Museum talk shines light on human face of gold rush

The stories of an Austrian artist who roamed Australia capturing little-known scenes of life on the goldfields, will be outlined in the latest event at the Orange Regional Museum.

Stories of the gold rush and its impact on the Australian landscape were brought to light through the work of landscape artist Eugene von Guérard who travelled Australian for thirty years beginning in 1952. The artist is the topic of the latest in a series of public lectures this weekend.

Drawing on new research, art historian and von Guérard specialist, Dr Ruth Pullinexamines how Eugene von Guérard’s precarious and itinerant experience of living and mining on the goldfields laid the foundation for his artistic practice in Australia.

Orange City Council Services Committee chair, Cr Ron Gander is pleased the museum is involved in throwing the spotlight on the gold rush in new ways.

“Starting in 1852 von Guérard recorded, in his pocket-sized sketchbooks, in drawings and in a written diary, every aspect of life on the diggings”, Cr Ron Gander said. “His career, starting on the Victorian goldfields, saw him travel through NSW and across the country capturing the landscape during a period of dramatic change.

“He journeyed throughout Australia and got as close to Orange as Hartley in the Blue Mountains.”

“The Orange community has close connections with the start of the gold rush and it’s important that these are told”, Cr Gander said.

In 1851, just 30km from Orange in Ophir, William Tom, James Tom, James Lister and Edward Hargraves found payable gold on the banks of Summer Hill Creek. This discovery marked the beginning of the Australian gold rush, an historic event which was to become the subject matter for some of Australia’s most significant paintings.

The gold rush changed the face of the colonies and helped establish Australia as a nation. What occurred at Ophir was the catalyst for national change. This is a common theme in the history of the region – we are at the centre of a much larger Australian story.

The Public Lecture will be held at Orange Regional Museum on Friday 12^th May from 6pm. To book visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/ or contact the Museum on 02 6393 8444.