AUSTRALIAN GOWN OF THE YEAR 1992. RISING NIGHT

In 1992, Bateman Original Designs entered Rising Night in the Australian Gown Of The Year.

Designed by Sheila Bateman, Rising Night was entered in Section 5, “Supernumeraries” & Fantasy. Unlike the gown entries, Rising Night sits closer to fantasy styling and millinery, showing the dramatic headwear, sculptural shape and theatrical finish that would later become central to The Hat Gallery.

With its dark tones, netting, floral detail and strong silhouette, Rising Night shows Sheila’s ability to design beyond dressmaking alone. It connects the early Bateman Original Designs archive to the millinery work that became an important part of Sheila’s later creative history.

Rising Night remains a key archive piece from the 1992 Australian Gown Of The Year, showing the beginnings of the design language that would later continue through The Hat Gallery.

The archive images include the original program material, entry documentation and photographs of Rising Night as part of the 1992 Australian Gown Of The Year archive.