Queensland Women of Fashion: Spotlight on Hazel Barry

Hazel Barry personified entrepreneurial spirit and fashion designing talent in 1950’s and 60’s Queensland. Widowed, with three children to support, Hazel put her skills to work to carve a niche in fashion, training models and charity fashion shows*.

Mrs Hazel Barry (nee McLean) was well educated at Sydney University and had taught Latin before her marriage in 1939 to Bundaberg GP, Dr. David Barry. In 1951, with her husband’s declining health, he encouraged her to find an interest. In the early 1950’s, Hazel purchased “Pauline Hats”, located in Penneys Building (1), Adelaide Street, Brisbane. The business sold fashionable hats and provided a remodelling service, with “Prompt service for Country Clients”(2). Hazel then bought a clothes boutique called “Roma Fashions” from Mrs C. Rhoades. Hazel added her own branding, naming the boutique “Roma Fashion Salon (Hazel Barry) Frock Salon”, as listed in the 1954 Trade Directory.(3) Roma Fashions was in the ground floor arcade of the Colonial Mutual Building next door to the GPO, Brisbane city (4)(5).

Widowed in 1954, Hazel embraced the responsibility of raising the family and growing her business. Although at a time when it was near impossible for a lone woman to obtain a business loan without a man’s signature, Hazel managed to do it (6). Hazel’s daughter, Dr Kay Cohen, recalled that a helpful recommendation by Hazel’s bank manager’s secretary led Hazel to secure a loan through her bank. 

In the beginning, Hazel stocked the boutique with fashions ordered from Melbourne, but this proved too slow, so she set up a manufacturing facility in the same building. As described by her daughter:

Hazel turned out to be a brilliant cutter and innovative designer. She also branched out into knitted garments, retaining several professional home knitters whom she paid by the ball of wool used. These proved to be very popular.

Country Catalogue

Brisbane fashion took a tour out west. Hazel developed a fashion shopping catalogue that was sent to regional Queensland, supplying fashion by mail order. In the introduction of the catalogue, Mrs Barry says:

Dear Madam, 

In sending out this catalogue, I am endeavouring to bring to the fashion-conscious country clients, a means whereby she can “shop” for attractive clothes as easily as the city dweller. 

All the frocks have been personally chosen by me after a great deal of thought, and, in this, my initial venture, I have aimed to give you a comprehensive a range as possible. Smart little accessories have been included as these are a feature of my salon.

Fashion for Teens

Hazel branched into a new line of designs. She felt that teenagers had limited options for youthful, well-made fashion, so developed a line of clothing specifically for this age group. At the time there were no teenage models, but Hazel did not have to search too far to find a willing helper. Her daughter, Kay, can be seen here modelling summer wear in 1959.

Not only did Hazel create fashion, she also seized the opportunity to develop fashion models by providing lessons and opportunities for the many young secretaries who worked in the nearby city offices. Hazel’s daughter, Kay, recalls: 

The Hazel Barry Modelling Academy opened in the same Colonial Mutual building. Aspiring models gained experience in parades Hazel organised for many local charities at weekends. Some of the young women went on to professional success but its main appeal was as a personal grooming and styling course.

Charity

From the beginning of 1954, Hazel provided the dresses and models for a number of charity fashion parades, such as the Mater Hospital appeal. These parades not only supported charities, but were a good source of publicity for her modelling agency and clothing lines. Hazel initiated business women’s fashion parades at Lennons Hotel, which commenced at 5pm as work finished (invitation and program below). 

Juggling Family and Business

Widowed in 1954, Hazel embraced the responsibility of raising the family and growing her business. Hazel’s story is an oft repeated one of a housewife who, through changed circumstances, becomes the sole source of income while raising a family. Hazel kept the business and charity works going all the while raising three children. The family appeared in the news, in an article about amusing the children during the long summer school holidays. 

Mrs. Hazel Barry, mother of three children – David, 14, Kay 11, and Douglas 8 – has an extra problem, because she works in her city frock salon every day.” It goes on to say, “But Mrs. Barry has found a way of keeping all three youngsters happy.

