Thomas Stoddart, 1828 - 1905, bought 12 white marble statues during a visit to Italy. Stoddart arranged for them to be shipped to Victoria and placed on pedestals of Sicilian marble and on bases of Victorian granite. These statues were unveiled in the gardens on Queen Victoria's birthday, 24th May, 1884. His intention was for the statues to adorn and add interest to the gardens. In Greek mythology Leda was the wife of the king of Sparta who was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan.The artwork is of aesthetic and historic significance to the people of Ballarat White marble figure of a woman holding a swanLeda Presented by Thomas Stoddart 1884leda, stoddard, botanic gardens

Geoff Davidson arrived at Dunmoochin around 1968 and began living and working as an apprentice to the potter Robert Main, who was working in a studio rented to him by Clifton Pugh on the Dunmoochin property. When Robert left, Geoff moved into the studio and began collaborating with Clifton Pugh on many projects for a period of 25 years whereby Clifton would decorate pots made by Geoff. Geoff produce the ceramic panels for Leda and the Emu. He mixed and identified the glazes for Clifton, then fired the panels once he had finished painting. Three or four murals were produced in this way, one of which was purchased by Don Dunston (ex-Premier of South Australia) as a gift to his dying wife.Dunmoochin derives its cultural and artistic heritage from the collaborative efforts of a group of artists who purchased land in Cottles Bridge in the early 1950’s. These artists (Pugh) pioneered one of the first artistic communes in Australia and created a lasting vision of how a community can gain knowledge and inspiration from living in a close relationship with nature. Pugh had explored the ‘Leda and the Swan’ mythological themes previously during the sixties in etchings and paintings, although he was more interested in referencing the original myth as allusions to other truths. Pugh was drawn to the Greek myth ‘Leda and the Swan’ in which Zeus transforms into a swan to seduce Leda. Pugh Australianised the myth so that Zeus transformed into an Emu rather than a Swan, and makes a gentle satirical comment on the sexual behaviour of the Australian male, whereby he sees a parallel between this and the proud yet awkward movements and naivety of our national bird. This particular theme was prevalent in Pugh's work right through the 60s and 70s. Leda and the Emu is a work by two prominent local artists (Clifton Pugh and Geoff Davidson) with a national and international reputation.Flat red background, black foliage. Leda is naked and sleeping with head resting in hand. Emu is to the left watching Leda. Drawing style is typical of Pugh’s work: linear, flat and gestural.Signed 'II Clifton'

Painting depicting a reclining female nude and two blackboy plants with emu against an orange background. Inscribed (L.l) 'AP VIII/VIII Leda and the Swan' and signed (L.r) 'Clifton 80'.clifton pugh, screenprint, leda and the emu, female nude, landscape

Penleigh Boyd, Robin and Patricia Boyd's son, writes “Prior to 1950 Robin, like most other amateur or hobby photographers, took black and white printed photographs. The oldest slides date from 1950 when Robin and Patricia travelled to Europe on Robin’s Robert Haddon Travelling Scholarship.” In 1948 Robin Boyd was awarded ‘joint first place’ in the Robert Haddon competition for his design of Mildura art gallery. The scholarship helped fund their first overseas trip. Robin and Patricia were passengers on the Greek ship “Cyrenia” departing in May 1950, passing through the Suez Canal and landing in Genoa five weeks later. For six months, they travelled extensively throughout Europe (predominantly driving themselves) - France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.Colour slide in a mount. Leda, by Austrian-German sculptor Josef ThorakAustria Sculpture (Handwritten) / Open-air Scupture Exhibition (Handwritten) / Sculptor: Thoraz; LEDA (Handwritten)haddon travelling scholarship, haddon, robin boyd, slide

Bronze plaque depicting a female nude with a swan.Nonematcham skipper, plaque, bronze, female nude, leda and the swan

Proposal to relocate the Stoddart collection of Statues indoors after vandalism. "Stoddart Collection to be Moved Indoors"_Courier, Thursday 11th July 2002, page 4.Impact of vandalism on the statues over the yearsHalf page article with photo of Statue, Leda in the BBG, taken 1884.The Courier, Ballarat, Thursday, July 11, 2002. Author: Andrew Eales, City Council Reporterstoddart collection, vandalism, statues in the ballarat botanical gardens, statue of leda., john garner collection, garner, dr, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, courier

Yellow covered nine page booklet containing 19th Century views of Bendigo and Ballarat presented by Thomas Richard Jones, Chemist of Hargreaves Street Bendigo. Art Noveau figure of woman on front cover. Inside cover features T R Jones Dispensing Chemist and Druggist printed beside man holding a horse. List of Veterinary products supplied by Jones. Farmer's requisites included Strychnine, Toxa, Phosphorus, Poisoined wheat, Bi-sulphide of Carbon. Egg preserving fluid and milk preserving powder Rennet and butter colouring along with Drenches and Cattle medicenes supplied. View No1. Moorabel Falls Ballarat. View No 2. Statues of Leda and Spring Ballarat. View No 3. A Giant Palm Bendigo. View No 4. View from St Paul's Bendigo. View No 5. Unveiling 'The first Public Statue' Bendigo P/Office in background. View No 6. Statue Presented to the City of Bendigo by Cr Harkness. [Reclining greek beside dog fighting lion] View No 7. 'On the Campaspe, near Bendigo. View No 8 The Pine Avenue, Rosalind Park. View No 9. Scenes on Lake Wendouree, Ballarat. View No 10. Statuary in The Botanical Gardens Ballarat. View No 11. Statues of Burns & Moore Ballarat. View No 12. Botanical Gardens, Ballarat. Inside back cover features list of T R Jones products. Outside back cover features advertisement for T R Jones Universal Corn Cure, and Jone's Compound Pectoral Balm.Printed by Periodicacls Publishing Co, 21 Elizabeth Street Melbourne.bendigo, parks and gardens, bendigo chemist and local views.