General News
27 July, 2023
Collector’s fashion for sale
VINTAGE fashion items from the collection of Lismore icon Dorothy Nicol will be on sale in August, featuring various garments from the 1800s to the early 2000s.
VINTAGE fashion items from the collection of Lismore icon Dorothy Nicol will be on sale in August, featuring various garments from the 1800s to the early 2000s.
The items are some of the remaining items in her collection, which were displayed at the Lismore Masonic Lodge before Dorothy moved into an aged care facility.
Dorothy’s close friend Lorraine Graham said the sales in Colac and Lismore sold most of the items Dorothy had collected over the years.
“She (Dorothy) started collecting her clothing in the 80s; she used to do dolls and she bought the clothing to cut up for doll clothing,” she said.
“She didn’t like that idea, so she got rid of the dolls and started collecting the clothing.
“She moved into the lodge in Lismore and proceeded to collect stuff from there.
“She saved thousands and thousands of items; she saved bits and pieces, bric-a-brac, and had thousands of dresses.”
Dorothy’s collection caught the eye of many and formed part of fashion parades all over Victoria, including in Ballarat’s Mechanics Institute, Melbourne’s Windsor Hotel, and at an Ararat Hospital fundraiser.
Items that will be on sale include menswear, evening gowns, long dresses, wedding dresses, casual gear and veils.
Ms Graham described Dorothy as a spritely, community-minded lady who would always be the first to welcome people into the community.
“She was very much into the Lismore history, and she used to run buses and have talks on the local history,” she said.
“She supported every business, and she supported as many community events as she could.
“She was always welcoming people; you’d meet her up the street, and it would mean nothing for her to stand around and talk to you for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure you were happy.
“She was very passionate about her fashion. She lived in the 20th century; everything Dorothy did was about the 20th century.”
The decision to sell the collection was made by her Dorothy and her family due to the conversion of the masonic lodge into a private home.
The sale will run from August 3 to August 6 at the Fairway Eatery and Café in Lismore, situated on the Hamilton Highway.
Viewings and offers will open from 9am to 2pm on August 3 and 4, with offers open from 9am to 5pm on August 5 and 6.
Ms Graham said all items will be offered cheaply, with no reasonable offer refused.
“They’ve got to be sold; it’s all very well for us to collect stuff, but somewhere along the track you’ve got to get rid of it,” she said.
“None of this stuff has been on sale before, and this is the last of Dorothy’s stuff so it’s very sad.
“Dorothy will be missed from the local community; she really was an icon of the area.”