It lists their activities with the eldest taking swimming training, helping with breakfasts and visiting “the library or a picture show”. “Kay is on wages in her mother’s shop, but can have time free if she wants it.” Douglas goes to town with his Mother and helps her or watches Christmas shows in the city. All the children help with the chores. Her daughter remembers that she would sometimes go from school to the shop, or the children would make their way home from school or sports, but their Mother would always be home to cook dinner for the children.

Later Careers

Hazel had carved a niche in 1950’s fashion and it sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. After her time in fashion, Hazel continued her interest in business, including setting up a sports store. Later, at the time when most people are thinking of retiring, Hazel discovered a passion for selling. She was an award-winning encyclopaedia sales team leader, which led her to attend the World Book Encyclopaedia international events. This is where she met New Zealand’s mountaineer and explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary. (16)

Brisbane fashion scene

Brisbane has had a strong culture of couture fashion designers. At the time Hazel set up shop, she was in competition with numerous fashion houses, including those further uptown in the Brisbane Arcade. “During the ’50s, ’60s and into the ’70s, Brisbane Arcade was the design headquarters of two of the most significant couturiers in Australian fashion history – Gwen Gillam and Harvey Graham.”(18). There are many big names in Queensland fashion, including several inductees in the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. They include the most recent fashion inductee, Keri Craig-Lee OAM for her enduring fashion label and Keri Craig Emporium. https://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/keri-craig-lee-oam . Another inductee is the Gold Coast’s Paula Stafford OAM, best known for revolutionising swimwear with her popular bikinis:  https://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/paula-stafford-oam-1920-2022 . Another good source of information on Queensland fashion can be found at the Queensland Museum’s webpage at: https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/learn-and-discover/queensland-stories/queensland-fashion 

Your memories?

Hazel Barry, Fashion designer, Model maker, Philanthropist and Mother, had great talent and business acumen. Hazel will also be remembered for her charity work through fashion parades. If you remember attending one of the charity fashion parades or ordering from one of the fashion catalogues, please feel free to comment or contact Joanne Dolley through: qldmemory@slq.qld.gov.au.

*The materials for this article were kindly donated by Mrs Hazel Barry’s daughter, Dr Kay Cohen. Thoughtful donations such as Kay’s contribute to the depth of the library’s resources – in this case, the story of Queensland fashion. 

Dr Joanne Dolley
2025 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellow
The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship  is generously supported by the John Allpass Charitable Foundation.

Read other blogs by Dr Joanne Dolley:

• Hair Salons to Hospitals – Histories of Queensland Businesswomen
• Capturing History: Women-owned Photographic Studios at the Turn of the 20th Century
• Foundations of Care: Women Who Started Private Hospitals in Queensland

References

1. Postmaster-General's Dept. (1883-1975) [Brisbane telephone directories]. Brisbane. 1953 directory, P.178. Record number 997267514702061
2. Postmaster-General's Dept. (1883-1975) [Brisbane telephone directories]. Brisbane. 1953 directory, “Classified Business and Professional” section, P.39. Record number 997267514702061.
3. Universal Business Directories  Pty. Ltd. (1954), P.211.  Universal business directory : Southern Queensland. Brisbane: Universal Business Directories Aust. Pty. Ltd. Record number 997015474702061.
4. Front entrance of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society building, Brisbane, October 1958 (no date). https://collections.slq.qld.gov.au/viewer/IE3282243
5. Anon (2022) Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd building in Queen Street, Brisbane, 1979. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. (Original 1958) https://hdl.handle.net/10462/photostd/01334535
6. Thanks to Dr Kay Cohen for approaching the author with her example of a loan obtained by a business woman without a male guarantor in the 1950’s. It is always great to find instances outside the norms of the times.
7. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
8. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
9. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
10. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
11. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
12. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
13. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
14. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
15. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
16. Hillary, E. (1999) The view from the summit / Sir Edmund Hillary. London: Doubleday. Record number 994702814702061
17. Acc. 34920 Hazel Barry papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
18. Brisbane Arcade. (n.d.). Legacy of couture: A brief history of Brisbane Arcade’s fashion designers, https://www.brisbanearcade.com.au/history-of-brisbane-arcade-fashion-designers/