Barbara’s early years were spent near Warren at Enaweena, in New South Wales. By 1938, her parents moved to Gillawarrina, Trangie and from a young age, Barbara possessed a real love for the country and its lifestyle.
She attended Abbotsleigh School in Wahroonga, Sydney and the primary school lists her interests as riding, swimming, and tennis. These pursuits heavily influenced Barbara’s wardrobe throughout her life and resulted in riding gear, swimming costumes and tennis clothes being a keystone within TAMA’s collection.
During her schooling she was named a Prefect, Vice School Captain and Captain of Macquarie House in 1952, representing the school in the cricket 1st XI and Senior A netball teams in 1951 and 1952.
Potentially in response to these extracurricular interests, Barbara favoured sporty, functional clean lines throughout her wardrobe.
Like other young women of the time, she contributed to the country and social traditions by contributing to balls and fundraisers, like the Bachelor, Spinster and Sheep Show balls.
→ Read an article about Barbara at the 1954 Sheep Show Ball here.
We are lucky enough to have some of the garments worn to Lady Barbara during these years including a two-piece pale maroon evening ensemble in cotton velvet. This ensemble was worn to a woolshed dance during the 1950s.
Esme Brown
Sydney
Two-piece evening ensemble 1954
Two-piece evening gown in maroon cotton velvet, with cowl collar, dolman sleeves, bias cut skirt with gathering at the centre back
Gift of Angus K Grimwade, 1991
Collection of Ararat Gallery TAMA (Textile Art Museum Australia)
Ar.G. 1991-2(61)
After finishing school, Barbara returned to her family property and as a champion equestrian rider was actively involved in shows, carnivals, the local polocrosse and the district polo meets.
The logistics of attending and transporting horses to these events meant that Barbara became the youngest woman and probably the first, to hold a Class 5 truck license.
Below are articles featuring Lady Barbara during this period of her life:
→ The Daily Telegraph, June 1953
→ Sunday Telegraph, October 3, 1954
While Lady Barbara’s wedding dress was donated to the National Gallery of Victoria in 1989, we have a newspaper clipping of the special occasion and the dress she designed with her favoured boutique – Marlowe of Sydney.
Further newspaper mentions can be found here:
→ 16 Sep 1959 – SOCIAL JOTTINGS – Notice of Barbara Kater’s wedding to Andrew
→ 30 Sep 1959 – GETTING MARRIED – features a photo of Barbara and Andrew’s brother James