Local Treasures - Maitland Mural by Pixie O 'Harris               28 May 2013

Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewees: Ann Hardy & Alan Todd

Broadcast Notes.
A few years ago volunteers at Grossmann House in Maitland were preparing for an open day when they stumbled across an artwork by renowned Australian artist Pixie O 'Harris. It was an original mural painted on a large board about two metres long and is likely to have been displayed in a health or educational setting. It had been hidden away for some time, and with much excitement was able to be shared with the public.

Pixie O’ Harris was a famous Australian artist and author, born in Wales in 1903 she came to Australian in 1920 with her family, she became a well known writer and illustrator of mostly children’s stories such as The Babes in the Wood, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood 1940 and The Pixie O'Harris Nursery Rhyme Book 1980.

O’ Harris also did cartoons and designed many book plates and in her later life become a fairy-style mural painter of children’s hospital wards. Since 1939 she was involved in painting mural in wards, health centres and schools. She went on the decorate fifty in institutions in Australia. In 1977 she was awarded Patron of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital where she did a lot of work. Some of the murals at Canterbury Hospital were salvaged in 2005 and become part of a new ward. Other murals were done in schools in NSW. Most of the artworks depict beautiful colourful fairies. She died in 1991.

O’ Harris had a long standing and exceptional career and it is very exciting to think that a small piece of history exists in Maitland, a legacy of an incredible woman who did so much to brighten the lives of children. This mural is thought to be part of the original "Museum of Australian Childhood" in Sydney and transferred to Maitland some years ago when the museum closed. In the collection there is also a screen printed "Pixie O'Harris Print" piece of fabric. A newspaper article about 15 years ago Harry Boyle describes O’ Harris’ background and the Pixie murals in Maitland Hospital. He says "sadly, during renovations, these examples of her art in Maitland were obliterated". We are lucky to have this work in the region because it is reminiscent of the numerous illustrations and books that O’Harris produced that enriched the lives of many children. She was a public artist who contributed significantly to the care and wellbeing of children in government institutions.

This artwork shows three children gazing at two birds in a blossom tree; one of the birds is looking at eggs in a nest whilst the other seems to be merrily whistling away. There is a goat with the children and they are beside a river. The mountains in the background could be the Australian landscape, although the cottage on the river bank is very English in appearance. Similarly the dress of the girls is European, and the boy is dressed very pixie like, playing his flute whilst the small bird sings along. It is a very enchanting painting, and has much going on, no doubt occupying the imagination of the young mind.

Although the mural was not originally displayed at Maitland, its current home is quite apt because Grossmann and Brough houses used to be a school. The house is one of two identical buildings; Grossmann House became Maitland Girls High School in 1893 and Brough House part of the school in 1918. The School moved to East Maitland in 1963. The Education Dept handed the two properties to the National Trust over 40 years ago, Grossmann become a House Museum in 1966, whilst Brough House had a few different uses, the main one being the Maitland Art Gallery for 30 years until 2004.

O’ Harris’ whimsical and colourful painting is a wonderful time piece of childhood in the twentieth century. The artwork is on display at Brough House on most open days.

Launch of Fundraising for 'Lost Newcastle' App

Inner City Winemakers and National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Invites you to

COMMUNITY MILESTONES

Art, Food & Wine evening to launch fundraising for

‘Lost Newcastle’ App

Saturday 11th MAY 7pm

Carol Duncan from 1233ABC radio will be MC

Talks by local identities about their personal observation of a milestone in their profession or interest

Dr Denny Gordon- Milestones in Medicine

Gael Davies- Arts in Newcastle

Glenn Hardy- Marketing & Events Milestones

Gionni di Gravio- Archives, Access & Technology

There will also be an Art Exhibition

Fine wines, finger food

Cost $40 per head

28 Church Street, Wickham

RSVP vrellye@bigpond.com or 0438522734

Heritage Festival 'Community Milestones' 2013

Newcastle Family History Society
Back to Basics Course
WHEN Saturday 27 April
TIME 2pm-4pm
COST Free Event
CONTACT Bookings Essential 4957 8296 www.nfhs.org.au
Lambton Mechanics Institute, 68 Elder Street,Lambton
How to begin family history research; resources available locally and elsewhere; breaking down brick walls; organising your material. All library resources are available; printed publications, microfilm indexes, CD collection, extensive card indexes, internet access, members on duty to help with enquiries.
Open Day. WHEN Saturday 4 May
TIME 9am-3:30pm
COST Free Event
CONTACT 4957 8296 www.nfhs.org.au
Lambton Mechanics Institute, 68 Elder Street Lambton

