Australian School Uniform: Late 20th Century (1970-99)


Figure 1.--This clothing ad shows typical school uniforms during the 1990s. The boys wear the dress uniform while the girl wears an every day outfit. Click on the image for a view of the more informal uniform.

Notable changes in Australian school uniform occurred during the 1980s. Many changes more in tune with the Australian climate were introduced during the 1980s. Many casual styles replaced the more formal English styles. Blazers and ties became increasingly less common. More older boys began wearng long pants to school. Many schools introduced seasonal uniforms with long pants during the winter and shorts during the summer.

Chronology

Notable changes in Australian school uniform occurred during the 1980s. Many changes more in tune with the Australian climate were introduced during the 1980s. Many casual styles replaced the more formal English styles. Blazers and ties became increasingly less common. More older boys began wearng long pants to school. Many schools introduced seasonal uniforms with long pants during the winter and shorts during the summer.

Many schools dropped strict uniform requirements in the 1990s. School uniforms, hwever, are still widely worn. The formal traditional styles once worn have been repalced with more casual styles at many schools.

Types of Schools

Elementary schools did not commnly require uniforms, except for catholic schools and private schools. Beginning in the 1980s an increasing number of state schools began requiring uniforms. Many of the uniforms institutes are simple casual uniforms.

Uniforms are still commonly worn at Australian secondary schools. Some private schools still require quite formal uniforms. The public schools have a more relaxed attitude towards uniform, but one localmobservervsuggests that they are starting to revert back to something similar to the uniform styles from the 1960s and 70s

Garments


Seasonality

Many Australian schools have destinctive summer and winter uniforms,


Figure 2.--Some Australian schools in the 1990s still have traditional uniforms with ties and short pants.







Additional Information

Related Links: Careful this will exit you from the Boys' Historical Clothing web site, but both sites are highly recommended

Apertures Press International Project: Pictures at schools in different countries and a book on British schools
Apertures Press New Zealand book: New book on New Zealand schools in progress
Boys' Preparatory Schools: Lovely photographic essay of British preparatory schools with some over 200 color and black and white photographs depicting the schools during the 1980s
School Uniform Web SiteInformative review of British school uniforms with some excellent photographs


Christopher Wagner

histclo@lycosmail.com


Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1880s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s/a>] [The 1950s]
[The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s]




Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Main school uniform country page]
[Main school uniform page]
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Created: November 8, 1999
Last updated: November 8, 1999