hat

Brown felt hat with pleated black velvet band, up-turned front brim. Caterina Lucci label.

History

This hat formerly belonged to Dame Roma Mitchell (1913-2000).  She wore it at the unveiling of a statue dedicated to her in Prince Henry Gardens, North Terrace, on 2 July 1999. It was donated to the Migration Museum after Mitchell’s death by her executor, Mrs Piers Plumridge. 

Significance

Dame Roma Mitchell’s hat is a personal item related to her public duties. Mitchell is considered to be one of the most important figures in South Australian history. Her duties as a chair of the Human Rights Commission, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide and Governor of South Australia involved many public engagements, of which the unveiling of the statue of Mitchell was just one.