The 27 year 9 pupils from Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School, in northern New South Wales, came to Oamaru yesterday for a field trip to the second annual Steampunk fashion show and gala ball.
Teacher Greg Parkes was one of the entries in the fashion show, at the Oamaru Opera House, with his costume character, Red Dog Street Spiv, along with two pupils who also made costumes.
Mr Parkes said the Steampunk genre was being used at the school as an arts unit for the first time. They were among 33 show entries , double last year's inaugural event total.
They decided on a working art field trip to New Zealand, and top of the list of places to visit was Oamaru, promoted as the Steampunk capital of the world.
That visit gave the inspiration for two students to design their own costumes, along with his creation.
Entries in the fashion show had to be based on the Victorian genre, have a functional science-fiction component and include the story behind the costume and character wearing it.
Mr Parkes' entry was based on a character with an interest in explosives, ammunition, carnage and rescue.
The fashion show attracted 255 people and all 120 tickets for the gala ball in the Scottish Hall last night were sold out before the weekend.
