Darling Mother, Darling Son

‘However far away from you I am, you are the real centre of my life ...’ – Leslie Walford

For much of the twentieth century the names Leslie Walford and Dora Byrne were synonymous with style and glamour. Walford was the sophisticated, 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 the archive of Leslie Walford’s papers held by Sydney Living Museums.

Revealing an unbreakable bond between mother and son, the letters are lively, opinionated and sometimes poignant as Dora and Leslie discuss their lives and loves – and their fascinating insights into the design and fashion of their times.