Australiana, Vol 36 no 2, May 2014

Hilda Rix Nicholas was one of Australia’s most successful international artists. When she returned to Australia in 1918, she brought her magnificent paintings infused with post- impressionist light and colour to a generation of young Australian artists, yet her triumphant homecoming had been marred by the loss of her sister, mother and husband. Here, Julie Petersen focuses on her period of recuperation, while living in Sydney’s leafy Mosman.

The Australiana Society Canberra Centenary Members’ Tour conducted from 5-8 September 2013 was extremely successful and thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated. It was superbly organised and led by committee member Lesley Garrett, assisted by Dr Paul Donnelly, another committee member.

Gary Morgan’s research into this recently rediscovered colonial wax relief, reported here for the first time reveals it to be an important relic and memento of the early exploration of South Australia.

An early colonial library table in the neo-classical style, with a maker’s label for Clarke of Castlereagh Street, Sydney, c. 1835, came to light in a distressed state a decade ago. Warwick Oakman ponders who might have made the table, where such an impressive piece of furniture might originally have been used, and speculates how it may have come into the hands of its previous owners, a family of solicitors.

Our first event after the last AGM was the show-stopping evening at the Mitchell Library to view the Macquarie collector’s chest, the Dixson collector’s chest and the Wallis album with Elizabeth Ellis and Richard Neville. This was one of the very best events that I can remember, with the unique opportunity to examine the two chests side by side and to see, at close quarters, the extraordinary Wallis album of watercolours and drawings found in Canada a few years ago. The presentations were fascinating and the discussion that followed was spirited and enlightening. Several members came from interstate, such was the drawing power of the event. I particularly want to thank Tim Cha for organising this