Hats & Scarves - Sneak Preview

Hats & Scarves: A Heady Affair is the latest display at the Museum. As usual, the community have contributed hugely with their own items for display. For example, pictured above is just a taste of the many women's hats from the 1950s. Many were stylishly worn to weddings and other special events.

There are caps from old rugby days and sheep judging and even a cap in the style of Telly Tubbies. Here is a sneak preview of some of the diverse hats and scarves on show.

A selection of four hats from the Otautau Volunteer Fire Brigade. These range from the heavy hardhats worn during fire-fighting as well as a formal dress hat.


Then there are hats from the Otautau & District Pipe Band: a glengarry (right) with a metal emblem. The crest has an ostrich with a horseshoe in its mouth and the motto, Sperandum est - It is to be hoped. The feathered bonnet with plume is probably made of fake ostrich feathers. In the foreground is a balmoral from a member of the community. The metal crest is of a tree with the motto: Stand Fast.

This is an ornate Turkish smoking cap. The colourful designs are made of handsewn beads. Smoking used to be an exclusively male activity, and so only men wore these hats. They would retire to a room together and smoke their cigars and cigarettes. The cap was worn to help prevent the smell of smoke getting in their hair.

This handknitted neck scarf has a clever design. It enables the wearer to secure it by tucking one end through a sleeve in the other end.

And there is much, much more. The display is on until 18 April. We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!