Sunday 28 April 2 pm Lost Newcastle : guided walk around some of Newcastle's lost milestones. Meet at former Palais site (KFC) Cost $10 enquiries : 49 61 1063 or 044 761 1066

Sunday 5 May 2 pm King Edward Park : Heritage Park, a Community Milestone. Meet at former Bowling Club site. Cost $10 enquiries : 49 61 1063 or 044 761 1066

Saturday 11 May 7 pm : Wine, Art and Community Milestones. Inner City Winemakers, 28 Church Street , Wickham . Cost $40. Numbers limited . Booking essential. vrellye@bigpond.com Phone 0438522734

Friday 17 May James Fletcher site: Millstone or Milestone? Tour site followed by lunch at Monets 11am $35 Enquiries: ann-hardy@hotmail.com or 0438509139

From Lemon Tree Passage School to a Community Centre
WHEN Saturday 18 May
TIME 10am-12noon
COST Free Event
CONTACT portstephensfamilyhistory.com.au
Old School Centre, Kenneth Parade, Lemon Tree Passage
The Lemon Tree Passage Old School Centre was originally the Lemon Tree Passage School
established in 1954, it was the first provisional school for Tanilba Bay, Mallabula and Lemon
Tree Passage on the Tilligerry Peninsula, Port Stephens. Take a look at the early photographs
on display and listen to a talk about the history of the school and how the community set about
to re-use the buildings as a Community Centre in 1984. Morning Tea supplied an opportunity
to meet and greet some former teachers and pupils.

Sunday 19 May 2 pm : Renewing Community Milestones . Meet at Bacchus Restaurant, 141 King Street, Newcastle Cost $10 enquiries : 49 61 1063 or 044 761 1066

Celebrating Trains and Trams in Maitland
WHEN Saturday 18 May-Sunday 19 May
TIME Sat 2-5pm, Sun 10-3pm
COST Walk $15, Display $20
NT member: Walk $10, Display $15
CONTACT 4933 6452 janece.mcdonald@newcastle.edu.au
Amid great excitement and celebration in 1857 the great Northern Railway was extended to East
Maitland, & to West Maitland in 1858. A steam tram began operating between West Maitland
East Maitland. We celebrate these community milestones on 18 & 19 May with two events. On

Saturday 18 May a heritage walk from Maitland Railway station to Brough House commencing
at 2pm ($15/$10NT) will include afternoon tea. On Sunday 19 May (10am-3pm) rail and tram in
Maitland will be celebrated by talks, displays, fashion and visual presentations $20 (includes
a morning tea and lunch).

Remembering the State Dockyard: an Oral History
WHEN Saturday 20 & Saturday 27 April
TIME 2pm-4pm
COST Free Event
CONTACT Deb Mastello 4929 2588 www.maritimecentrenewcastle.org.au
The Maritime Centre Newcastle, 3 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle.
When the NSW State Dockyard closed in 1987, a community that worked, lived and
socialised together had to move on. We want to remember those times, those relationships and
those community events that bought everyone together. We will be conducting two afternoon
sessions with those who have memories of the State Dockyard to share and record for future
generations.
For further events see http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/Heritage-Festival

Local Treasures - Lt William Coke and Desmond

1233 Local Treasures-Tuesday 26 March, 2013

Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Ann Hardy

Broadcast Notes
The second-in-charge of the colony of Newcastle in 1827 was just 22 years old. Lieutenant William Sacheverell Coke is another of those early European inhabitants who kept a record of his relationships with the local Aboriginal people, including his 'companion' - Desmond.

