Did You Know? Queenslanders Once Wore Jewellery Made from Human Hair.

One of the most unusual traditions of the Victorian era was the creation of jewellery made from human hair. While people had treasured locks of hair as keepsakes for centuries, the Victorians transformed the practice into an elaborate art form.

The fashion became especially popular after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Heartbroken by the loss of her husband, Queen Victoria entered a lifelong period of mourning, wearing black for the remainder of her life. Her example influenced mourning customs throughout Britain and across the Empire, including colonial Queensland, where memorial jewellery became an important expression of grief and remembrance.

Locks of hair were skilfully woven, braided or arranged into brooches, lockets, rings, earrings and bracelets. These keepsakes were often worn close to the heart as lasting reminders of loved ones who had passed away. However, hair jewellery was not reserved solely for mourning. It was also exchanged as a symbol of love, friendship, engagement and family affection while people were still living.

In colonial Queensland, mourning jewellery could be purchased from local jewellers or imported from England. Some women also created their own intricate hairwork at home using patterns and instructions published in Victorian magazines and craft manuals.

One of the earliest surviving examples connected with Queensland is the Archer Mourning Brooch, dating from around 1860. Associated with the pioneering Archer family of Gracemere near Rockhampton, the brooch contains finely woven human hair and is regarded as one of the state's most significant surviving pieces of colonial mourning jewellery (Link to view: https://collection.qagoma.qld.gov.au/objects/9608).

Before photography became widely affordable, a lock of hair was often one of the few tangible mementoes a family could keep. Unlike flowers that faded or letters that wore out, human hair could last for generations. For many Victorians, these delicate creations were far more than jewellery - they were enduring symbols of love, remembrance and family connection that linked the living with those they had lost.

Note: To help tell this story, we’ve used computer‑generated illustrations modelled on public domain archives. These are produced strictly for educational, non‑commercial history sharing. The Archer Mourning Brooch is not shown within this post due to image copyright - It can be viewed here: https://collection.qagoma.qld.gov.au/objects/9608.

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Did You Know? Queenslanders Once Wore Jewellery Made from Human Hair.

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