Fashion in the Colonial Era

Published: July 28, 2026 · Updated: July 28, 2026

In the colonial era British dress was transplanted: convicts wore coarse, issued work clothing (slops), while settlers and officials wore the fashions of home adapted to the climate; from here practical bush clothing took root.

Overview

In this age that began as a penal colony, dress marked rank and origin.

Key garments and style

Convicts wore coarse issued work clothing. Free settlers, officials and their families followed British fashion while using lighter cloth for the hot climate. On the land, practical dress arose — sturdy moleskin trousers and wide-brimmed hats — and Indigenous people were issued blankets and cloth.

Transition

The gold rush of 1851 brought a diverse population and the practical dress of the digger.

History of this period

Colonial era 1788–1850