Interview * Cate Evans * Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium

I’m not sure that I’ve ever been somewhere that’s felt quite so immediately intriguing & enveloping as Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium! With knickerbockers blowing in the wind – just as they would have ‘back in the day’ – I knocked upon the barn door of what was formerly an old butcher’s shop in the main street of the beautiful & vibrant hamlet of Trentham.

I could not have imagined what was waiting behind the door if I tried!

An instant sense of warmth radiates from rich timbers that line the walls, overhead old metal hanging rails (from which once hung bodies of beef) are now adorned with outfits of a by-gone era, underfoot lies a delightfully cheerful floral linoleum, while furs, leather lace-up shoes, bits & bobs & jewels are all a-twinkle – so many MAGICAL things in such an intimate space! But perhaps more than the WONDER of the store’s wares was the wonderfully connected conversation I had with Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium’s PASSIONATE, grounded & welcoming owner Cate Evans.

Cate and I found ourselves chatting about all manner of things from soul food, honesty and authenticity to what it takes to follow your heart & your dreams. It was so wonderful to see how Cate lives by these inspiring ethical qualities and how they’re echoed in her store & its wares. Cate finds, mends and brings new life to old treasures – from dresses to naval outfits, from leather shoes to hat-pins, from furs to paper dolls, from feather boas to biscuit tins. Cate’s delightful store pays homage to the skill, care, quality & attention to detail of yesteryear’s tailors, seamstresses, jewellers & cobblers. Enjoy! x

Cate’s amazing leather lace-up Victorian-era golf shoes ca. 1890s. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

You are a woman of many talents! Tell us a little bit about your background – what path led you to where you are now?

After years in social work, it was time to do something for me. My spare room was overflowing with my collection of clothes and stuff and it was a ‘lightning bolt’ moment. It was time to share the collection and let go. So, here I am!

You own the FABULOUS and historic Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium in Trentham. Tell us all about it!

Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium is part museum, part shop. It is also my space to truly be amongst the wonderful clothes. The Victorian vintage of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where Mr Ed’s is, displays the clothes authentically and brings them to life.

How did the name for your wonderful store come about?

The door of the shop is a stable door. There has been a sign saying Mr Ed above the door for years. So, it was an obvious decision to keep the history alive. The horse head I have on the top part of the door was for some creative humour, the history of the building and because a lot of my collection is Victorian clothing.

Your store was once an old butcher shop. How did you come to find it?

Yes, the space was originally a butcher shop, not a stable. William Kelly was the butcher and I have some photos of the time, kindly given to me by a generational local, Bruce MacKenzie of the Trentham & District Historical Society. I had always walked my dog past Mr Ed’s and noticed the metal rails around the walls, thinking they were for saddles. But no, meat carcasses! When I decided to have a shop, I thought the rails would be perfect to hang clothes. So, I asked the owner/manager of The Cosmo, Rod, and he said yes. I was absolutely delighted!

You sell AMAZING vintage clothing & collectibles. What makes you so passionate about these wares?

I am passionate about history of everything. How society changes and evolves. Clothes speak volumes about women, politics and trade. I respect and admire the craftsmanship, fabric and style of clothes from bygone eras. The quality presented in garments is lost in today’ society and I collect to ensure this quality is not forgotten. Also, the respect given to people by tailors, whereby the clothes made flattered and lasted a lifetime or two!! Not a mere season like today.

Tell us which eras & styles you are most fond of and why?

I collect from the Victorian to WWII eras. I feel beyond these eras introduced synthetic and mass-produced clothing. I do collect 50s, 60s and 70s clothes that is of gorgeous fabric, style and design.

You have an INCREDIBLE collection of Victorian leather shoes! Where do you source these special pieces of history?

I source my Victorian shoes mainly from the US. Very rarely do I find any clothes in Australia, except from the occasional auction.

Each of your pieces is a one-off & radiates its own story. Is it hard to part with them?

