These two works of art are by Dr Don Edgar, a sociologist, educator and author. He taught sociology at Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Monash University and La Trobe University and was the founding Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies. In the 1950s Dr Edgar was a student at Warrnambool High School and these works of art were produced at that time. For a school project he researched the early history of the Warrnambool Art Gallery and some of its collection, dating from the 19th century. In 2019 he published a book, ‘Art For the Country’, the story of Victoria’s regional art galleries and the book includes information on the founding and the later history of the Warrnambool Art Gallery.These works of art are of interest as they were painted by Dr Don Edgar, a noted academic and author today and a former resident of Warrnambool. The two works of art also have historical interest as they depict Warrnambool scenes painted over 60 years ago. .1 An art work (oil on artboard) – the Warrnambool Botanical Gardens with bridge and reflections, a gum tree and a poplar tree, all in green and orange tonings. The wooden frame has a light varnish with gold and white trim .2 An art work (oil on artboard) – multi-coloured view of the mouth of Hopkins River with the Hopkins River bridge, Lyndoch bungalow and boathouse. The frame is wooden with a mottled varnish and a white insert edging. .1 Don Edgar 1953 Don Edgar 1953 (High School Student) .2 D.E. 53 Don Edgar 1953 (High School Student) dr don edgar, sociologist, author and educator, warrnambool art gallery, history of warrnambool

This book by Dr Don Edgar, a well-known Australian sociologist, educator and historian, tells of the establishment and development of art galleries in regional Victoria. This includes the Warrnambool Art Gallery, established in the early 1880s. The book documents the efforts of local groups and individuals to set up art galleries and their battles with government indifference and lack of adequate funding extending up to the present day. This book is of considerable interest as it gives details of the founding and development of the Warrnambool Art Gallery, set in the context of the establishment of other early regional galleries in Victoria. It is an important addition to our research library. This is a soft cover book of 400 pages. The cover has a white spine with black printing, a back cover with a colour photograph as a background and black printing and a front cover with a collage of colour photographs as a background with white printing. The pages contain a preface, an introduction, seven parts of text material, an appendix, an index and a bibliography.Don Edgardon edgar, warrnambool art gallery, regional art galleries of victoria, history of warrnambool