Australian Dress Register

The donor wore these lederhosen in Austria before migrating to Australia with her family in 1950s. She also wore them at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre and throughout the 1950s.

"I loved my lederhosen - wore them everywhere - they were comfortable - you could get them dirty. I wore them on the ship to Australia and for quite a few years in Bonegilla", she said.

Lederhosen began to be commonly worn during the 18th century and were primarily worn by boys and men. They became popular with right wing political groups that sprang up in Germany after World War I. Lederhosen were strongly associated with the Hitler Youth movement.

Ute Bierbaumer, her parents and sister, Heidi, came to Australia on board the Italian ship, Toscana in the 1950s. They arrived in Melbourne and travelled by train to Bonegilla and stayed at the camp for 13 years. In the 1960s there were over 4,000 migrants at Bonegilla, a global village. Life at Bonegilla could be challenging and the conditions often primitive. Ute describes this time as one of hope tinged with apprehension.

The donor, Ute Bierbaumer.

The lederhosen are currently on exhibit at the Albury Library Museum in the 'Crossing Place: the story of Albury' semi-permanent exhibition space.

An embossed design of a running stag, mountains and two oak leaves with acorns is stamped onto the leather yoke.

Each leg of the shorts has a cuffed hem and the side hem edges are held together with crossed strips of leather.

A plaited woolen cord is holding together a pleated gusset at the back waist area.

Tan/orange leather piping around the cuffed legs, heart pockets and zipper closures.

The lederhosen are made of leather.

Various kinds of leather were used for lederhosen. Traditionally they were primarily made of chamois leather until World War II when lederhosen increased in popularity and cattle leather was used.

Casein plastic was produced in Germany in 1899 and was traded under the name Galalithe. Galalithe was first unveiled at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900. The translation of Galalithe from Greek to English is 'milk stone' which gives an insight into the composition and aesthetic beauty of the items produced. Casein was produced in rods or sheets and was made into an array of useful items such as knitting needles, pen cases, knife handles, buckles and buttons and then hardened in a solution of formaldehyde. It was produced in a variety of colours and has been known to imitate tortoiseshell and horn.

No label.

The front flap is fastened by two zippers. The zip on the right is broken and the opening is hand sewn shut. The buttons were described by the donor as plastic but further investigation shows they are galalithe. The straps are fastened with buckles at the front.

The inside waist band is a grey twill fabric.

Lederhosen (German for leather breeches) were commonly worn in Austria, Bavaria and German speaking parts of South Tyrol in northern Italy. They were considered to be work wear or leisure wear.

Sharing the Bonegilla Story - A catalogue by Dr. Bruce Pennay provides the definitive Bonegilla story and complements the Bonegilla Story exhibition at the Albury Library Museum, telling the story of over 310,000 migrants and refugees who passed through the site.

The publication explains why Bonegilla has been placed on the National Heritage List as one of Australia's most significant heritage sites.

For over 25 years, Albury City has been collecting objects owned by former residents of the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre; things that people brought from their homeland that gave them comfort, photographs, domestic appliances, children's toys, books and clothing.

These objects, photographs, documents, and other memorabilia, now housed in the Albury Library Museum's Bonegilla Collection, provide evidence of and insights into post-World War II migration and refugee experiences. The collection illuminates immigration policies and procedures that changed the composition and size of the Australian population, and thus transformed the nation economically, socially and culturally.

There are currently over 1,400 museum objects and photographs in the Bonegilla Collection.

The right front zip doesn't work and has been sewn shut. The leather piping around the heart shaped pockets is worn and faded. The leather on the back seat area of the lederhosen is well worn and shiny. There are some minor yellow stains (possibly paint) to the right front of the lederhosen.