Yes. I endeavour to know a little history of each item I find. It adds dimension and I like to think the original wearer and maker of the garment would be honoured to know their beloved dress, skirt, shirt, jacket or accessory was still being loved. I have not been able to part with them until this year. I think my years of social work have contributed to me being able to let go and pass on the love.

What is your vision for your store?

My vision for the store is to make a humble living and to share the beautiful clothes with like-minded people. I am already involved in local events of fashion and costume displays and shows, but would love to connect with theatre groups who might like to hire the clothes for productions and TV shows. My vision is to be content and happy.

What does a typical day in the life of Cate Evans the ‘Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium Owner’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

On the weekends, when my shop is open, I get up around 7am, coffee, feed pets and head off to open up, enjoy the day. On weekdays, I get up around 7am, coffee, feed the pets and tend to my property. Mow lawns, chop wood, gardening, paving, walk dog, enjoy the day! Of the evenings, I watch TV, check Ebay for potential finds, love my cats and dog, eat a yummy dinner and to bed content and tired.

You’ve lived in Trentham for 5 years. Was this a tree change? If so, how did your tree change came about?

When I decided I wanted to buy a house in the country, being tired of the hectic city life, I looked north, south, east, west an hour away from Melbourne. I found Trentham in my travels and instantly fell in love. I found my little 40s bungalow and bought it, as it had an established old garden on ½ an acre, a creek as a boundary and in a private part of town.

Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

I am definitely a Countryphile. I just adore and worship the natural surrounds – the birds, roos, possums, wombats. I love walking my dog, on a lead of course, through the forest and observing the animals doing their thing freely and confidently.

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

The aspect of country life I am loving at the moment is the social contact with generational authentic country folk. They pop into the shop for a chat. They have wonderful stories to tell, especially the older folk from the Historical Society.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life? What are the ups and downs of running a store in a small country town?

The most challenging aspect of country life is maintaining the grounds over Spring/Summer. You can see the grass growing! The ups of running a shop in a small town are meeting the local community. The downs are some days when there are not many people around.

Tea or coffee? Do you have a favourite country café? Where and why?

Both. I love coffee in the day and tea of an evening. I don’t have a favourite café. I like to frequent them all!

Where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

The last great meal was spectacular feast at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville on a Thursday night. They have a Thai chef. Absolutely delicious!

YOUR country town’s best kept secret?

Trentham’s best kept secret can’t be told, otherwise everyone will want it. I’ll give a hint; wood is expensive!

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

I would encourage others to live in the country as it is a wonderful place to feel alive and in touch with nature. But not those who want to pave paradise and put up parking lots!

What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

For those wanting to make a tree change, be prepared to give up the city’s ‘everything at your fingertips’ and live more simply. Make efforts to get to know the community you choose to move to. Be real and earthy. Don’t bring the city with you.

What can we expect NEXT from you/your business in the future?

The shop appears to have a life of its own. I’m allowing my experience to surprise me. So, when I have the next surprise, I’ll let you know! I did get a mention in The Age a while back from a designer/journalist who popped in incognito and stated I was ‘a find’! Expect the unexpected! I do like being a bit mysterious.

What would be your dream project?

My dream project would be to form an artists’ co-operative within the local towns. A lot of artists, writers, poets, crafts folk, actors etc. that can swap skills and resources. No money involved. I’d love to be involved in a small production where I supply the wardrobe and help write a period script.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

Five things I turn to when I need a dose of city life? Um, that’s quite hard to think of five. I just love being here in my country town. At a pinch, they would be:
1. Thy Thy Vietnamese Restaurant in Richmond when I visit my sister
2. A Vietnamese pork roll at the Swan Street Bakery
3. A good stroll along Brunswick and Smith Streets
4. A visit to the museum in Carlton
5. A hunt for vinyl – I also collect records.

Cate Evans
Mr Ed’s Victorian Emporium
High Street Trentham Vic