Figure 1.--This boy is Sid Black. He was photographed in Tilba Tilba, New South Wales. The photograph is undated, but HBC would estimate that it was taken in the 1900s. It could be the 1910s, but the button shoes makes the 1900s more likely. Sid wears a tunic, although it is a little difficult to make out with the all white outfit amd karge white collar. The tunic has a a hard to make out, light colored beklt. Along with rhe tunic he wears above the knee bloomer knickers, black knee socks, and high top shoes. Also notice the sailor hat and elastic chin strap. The image is from the collection of the National Archive of Australia (an10800965-33-v).
HBC has only begun to assess tunics in Australia. We have not made much progress because our Australian archive is rather limited. British immigration to Australia began to reach significant levels in the mid-19th century. And the fashions worn in Australia were basically English fashions, both for adults and children. We believe that tunics were primarily a style for boys from the more afflunt class of Australian socity, both the upper- and middle-class of society. European boys wore tunics throughout the 19th century. Australia was a little different. There were very few English/European boys in ustralia during the early-19th century. Our first glimpse of tunics in Australia come from a well-to-do Melbiurne family at mid-century. There were no destinctive Australian styles at least with the tunic itself. The pants were a little different. We note boys wearing above the knee bloomer knickers (figure 1). This was not common in Britain, but it was about the time we begin to see short pants. We continue to see tunic suits after the turn-of-the 20th century. In fact the early-20th century may have been the most common period for tunic suits. We see different styles, but basically the same styles worn in England. The boy here wears a sailor tunic. We do not have enough Australian images to know what styles were popular in Australia, but assume they were the same as those popular in Englnd. We note some boys wearing tunic suits at the turn-of-the century although we are not sure just how common they were, in part becaus of our limited archive. The age of boys wearing tunics varied over time. The O�Mullane boys wearing tunics in 1852 look to be about 8-11 years old. The boy here we think about 1910 looks to be about 5 years old.
HBC has only begun to assess tunics in Australia. We have not made much progress because our Australian archive is rather limited. British immigration to Australia began to reach significant levels in the mid-19th century. And the fashions worn in Australia were basically English fashions, both for adults and children.
Social Class
We believe that tunics were primarily a style for boys from the more afflunt class of Australian socity, both the upper- and middle-class of society. Theboy here looks to come fom a middle-clas family.
European boys wore tunics throughout the 19th century. Australia was a little different. There were very few English/European boys in ustralia during the early-19th century. Our first glimpse of tunics in Australia come from a well-to-do Melbiurne family at mid-century. We continue to see tunic suits after the turn-of-the 20th century. In fact the early-20th century may have been the most common period for tunic suits. We see different styles, but basically the same styles worn in England. The boy here wears a sailor tunic. We do not have enough Australian images to know what styles were popular in Australia, but assume they were the same as those popular in Eglnd. We note some boys wearing tunic suits at the turn-of-the century although we are not sure just how common they were, in part becaus of our limited archive.
Tunic Styles
There were no destinctive Australian styles at least with the tunic itself. Russian blouse tunic suits were popular in America at the the time this snapshot was taken. We donnot know to what extent they were worn in Australia.
Pants
The pants were a little different. We note boys wearing above the knee bloomer knickers (figure 1). This was not common in Britain, but it was about the time we begin to see short pants.
The age of boys wearing tunics varied over time. Tunics were worn by European boys throughout the 19th century. Yhey were worn by school-age boys. We know very little sbout the early-19th century in Australia. A painting shows the O'Mullane boys wearing tunics in 1852. The boys look to be about 8-11 years old. By the 1860s we begin to see photographic portraits. A good example id a CDV portrait of two unidentified brothers in Liverrpool during the 1860s. They look to be about 6-9 years old. The dealer suggested it was taken in 1868, although we see no indication on the potrit. . They wear mid-length tunics with long knee pants.
After the turn-of the 20th century we see mostly youngr boys wearing tunics. The boy here we think about 1910 looks to be about 5 years old (figure 1).
