Green Satin Shoes

Overhead view of emerald green satin sling back shoes with wedge heel. The shoes are embroidered with red flowers and green leaves. The wedge heel has gold inlaid piping.
These shoes were worn by Gladys Sym Choon to the State Reception held during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Adelaide in 1954. The Gladys Sym Choon collection is illustrative of a number of important themes, including the contributions of migrant families to South Australian business, the role of independent female entrepreneurs in the State’s history, and the diversity of Adelaide’s commercial activity. Although it is well known that the Immigration Restriction Act was passed in 1901, the Sym Choon collection points to the continuing presence of Chinese families in Australia after 1901, therefore documenting aspects of the experiences of Chinese migrant families in Australia prior to the dismantling of the immigration legislation known as the White Australia Policy.