Photo of Tara Oldfield

Author: Tara Oldfield

Senior Communications Advisor

"Fashions fade, style is eternal," Yves Saint Laurent.

With Melbourne Spring Fashion Week right around the corner it's an opportune time to explore the style and fashion of Melbourne's past. 

The photographers of these images worked for the Public Transport Corporation and Melbourne Harbour Trust and through their lenses they've captured fashions of Melbourne ranging from the 1800s to the 1980s and 90s. From 19th Century gowns to floral 50's swimwear and 70's flares, take a look back at Melbourne style through the ages...

 

Black and white images of a woman in a hoop dress - possibly from the Victorian era.
Ladies dress of period, date unknown, Public Transport Photographic Collection.  VPRS: 12800/P1/11-370

 

Men Leaning Out of a Train or Tram Carriage
Safety First: How not to stand in a carriage doorway. Tait carriage circa 1934. Public Transport Photographic Collection vprs: 12903/P1/298-0601
 
Women in 1920s/30s clothes looking at a sign
Ladies looking at Berlei framed glazed advertisement, South Yarra, c. 1920s to c.1939. Public Transport Photographic Collection. Vprs 12800/P3/9-80
 
A woman wearing shorts standing and smiling at the camera
Beach model in casual clothes, 1940s. Public Transport Photographic Collection. vprs 12903/P1/559-60
Women in the 1970s getting on a train
Women stepping onto a vintage train at Spencer Street, 1972. Public Transport Photographic Collection. vprs 12800/P1/159-160

 

Older women hailing a train
Women waiting for the train, Melbourne, 1970s/80s. Public Transport Photographic Collection (Railways Negatives). vprs 12907/P4/10 -428-4639034

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