On a sunlit afternoon in Hawthorn, the lawns of historic Invergowrie came alive with the charm and elegance of the Regency era, as Melbourne celebrated 250 years of Jane Austen. Guests strolled among gracefully dressed dancers, vintage fashions, and displays of Austen family treasures, enjoying a day that felt lifted straight from one of her novels. The gathering drew Austen enthusiasts, history lovers, and fans of vintage fashion, all eager to honour the author’s enduring legacy.
The day’s special guest was Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen’s fifth great-niece and the last of Jane’s nieces to grow up at Chawton House. Caroline shared personal stories and reflections on why Austen’s novels continued to captivate readers more than two centuries after they were written.
Guests were immersed in a full Regency experience:
- Picnic on the lawns – guests brought their own baskets and blankets for a leisurely afternoon in true period style
- Exhibition of Regency fashion and Austen family treasures – elegant dresses and clothing from the era were on display, alongside early editions of Austen’s beloved novels, including Pride and Prejudice
- Regency dances – performers in period attire brought the music and movement of Austen’s world to life
- Hands-on crafts and period pastimes – guests tried their hand at activities that Jane herself might have enjoyed
- Handmade Regency-style cakes – sweet treats baked as they would have been in Austen’s time were served for a celebratory birthday toast
Co-hosted by the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation and the National Trust of Victoria Foundation, the event combined fun, history, and purpose, with proceeds supporting literacy and heritage preservation. Every moment of the afternoon celebrated Austen’s legacy while connecting attendees with the elegance and charm of the Regency era.
The 250th birthday celebration at Invergowrie offered a rare and magical opportunity to step into Jane Austen’s world, honour her remarkable legacy, and share the experience with fellow fans in a setting as elegant as the stories themselves.