Recent attention on the Macquarie period and the wonderful colonial artworks in the 'Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie Era' at the Newcastle Art Gallery has highlighted human relations and interactions between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

The exhibition has artworks of local Aboriginal people by Richard Browne. During the 1820s partnerships with local Aboriginals and cultural past-times continued, although these have not been documented to the same extent as in the previous decade.

Accounts of Newcastle during 1827-1828 by Lieutenant William Sacheverell Coke (1805-1896) are described in his diary and historian Cynthia Hunter published "The 1827 Newcastle Notebook and Letters of Lieutenant William S Coke Hm 39th Regiment" in 1997. Her extensive research explores the cultural practices undertaken by Coke and his relationship with Aboriginal 'servant' 'companion' Desmond.

Coke was in second in charge at Newcastle in 1827. The mood of the town during this time had changed and although many of the convict workers had left the settlement 250 stayed to work in the mines and public works. Although Newcastle was no longer a penal settlement in 1823, it was not free in the sense that newcomers could easily settle there.

Despite the many difficulties in sustaining the coal mines at Newcastle, support for convict labour continued and government officials remained there. Coke was 22 years of age when appointed second in charge of the garrison at Newcastle and was in command of fifty two men at Newcastle as well as the detachment of six hundred convicts at the AA Company at Port Stephens.

Coke wrote letters to his family in Derbyshire, one saying

New Castle is a small Village situated on a peninsula, half of which is only bare land. We have no houses of two stories, but have small cottages with verandah's round them to shelter us from the sun. It is very hot here particularly as it is so exposed. We have plenty of Birds (in the forests) of beautiful plumage.

Whilst at Newcastle Coke learnt to stuff birds and draw them, thus continuing the cultural tradition of collecting and drawing as a common pastime of the earlier Commandants. He had a book with him 'Preserving Subjects of Natural History' containing instructions about how to stuff birds before sending them to his family in England. There must have been plenty of time for these past-times as the following describes:

I am endeavouring to teach myself painting, I seldom read less than four hours a day....I never touch Spirits but take perhaps five Glasses of Wine during the day, the Doctors say it is absolutely necessary.  He also describes the 'numerous grand corroborees' performed at the Government Domain (now known as the James Fletcher Hospital), an activity that had been common during the Macquarie years. It was the continuation of a cultural practice associated with both Aboriginal and European relations in the 1820s. Coke had a good relationship with Desmond and his tribe, and enjoyed many outdoor activities with Desmond. He would often give Desmond a musket and a load of power and shot and bring him home some kangaroo and wild ducks.

There are a number of the Natives always about us, they carry each a Spear and Club but have no Covering, they go out a shooting or fishing with or for us and are very honest and never steal.

Coke believed the 'Natives' were his 'best friends', and he often witnessed battles between different tribes even in the 'Village' who were expert in throwing spear as far as '200 yards'.

Battles generally took place early in the day, in a kind of natural amphitheatre, with hills at the back and the river Hunter in front.

This area described could possibly be in the location of the present day King Edward Park. At one stage Desmond is wounded in a 'Field of Battle' and took several months to recover, during this time Magill also known as Biraban regularly brought Coke 'duck, teal and widgeon to eat, and a satin bower bird to stuff". There was a genuine mutual respect between Desmond and Coke, with Coke recollecting years after leaving Newcastle that:-

when lying ill with cholera...and not expected to recover, Desmond came and bent over me and said 'Never mind, I will see that you are buried like a warrior'.Visiting government officials such as Governor Brisbane continued to be entertained in Newcastle by local Aboriginal tribes in the 1820s a tradition common during Governor Macquarie's visits to Newcastle in the 1810s. Unfortunately there are limited artworks showing these cultural practices Newcastle during this time. However there is a beautiful painting of Desmond by Augustus Earle held at the National Library of Australia. Coke's recollections are very important because he describes early relationships with Aboriginal people and cross cultural practices, something quite unique in the Australian story. Coke's accounts contribute to knowledge about early Newcastle and important when considering our national cultural heritage.

Source
Cynthia Hunter, The 1827 Newcastle Notebook and Letters of Lieutenant William S Coke Hm 39th Regiment. Raymond Terrace NSW: Hunter House Publications, 1997.

