Thelma Afford b. December 1908

Also known as Thelma May Thomas
  • Artist (Theatre / Film Designer),
  • Designer (Textile Artist / Fashion Designer)
Costume designer, performer, actor and fashion journalist with a practice from Broken Hill, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. She also designed costumes for early Australian TV drama. She later became the senior art mistress at Queenwood, a private girls' school, Mosman NSW. She is to considered to have introduced art subjects into South Australian schools.
You are viewing the version of bio from Aug. 2, 2025, 9:33 a.m. , as edited by Michael Bogle (moderator approved).
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Name
Thelma Afford
Also known as Thelma May Thomas
Gender
Female
Roles
  • Artist (Theatre / Film Designer)
  • Designer (Textile Artist / Fashion Designer)
Other Occupation
  • Costume designer (ANZSIC code: 9002) -
  • Art teacher (ANZSIC code: 8022) -
Birth date
December 1908
Birth place
Broken Hill, NSW, Australia
Death date
1996
Death place
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Active Period
  • c.1930 - c.1978
Residence
  • c.1937 - c.1978 Sydney, NSW
  • 1935 - 1937 Adelaide, SA
  • c.1934 - Melbourne, Vic.
  • c.1930 - c.1934 Adelaide, SA
Training
  • - Adelaide Presbyterian Girls' College, Adelaide, SA
  • - South Australian School of Arts and Crafts, Adelaide, SA
  • - Broken Hill High School, NSW
Languages
  • English
Initial Record Data Source
  • Heritage: The National Women's Art Book

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Date modified Aug. 2, 2025, 9:33 a.m. July 31, 2025, 9:15 p.m.
Related people
  • Chauvel, Charles (associate of)
  • Bell, George (associate of)
  • Fornari, Pierre (associate of)
  • Thomas, William James (child of)
  • Thomas, Ethel (child of)
  • Afford, Max (spouse of)
  • Chauvel, Elsa (associate of)
  • Williamson, J. C. (associate of)
  • Fitton, Doris (associate of)
  • Hall, Ken (associate of)
  • Chauvel, Charles (associate of)
  • Bell, George (associate of)
  • Fornari, Pierre (associate of)
  • Thomas, William James (child of)
  • Thomas, Ethel (child of)
  • Afford, Max (spouse of)
  • Chauvel, Elsa (associate of)
  • Williamson, J. C. (associate of)
  • Fitton, Doris (associate of)
  • Hall, Ken (associate of)
Related person groups
  • South Australian Society of Arts (associate of)
  • South Australia School of Arts and Crafts (associate of)
  • Adelaide High School, SA (associate of)
  • Minerva Theatre (associate of)
  • Queenwood, NSW (associate of)
  • Doris Fitton's Independent Theatre (associate of)
  • Cinesound Films (associate of)
  • Garrick Theatre, Melbourne, Vic. (associate of)
  • Tivoli Gallery, Melbourne, Vic. (associate of)
  • South Australian Education Department, SA (associate of)
  • Ab-Intra Studio Theatre, Adelaide, SA (associate of)
  • South Australian Society of Arts (associate of)
  • South Australia School of Arts and Crafts (associate of)
  • Adelaide High School, SA (associate of)
  • Minerva Theatre (associate of)
  • Queenwood, NSW (associate of)
  • Doris Fitton's Independent Theatre (associate of)
  • Cinesound Films (associate of)
  • Garrick Theatre, Melbourne, Vic. (associate of)
  • Tivoli Gallery, Melbourne, Vic. (associate of)
  • South Australian Education Department, SA (associate of)
  • Ab-Intra Studio Theatre, Adelaide, SA (associate of)
Related collections
  • Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW (collected in)
  • National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, ACT (collected in)
  • Fryer Memorial Library, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld. (collected in)
  • Mortlock Library of South Australiana, State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, SA (collected in)
  • Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW (collected in)
  • National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, ACT (collected in)
  • Fryer Memorial Library, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld. (collected in)
  • Mortlock Library of South Australiana, State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, SA (collected in)
Field Changes
Biography