Were your ancestors high flying socialites, were they likely to have attended the grand fancy dress ball given by the Mayor of Sydney in 1879 - you might be surprised......in his 'munificence' the Mayor extended invitations far and wide.....eight of my ancestors were there!

The theatre provided inspiration for many costumes, with lots of Shakespearean characters and a number of Lady Teazle from 'School for Scandal'.

Several gentlemen dressed as Jack Tars - but not just any sailors, they were 'Jack Tar HMS Galatea', the ship Prince Alfred commanded during his visit twelve years earlier.

The majority of the ladies present took the opportunity to dress in what must have been very feminine costumes, Spanish ladies and gypsies, fairy queens and grecian maids, but a very brave Mrs. Kippax chose to go as a footballer.

A Mrs. Beattie attended as a 'Lady of the next century', it would be interesting to know how that was portrayed, her wildest imagination couldn't have pictured the real thing.

There were also a large number of fishwives, the word obviously not having the same connotation that it has today.

THE GRAND FANCY DRESS BALL GIVEN BY C.J. ROBERTS, ESQ.

(extract taken from "The Illustrated Sydney News and New South Wales Agriculturist and Grazier" dated 22 March 1879, Vol. xvi no. 3) The original newspaper is owned by a work colleague who kindly allowed me to copy this.

"This event took place at the Exhibition Building on the evening of the 19th of February, and was perhaps the most brilliant affair the citizens of Sydney have ever witnessed.

The costumes were exceedingly good, and many of the characters assumed were very happily selected, and the role very cleverly sustained: nearly every section of the community was represented, for the Mayor, in his munificence, had extended his invitations to all citizens worthy of recognition.

The Mayor himself assumed the character of the Earl of Leicester, and the Lady Mayoress that of a Brigand Queen. His Excellency, the Governor, with capital judgment, selected the character of Captain Cook, and Lady Robinson made a worthy Britannia.

It would be beyond our space to specially notice the many excellent costumes, but we give a full alphabetical list of the guests and the characters taken by each.

The whole affair was most enjoyable, and many will remember with pleasure the reign of our worth Mayor, Mr. Roberts, from this event alone, if for no other reason."

The 1879 Ball is also mentioned in Brian McKinlay's book "Sweet and Simple Pleasures - Australian Entertainment in Colonial Times" (pub. Collins Dove, Victoria 1988 ISBN 0 85924 633 7)

In the earlier part of the 1800's the centre of social life in Sydney and Melbourne was Government House, but of all the Australian settlements, Sydney was the only one with a Lord Mayor.

The annual mayoral ball had become a vastly important social event as early as 1844.

Invitations were eagerly anticipated, one lady wrote: 'From the moment of the reception of the card of invitation to the Mayoral Fancy Dress Ball, what excitement arose as to what character to assume. What discussions as to suitability of costume, what misgivings as to cost, what a brushing up of wigs ancient and modern.'

Mr. McKinlay notes that the mid-nineteenth century was the great age of the fancy dress ball and speculates on the deep psychological reasons underlying the popularity of dressing in costume.

A member of the royal entourage that had accompanied Prince Alfred on his visit to Australia in 1867 wrote :

'One may suppose that the colonials, seeking escape from what is really a rather dull life, found in these fancy dress revels a moment of brightness'

Mr. McKinlay also makes note of the prominence in the colony's newspapers of 'social' news. Increasing space was devoted to describing what had been worn and who had been seen with whom - sometimes written with a malicious delight in the occasional discomfiture of the fashionable gentry when something went astray with the organisers plans.

When an immense traffic jam marred the Sydney Mayoral Ball of 1879, a journalist noted: 'The vulgar crowd lining the approaches to the ball leaned forward to stare into the vehicles and did not hesitate to pass an opinion upon the occupants. Gentlemen who sat upon the box seats beautifully attired, had an especially unhappy time of it.'