Augustus Earle, National Library of Australia, Desmond, a N.S. Wales chief painted for a karobbery [i.e. corroboree] or native dance http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2820718

http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/03/26/3724135.htm?&section=latest&date=(none)

Newcastle’s Wondrous Art from the Macquarie Era

Tuesday 26 Feb, 2013
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Ann Hardy

1233 Local Treasures- 26 Feb 2013
Broadcast Notes

I thought that it would be an opportune time to talk about colonial art of the Macquarie era in the same week the Macquarie Chest is coming home, after 195 years. The years that Macquarie was Governor of NSW produced some beautiful artworks of Newcastle, they were artwork authorised and supported by government officials, for the purpose of documenting public infrastructure and changes in the landscape. The period 1810 to 1821 produced a collection of colonial works that are acknowledged as fine art today, and no other decade during the 1800s saw such a rich collection of artworks produced to the same extent documenting the town.

The penal settlement at Newcastle had a distinct artistic culture that was different to Sydney. It was dominated by occupational artists, regardless whether they were convict, surveyor, botanist or engineer. There was plenty of work for government commissioned topographical illustrators and artists at Newcastle. Many government commissioned artworks from Newcastle have survived because they were kept by authorities as government documents. However, the work of occupational artists may be more reliable than that of others because of their training as surveyors, botanists or engineers, their job was to record the progress of the colony as part of the official record. Their works carefully record building projects and the topography; they had an eye for important details. In contrast, the picturesque or professional artists were more concerned with balance and harmony and concealed hardship in the colony.

Most of the artists in Newcastle during the Macquarie years were Government artists who produced art as part of their professions. They were employed by government authorities to carry out landscape research and mapping projects. Many of the colonial artists were associated with the military professions. What they produced as topographical illustrations have come to be viewed as fine art. Landscape research also involved botanists and botanical illustrators. Visual sources were the ‘tools of trade’ of many professions with works documenting the physicality of the place, the engineering works and public projects. People were rarely seen and instead the built environment was the focus.

Paintings and drawings by occupational artists have a high level of reliability in terms of historical interpretation. This is particularly the case for the etchings whereby both artists (drawer and etcher) were in Newcastle and knew the landscape well.

Visual sources provide an enduring record and we can thank several Commandants for supporting the production of artwork, in particular Commandants Skottowe (1811 to 1814) and Captain Wallis (1816 to 1818). Wallis and Governor Macquarie shared a common interest in art and both supported convict artists. Many convict artists had competencies in drawing for example produced art as part of their professions as forgers.

Artists collaborated with the Newcastle commandants. Such as An Historical Account of the Colony of NSW (engraving) by Commandant Wallis and convict artist Walter Preston, showing flora and fauna of NSW. Another collaborative partnership Richard Browne, a skilled convict artist and fellow convict artist Walter Preston produced the engraving Newcastle, in NSW, with a distant view of Port Stephens in 1812 (Figure 2).

Newcastle artworks of the Macquarie era convey a story of change and progress, which is valuable in terms of Australia’s colonial culture. Academic research has focused on works produced in Sydney, however there have been some wonderful exhibitions and books recognising artworks of Newcastle. These include John McPhee’s excellent work Joseph Lycett: Convict Artist and Elizabeth Ellis’ book Rare and Curious: the Secret History of Governor Macquarie's Collector's Chest.

These artworks compliment beautifully the Macquarie Chest because they were produced during a period of growth in the colony. The culture of art making was one of sharing and collaborating, and the rich culture of artworks from the Macquarie era can be accredited to government authorities who supported the practice of art.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/02/26/3698545.htm?&section=latest&date=(none)

Novocastrians to experience priceless piece of Australia’s history

MEDIA RELEASE- Newcastle Art Gallery
Newcastle locals will be among the first to connect with a priceless piece of Australia’s colonial history when a series of extraordinarily rare and beautiful paintings from the 1790s – acquired by the State Library of NSW – are unveiled at the Newcastle Art Gallery on 14 February, from 11am – 12pm.

