Zara Bate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zara Bate
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Zara Kate Holt in 1965
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| Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia | |
| In office 26 January 1966 – 17 December 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Pattie Menzies |
| Succeeded by | Bettina Gorton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Zara Kate Dickins
10 March 1909 Kew, Victoria |
| Died | 14 June 1989 (aged 80) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Sorrento Cemetery |
| Spouses |
James Fell
(m. 1935; div. 1946)Jeff Bate
(m. 1969; |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Clothier and bon vivant |
| Signature |  |
Dame Zara Kate Bate (born Dickins, later Fell and Holt; 10 March 1909 – 14 June 1989) was an Australian businesswoman. She was famous for being the wife of Harold Holt. He was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1966 until he disappeared in 1967.
Contents
Growing Up in Australia
Zara Kate Dickins was born on 10 March 1909 in Kew, Victoria. She was the second of four children. Her parents were Violet and Sydney Dickins. Her family had Irish and Scottish roots.
Zara's father was a successful businessman. Her family owned a car and had staff like a cook and a governess. She was taught at home until she was about 10 years old. She didn't enjoy this and felt it didn't prepare her well for school or life. In 1919, Zara started at Ruyton Girls' School. She finished school in 1925 at age 16, after attending Toorak College. She first met her future husband, Harold Holt, in 1926.
Her Fashion Business
In 1929, when Zara was 19, she opened a dress shop called "Magg" with her friend Betty James. It was on Little Collins Street in Melbourne. Her father lent her money to start the business. The shop began in an upstairs room. Soon, they moved to a bigger place that used to be a blacksmith's shop.
Zara and Betty were featured in The Herald newspaper. Zara later said she was the only girl from her school class who went "into trade" (meaning business). After about a year, Betty left to get married. Zara continued the shop alone for another year. She worked very hard buying fabrics, designing, sewing, and fitting dresses. Her mother eventually told her to close the shop. When she sold her stock, she made a good profit. She used this money to travel around the world.
During World War II, Zara worked for her father's food business. She designed labels and ads for their products. In May 1949, Zara and Betty opened a new Magg shop in Toorak. Zara was the main designer, and Betty managed the business. The shop quickly became popular. This was because people were very interested in designer clothes after wartime rationing ended. The business grew and had up to 50 employees. They had a small shop inside Melbourne's Myer Emporium and another shop in Sydney. Magg was later sold in 1976. In 1979, Zara became the head of Yves Saint Laurent's Australian company.
The National Gallery of Victoria has some of Zara's dress designs. In 1964, a newspaper reported that her biggest fashion success was a silk dress worn by Tania Verstak. Tania won the Miss International 1962 pageant. Zara also designed the Australian women's uniform for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. She made one design in "wattle yellow" for official use and another in "Olympic green" for casual wear. In 1966, Zara liked simple, well-made dresses. She also liked the miniskirt style.
Her Family Life
Zara's first husband was James Fell. They had three sons: Nicholas (born 1937) and twins Sam and Andrew (born 1939). Their marriage ended after the twins were born. They divorced.
In 1946, Zara married Harold Holt. He was a politician from the Liberal Party. Harold adopted Zara's three sons, and they took his last name.
Life as Prime Minister's Wife
Harold Holt was a government minister from 1949. He became the leader of the Liberal Party in 1956 and the Treasurer in 1958. When the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, retired in January 1966, Harold Holt became Prime Minister.
Zara brought a new energy to the role of the prime minister's wife. She was known for her common sense and friendly nature. She was a successful businesswoman. People liked her because she was open and warm.
In December 1967, Harold Holt disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria. His body was never found.
In June 1968, Zara Holt was given the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This was for her "devotion to the public interest." In 1968, Dame Zara wrote a book about her life called My Life and Harry: An autobiography.
Later Years
On 19 February 1969, Dame Zara Holt married Jeff Bate. He was a farmer and a Liberal politician. She then became known as Dame Zara Bate. This was the third marriage for both of them. In the early 1970s, Dame Zara appeared in TV commercials for coffee and kitchen appliances.
After Jeff Bate passed away in 1984, Dame Zara moved to the Gold Coast. She died there in 1989 at the age of 80.
Dame Zara was buried at Sorrento Cemetery in Victoria. This cemetery is close to Cheviot Beach, where Harold Holt disappeared.
