANA HACKER tells the story of an innovative Queenslander who revolutionised the corset.

Constricting corsets or shaping undergarments are almost unknown these days, but during Victorian and Edwardian times, women of middle and lower class often relied upon a heavy corset for figure control Advertisement for the famous corset and (left) Diana Hacker with a period dress at Miegunyah. and back support. It was the fashion to cinch the female figure into an unnatural hour-glass shape by way of a corset or stays.

To get into stays a woman required the assistance of a maid to lace the garment which preshaped the figure by the inclusion of whalebone or steel braces. Years of wearing stays deformed the spine and in later life, women relied upon iron stays to support an injured spine.

The working woman who bore children and performed heavy housework as well as doing outside chores often required the support of a corset but was unable to wear them as there was no way of lacing them on her body.

Enter Sarah Jenyns.

The wife of an impoverished Queensland minister, she bore seven children and worked extremely hard. As a result of her physical work as well as child bearing, she suffered severe back pain.

Sarah devised a corset which could be made to measure for the figure so it could be worn without requiring assistance to lace it up.

Her garment was reinforced with support sewn into the fabric and was fastened with a row of hooks and eyes, side front.

The garment could then be drawn close and firmly to the body by pulling simultaneously on two straps which were fastened at the front of the body.

Sarah obtained a worldwide patent for her garment and during the early to mid-20th century had factories in many countries with annual profits of £1.5 million.

The Jenyns company produces female intimate garments under the Triumph label and there is no more fitting name, as Sarah’s garment was a triumph for women in general. Diana Hacker is a member of the Queensland Women’s Historical Association and for many years took care of the fashion collection at Miegunyah.

Miegunyah House, owned and run by the Queensland Women’s Historical Association, is an opportunity to experience life in an elegant Victorianera home, furnished in the style of the late 19th century.

The home at 35 Jordan Tce, Bowen Hills, was built when local tradition was at its most opulent. Devonshire teas are served on the wide verandah.

Visitors welcome Wednesday 12.30pm-3pm with a guided tour at 1pm, and weekends 12.30pm-4pm with guided tours at 1pm and 3pm.

Visits must be pre-booked. Email qwha.miegunyah@gmail.com or call 3252 2979. Visit miegunyah.org

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