The State Library’s Mitchell Librarian, Richard Neville, will give a free public talk where he’ll reveal the remarkable story of how six elaborately bound albums, holding over 700 richly detailed drawings and paintings of local plants, birds and fish, languished almost forgotten in an English Earl’s library for over 100 years.

“We hope that people viewing these stunning artworks up-close will get a sense of the excitement the Europeans felt over 200 years ago when they eagerly sought to discover, record and understand the uniqueness of Australia’s natural world,” says Richard Neville, who will share two of the six albums with Newcastle residents.

“The two albums on show are the most beautiful from the collection, and they tell an amazing story from our past,” says Mr Neville.

Richard Neville’s talk could almost be seen as the precursor to a major exhibition which similarly contains striking works that tell an important story of our past. Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie Era, a collection of the most historically important artefacts of colonial era Newcastle ever brought together, will open on March 2 and features works from both the Gallery and State Library’s collections. Treasures of Newcastle is the product of collaboration between two institutions eager to see key historic pieces return to public view in Newcastle.

The TAL & Dai-ichi- Life Collection was purchased with the significant financial support of life insurance specialists and its parent company Dai-ichi- Life, the State Government and the State Library of NSW Foundation. It is freely accessible on the State Library of NSW website with the works of art from all six albums on display in vivid high-resolution detail – http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/natural_world/derby/index.html

Two albums will also travel to Wollongong City Gallery (7 March), Hawkesbury Regional Gallery (8 May) and Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (22 May) ahead of a major exhibition at the State Library of NSW in early 2014.

To book for the free talk by Richard Neville on Thursday 14 February, 11am to 12noon, please contact Newcastle Art Gallery on 4974 5100.

Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie Era is on in the Art Gallery2 March – 5 May 2013.

Lucy Costello- Gallery Assistant, Marketing and PR

Grossmann & Brough House Open Day 10th February 10am - 3pm

“Open for Tea & Treasures”


The twin National Trust properties Grossmann and Brough House in Church Street, Maitland will be open to explore with all of Grossmann’s Victorian tea sets on display. In addition Brough House will be displaying historic local photographs by Athol D’Ombrain and the normally mothballed National Trust colonial furniture and other treasures will be on show.

Devonshire teas will be available in the heritage grounds and the normally archived Victorian Textile Collection can be viewed in its entirety “on the big screen”.

Other “Treasures” of the Open Day
Grossmann House – the fully furnished “1870s House”, containing the best National Trust collection of Victoriana in New South Wales.

“Maitland’s Leading Ladies” – Panels portraying the life and times of the three historical leading ladies of Maitland and the Hunter, Janette Grossmann, Cecily Mitchell and Eleanor Hinder. The Grossmann collection of Cecily Mitchell artwork will be on show as well as Janette Grossmann's portable writing desk (Tonbridge)

Pixie O’Harris Mural – Pixie O’Harris MBE (1903-1991) was an artist, author and illustrator of childrens “fairy” pictures and stories. The large mural depicts a fantasy setting with children animals and birds. She was the aunt of Rolf Harris.

1930s School Display. Beryl Melville attended Maitland Girls High School at the Grossmann House site in the 1930s. She enjoyed her school days so much she kept a lot of her school work books, including her exam papers and even the timetable, for the rest of her life. These items have been donated to her old school site and will be on display in Brough House.

Anyone becoming a new member of the National Trust at the Open Day will have the joining fee waived (a saving of over $30). The normal membership fee still applies.

Hidden deep in the artifact archives of the National Trust some mystery tea cups have been discovered.
They have no known provenance and have never been on show in Grossmann House - until now!
Who knows the origin of these cups? How old are they? Are they Trash or Treasure?
The cups have a Chinese design pattern and a makers mark, but are so far unidentified. They are not even on the National Trust accession register.
A cup from the set will be on display in Grossmann House throughout the Open Day and we hope that experts in the crockery field passing through can identify it.
Also on show for the first time at Grossmann will be an ornate matching silver tea set comprising of a tea pot, coffee pot, sugar bowl and milk jug. These items are definitely treasure. Come in and discover their provenance.
All Mad Hatters and Alice's welcome!!!