association

This was opened in 1928 according to the newspaper report: trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/151129226?fbclid=IwAR1...

Fashion in the 1920's Picture In the 1920’s fashion was no exception. Clothing changed with women changing roles in modern society, particularly with the idea of freedom for women. Jean Patu, a new designer on the French scene in the 1920’s, began making two-piece sweater and skirt outfits in luxurious wool jersey and had an instant hit for his morning dresses and sports suits. Two of the most iconic fashions of the 1920’s are the cloche hat and the flapper dress. The cloche hat changed from the wider-bristled hats of the decade before and continued to change up until the 1930’s and elsewhere. The cloche hat was worn often tilted covering their forehead but they can still see. Their hair was often cut short and styled flat to fit under the hat. A cloche hat often covered the ears as well and sometimes ends off the women’s haircuts. In the 1920’s women wore silky dresses and tops. In a lot of outfits women would wear a dress that is just below the knees. Back then something that was popular was a dress which has a strap at the waist. These dresses looked quite old looking but they were in fashion. With an outfit women would always wear a piece of jewellery, a necklace, bracelet or earrings. Their hair was normally cut short with headbands or clips in it. Source: historyofaustralianfashion.weebly.com/1920s.html

1920s Fashion Trends for Women * Below-knee length drop-waist dresses with a loose, straight fit. * Beaded evening dresses inspired by “flappers.” * Mary Jane or T-strap heel shoes. * Casual sport golf knickers, argyle socks, blouse and tie. * Cocoon fur coats and fringe wraps. * Cloche hats and short bobbed hairstyles. * Bead or feather headbands for evenings. * Long pearl necklaces, bold Art Deco colors, faux gemstones. * Small beaded purses held pretty makeup compacts and cigarette cases. Source: vintagedancer.com/1920s/when-to-wear-what-in-the-1920s/

About the hairstyle: During World War I (1914-18), women took the place of men in many workplaces, including factories and fields. Safety concerns made it acceptable for women working in these environments to cut their hair. Generally, though, a woman’s long hair was thought of as her crowning glory – and it was quite a jolt to cut their hair so short for fashion. Bobbed styles were, initially, met with shock and resistance. For example, in some western countries, women who worked with the public (such as teachers, department store workers, and office girls) were fired for coming to work with bobbed hair. Similarly, some schools banned bobs. Preachers sermonised against the bob. Similarly, various conservative types made claims that cutting hair short could lead to all sorts of nasty side effects, like a mustache, baldness, or life eternal as a spinster. Heavens! As with all trends that create shock waves, things gradually calmed. By the mid-1920s, much of society was becoming more accepting of short hair. Some older women were also going for the chop, preferring the convenience of shorter hair with no more frizzing, backcombing, stuffing, and pinning. Variations of the 1920s Bob * Plain Bob - the Buster Brown This classic women’s 1920s hairstyle had a blunt-cut fringe and hair ending just below the ears. It was also known as a Dutchboy, Dutch Cut, or Buster Brown (after the cartoon character’s bobbed hairstyle). For those without a fringe, a side parting was the thing. A bobby pin could hold back the hair if needed. * Charleston Bob It was a softer-looking bob named after the Charleston dance – the dance of the decade. The hair came to just below the ear lobes and had large, soft waves in it. It was very fashionable in 1925. * Eton Crop - the Boyish Bob The Eton crop was also known as the boyish bob or the Garçon. It was a very short bob, shaved at the nape and cut above the ears. It appeared in the mid-1920s and was named for the hairstyle favoured by schoolboys in Britain who went to Eton. The masculine style attracted much comment and was often the target of satire, cartoons and the press. * Moana Bob The Moana bob had a distinctive parting that ran parallel to the forehead, with the fringe swept forward. The rest of the hair was combed back over the crown, creating a little rounded lift. .......and the list is much longer, than the hair!!!!! Source: hair-and-makeup-artist.com/womens-1920s-hairstyles/

See notes and comments here -

In response to Beachcomber's note - I read once that there were a number of warehouses on Kirribilli Point. A possibility?

John Cowper Found it! According to this 1917 interactive map it was the "Pastoral Ass[ociation] Wool Stores" - www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-gmod71-a3-sd&rg... What a strange place to build a wool store - probably why it did not last long.

That must have been the reference I had picked up in the past ... good detective work!

The Pastoral Finance Association Wool Stores had a major fire in 1921 which destroyed the building. Additional fire appliances had to be brought over from the city by vehicular ferry. The building was left a ruin for some years until apartments and the Hayes Street ferry wharf were established in the late 1920's.