The poppy dress has attracted plenty of interest in Portland

A 1950's style dress was made in 2009 by bridal dress designer Helen Manuell and travels around the state to various RSLs and it is coming to the south-west.

Portland RSL's Sue Miller said the dress would be on display at the RSL hall on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"It weighs five kilograms without the petticoat," she said.

She said the dress had been modelled over the weekend by Amira Nicholson, whose great, great uncle Reg Saunders was the first Aboriginal man commissioned into the Australian Army.

Ms Miller said in what had been a challenging year for veterans the arrival of the dress had brought some joy for members.

"We've had little girls come and see it with their mums, there have been grandmothers coming to see it," she said.

"We've had people from Hamilton come and have a look.

"Amira said it felt like she was wearing a ball gown.

"It has travelled around Victoria since 2009."

Ms Miller said the traditional service for Remembrance Day would not happen due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

"It (the dress) has become a focus for us because we haven't been able to do the normal things we've usually done," she said.

"It has been a difficult year.

"All of us would normally be together."

Ms Miller said veterans would be laying a wreath at the cenotaph and the community was invited to also pay their respects.

She said veterans would later gather at the RSL rooms in Percy Street.

The dress will be on display from 11am till 1pm before it returns to ANZAC House.