Blind Creek was located between the Abbotsford Convent and what is now the Collins Bridge in Studley Park. In an 1858 map of East Collingwood by Clement Hodgkinson, in the State Library of Victoria, one can see how the creek was originally a significant landmark in Collingwood; remaining vacant land until a barrel drain enclosed it. The area was later filled in, surveyed and developed. The position where Blind Creek entered the Yarra was in the immediate vicinity of Hodgson’s Punt, which had linked Kew to the other side of the Yarra from 1839. The Punt was purchased by the Colonial Government in 1852 and was in use until the opening of the Studley Park Road (Johnston Street) Bridge in 1858 made its continued use redundantThe point of view selected by the artist for the watercolour is from the banks of Blind Creek in East Collingwood, looking across the Yarra to the Kew side of the river.Inscribed verso 'Creek and Old Watering stage, on the Yarra East Collingwood 1854 / Trees, stage, &c have long since disappeared / [Artist Signature] / FT 110 / Creek itself now being filled in 1903.gb richardson, blind creek - abbotsford, yarra river - abbotsford (vic) - kew (vic), colonial artists, australian art - 19th century, george bouchier richardson

James Oddie had returned from travels abroad and gave a speech at the Ballarat Art Gallery concerning the pleasure and importance of being a benefactor during one's lifetime in the light of Christian beliefs.The article indicates the esteem in which Oddie was held and notwithstanding other benefactors' contributions to Ballarat. Even if they were not as wealthy, their contributions were not forgotten.Two pages of small black and white print in columns.Bottom of the page, "Courier" is written in blue birojames oddie, benefactor, ballarat art gallery, ballarat botanical gardens, the ballarat courier, thomas stoddart, james russel thomson, frederick moses claxton, wealthy citizens, christian example, ballarat star, ballarat courier, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat, oddie