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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-06-13 Daily Xml
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PRINTS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:40): The Legislative Council moved to this chamber in 1939. The chamber remained undecorated until 2010 when six prints of significant South Australian art were erected. Today I would like to reflect on some of the significant links to the history of our state and this council depicted in these paintings.

Painted over 110 years and representing various regions of the state, I suggest that the six prints can be viewed as three sets of two paintings. The first two works focus on the natural environment. The painting in the centre of the eastern wall is Sunset on the Gulf. Painted by James Ashton in about 1900 it depicts one view of South Australia's 4,250 kilometres of coastline. James Ashton arrived in Adelaide in 1884 and established the Norwood Art School and Ashton's Academy of Arts—both were highly regarded and influenced many painters.

One painter taught by Ashton was Ivor Hele. The parliament has a number of paintings by Ivor Hele, including the painting of the proclamation in Centre Hall. Another painter taught by Ashton was Hans Heysen. Born in Hamburg Germany in 1877, Heysen came to South Australia with his family in 1884. At the age of 16, young Hans went to Ashton's art school in his spare time. For almost three decades the landscape of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia provided inspiration for Hans Heysen.

The painting on the right of the western wall is Hans Heysen's In the Flinders Far North painted in 1951. It is an example of Heysen combining the two great themes in his works: the Australian gum tree and the view of the Flinders Ranges. The mighty gum dominates the work, with the arid landscape of the ranges behind. The work was commissioned by the commonwealth government to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Federation and was displayed in the Australian Embassy in Paris for many years.

Another two of the works focus on Aboriginal culture. The painting on the left of the eastern wall is called Corroboree by John Michael Skipper painted in about 1840 which, coincidentally, is the time that the Hon. Dennis Hood was referring to as a period of missionary work amongst the Kaurna people. By early accounts, the spectacle of the Kuri or Palti dancers in corroborees was dramatic, and public night-time events were often held as close to the settlement as the Parklands and the botanic gardens. This piece is possibly the first large oil painting to be made in the colony of South Australia.

The painting on the right of the eastern wall is Evening Shadows, Backwater of the Murray, South Australia by H.J. Johnstone. Painted in 1880, it is an allegorical depiction of an Aboriginal woman crossing the Murray in twilight. The painting was the first painting to be acquired by the Art Gallery of South Australia and has become the gallery's most copied and photographically reproduced image. Earlier this year it was the focus of an installation at the gallery involving 38 painted copies of the painting borrowed from citizens in and around Adelaide.

Two of the works depict the emerging colony of South Australia. The painting by Edmund Gouldsmith on the left of the western wall is called Port Adelaide and was painted about 1885. The young London-trained painter used impressionistic oils to depict the bustling harbour. The central painting on the western wall is The Proclamation of South Australia 1836 by Charles Hill. This painting is a celebration of the proclamation of the state at Holdfast Bay on 28 December 1836 and it was painted soon after the state achieved self-government.

This vast canvas was purchased by the Art Galley of South Australia in 1936 to commemorate South Australia's centenary. It portrays the reading of the Proclamation by governor Hindmarsh, the first governor, and the newly-arrived citizens in the colony. It is particularly appropriate that this painting should hang in this council. Governor Hindmarsh convened the first Council of Government in Mr Gouger's tent, which is shown under the arch of the Old Gum Tree.

The painting also depicts a range of renowned colonists, including Mr James Hurtle (later Sir James), who was on the original Council of Government and who was a member of this Legislative Council from 1853 to 1865, including serving as its first president. Four other colonists depicted served in this council: Mr John Morphett (later Sir John), Mr George S. Kingston, Mr Boyle Travis Finniss and Dr Charles George Everard.

In 1843 the Council of Government was replaced by the Legislative Council, on which Mr Morphett sat. The Legislative Council is therefore the senior chamber of this parliament, predating the House of Assembly by 14 years. The Royal Arms over the President's chair is an echo of the fact that the governor was the first Chair of the Legislative Council. I commend the President and the Clerk for the choice of paintings which add an historical touch for an older house in a younger chamber.

Time expired.

The PRESIDENT: Hear, hear!

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