Karratha Station Silk Jockey Shirt

Since the first towns were established in the north, social life has revolved around the annual races, with their associated balls, corral events and a multitude of other social gatherings. People from every station in the district came to town for the annual event. The first was held at Roebourne in 1867. In the 1950s, stations were asked to choose the colours for their jockeys. Short on silk, Mrs Leslie, the matriarch of Karratha station, chose some scrap purple material which she sewed as circles onto one of her husband’s white shirts to make the distinctive purple and white Karratha colours. These hand-made silks were worn by jockey Dave Norrie from Karratha Station at the Nor West Jockey Club Races in Roebourne and won second place.