- General Information
- The Collection
- History
- Reservations
- Pricelist
- Procedures for VCA Students
- Fees and Delivery
Business Hours:
Mon/Tue/Wed 10am – 2pm.
Appointments preferred.
Group bookings strictly by appointment.
Operating hours are subject to change without notice.
February - December
Phone:+ 61 3 9685 9368
Costume Hire Manager: Duraan Reid
Email: duraanr @ unimelb.edu.au
The VCA Wardrobe department has a considerable variety of costumes from a wide range of historical periods, including contemporary and dance, which are available to film productions, amateur and community theatre groups, and dance/drama departments of major schools. All the costumes available for hire have previously been used in VCA productions. The collection is ideally suited for use in performances by theatre groups.
The range is limited and is not ideally suited to individuals looking for items for fancy dress use.
Over the past 20 years VCA Wardrobe Department has acquired most of its collection through the VCA productions and generous donations of well known theatre companies, film shoots, Australian socialites and the friends and families of VCA.
Reservations can be made for costumes. Items are placed on the “reserved” rack, attached with name and details and collected at a later date. Stock that isn’t collected by the due date will be returned to the general hire racks. Reservations can only be made in person.
The standard period of hire is 2 weeks. Variations from the standard period can be negotiated, but additional charges may apply. The pricelist below is a general price indication and includes cleaning costs. The hire amount reflects the value, condition and style of costume.
| Jewellery, sunglasses, bags, handkerchief, socks, sash, cumberband, hoods, collars | $5.00 |
| Ties, cravats, scarves, spats, gloves | $8.00 |
| Trouser, blouse, shirt, waistcoat/vest, bodice, bloomers, breeches, aprons, shawls, shoes, hats, padding/fatsuits/preggy bellies | $10.00 |
| Short skirt, half tutu, tulle skirts, short cape, night gown, slip | $15.00 |
| Jacket, tails, tailcoat, trench coat, overcoat, labcoat, short dress, long skirt, robes, morning jacket | $20.00 |
| Long dress, long cape, dressing gown, kimono, frockcoat | $25.00 |
| Fur coat, wedding dress | $35.00 |
| Constructed character costumes eg foam characters | $50.00-$100.00 |
Please note - all prices are subject to GST
Payment can be made in the VCA Finance Department, Elizabeth Murdoch building on St Kilda Road. Cash, cheque, credit cards, and eftpos payments are accepted.
Student identification is required for all hires. Students who fail to return hire goods may be subject to results being withheld.
VCA Productions
Students on a wardrobe placement in a VCA production are responsible for the laundering and dry cleaning of all costumes independently of the wardrobe department. These productions are usually funded by the VCA and give the opportunity for students to work within a budget. Students will be accessed on completion of production.
Students hiring wardrobe for VCA productions and wish to be financially supported by their department, must either produce an authorisation form from their department or have administration notify the wardrobe supervisor. This will allow the student to access wardrobe hire to the expense of the school. Dry cleaning fees and handling fees still apply.
External Hire
Students hiring costumes for non VCA productions and general purposes will be charged normal hire rates [see Pricelist ].
Damaged or lost goods
Damaged or lost costumes must be paid for at the current replacement cost. In some cases this will mean 100% of the cost of the original costume plus loss of hire. Excessively soiled items will incur an extra cleaning charge. Dry cleaning and laundering must not be done by the hirer.
Late Fees
Any hired costume returned late will be subject to late fees.
$50 for the first day and $10 for every day there after.
Delivery
VCA does not organise delivery.
