Darling Mother, Darling Son: The letters of Leslie Walford and Dora Byrne, 1929-1972

Abstract

For much of the twentieth century the names Leslie Walford and Dora Byrne were synonymous with style and glamour. Walford was the flamboyant, go-to interior designer for Sydney society. His mother, Dora Byrne, was a key figure in Sydney and Southern Highlands social circles. Darling Mother, Darling Son is the first major publication to be drawn from an archive of Leslie Walford's papers held by Sydney Living Museums. Revealing a tight bond between mother and son, the letters are alternately lively, opinionated, bossy and poignant as Dora and Leslie discuss their lives, travels and loves - and their fascinating insights into the design and fashion of their times.