A typical Olsen painting combines an implied aerial view with an ambiguous and seemingly unpremeditated figuration. His characteristically quizzical line and irregular squiggles and dots deftly render countless organisms, large and minute. Their environment is conjured through loosely brushed and stained expanses of colour (on canvas or hardboard) and lines which sometimes read as geological mappings. In Olsen's work there is no foreground/ middle ground/ background, nor any sign of European landscape's concern with "human scale." Instead he employs simultaneously the contrary vantages of naturalist and geographer. 'Tropical Rain Shower' by John Olsen forms one of the eight artworks represented in the Bodford Terrace Suite. Eight of Australia's finest artists were brought together to create a folio of lithographic prints to celebrate the restoration of historic Bodford Terrace. Printed at the Druckma Press by John Robinson under the supervision of master printer Jock Abbott. The folio edition was limited to 300 signed and numbered folios. The lithographs were printed on special heavy weight french Arche's paper in accordance with the tradition of this artistic medium. Lithographic print on paper.Signed John Olsen '78, lower right hand corner. Edition 179/300bodfford terrace collection, john olsen, tropical rain shower

The Queensland Musical, Literary and Self Aid Society for the Blind was established on 13 March, 1917. Many children who were blind and who had studied music with Mr Hebert Leon Newman at the 'Queensland Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution wished to continue after leaving school but could not afford to do so. Mr Olsen, the librarian, who was blind, conceived the formation of a Society to meet this need as well as providing an after work social centre and to address the limited job opportunities available for adults who were blind. The committee of the Blind Deaf and Dumb Institution encouraged the new Society by providing a grand piano and seating accommodation for 100 people in their library. In 1921 he established the John Olsen Literary Competition, then became the Edwin Dickinson Literary Competition and later the Vision Australia Dickinson Literary Awards.Photograph in frame with printed inscription below.John Olsen Founder Queensland Musical, Literary & Self-Aid Society for the Blind President 1919-1926 Died 9th Jan 1926john olsen, artwork, queensland musical literary and self aid society for the blind

The Queensland Musical, Literary and Self Aid Society for the Blind was established on 13 March, 1917. Many children who were blind and who had studied music with Mr Hebert Leon Newman at the 'Queensland Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution wished to continue after leaving school but could not afford to do so. Mr Olsen, the librarian, who was blind, conceived the formation of a Society to meet this need as well as providing an after work social centre and to address the limited job opportunities available for adults who were blind. The committee of the Blind Deaf and Dumb Institution encouraged the new Society by providing a grand piano and seating accommodation for 100 people in their library. In 1921 he established the John Olsen Literary Competition, then became the Edwin Dickinson Literary Competition and later the Vision Australia Dickinson Literary Awards. When he died in 1926, this tablet was made to recognise his contribution to Braille literacy and work involved to encourage Braille in the community.Marble tablet engraved and with coloured lettingIn Affectionate Memory of John Olsen Founder Queensland Musical, Literary & Self-Aid Society for the Blind President 1919-1926 Died 9th January 1926queensland musical, literary and self-aid society for the blind, john olsen

The 1969 Wynne Prize for landscape was awarded to John Olsen, 41, of Cottlesbridge, Victoria, for his painting, 'Chasing Bird Landscape'.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.4 x 5 inch colour reversal film (1) Condition: May not be true to colour of original work. Scanned from a 4 x 5 inch colour transparency which was taken c.1970 (approx. 50 years old) and which has undergone significant colour degradation towards the red spectrum. Allowances made for colour cast correction in scan with best guess for white balance. In some cases, significant light flare is reflected off glossy surface of original work at camera lens causing quality issues.sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, john olsen, cottlesbridge, 1969 wynne prize

John Olsen painting outdoors at Clifton Pugh's "Dunmoochin", Cottles Bridge. Reproduced Page 129 of "Pioneers and Painters" in colour. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Various prints and colour reversal filmsjohn olsen, eltham local characters, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, painting, dunmoochin

Painting depicting a building in the landscape with central figure holding a teapot surrounded by numerous pieces of pottery. Signed (L.r) 'J.O.' On reverse in chalk ' Peter Laycock Pottery, Dunmoochin, 1969, John Olsen'. john olsen, painting, landscape, peter laycock, pottery, dunmoochin

This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.4 x 5 inch colour reversal film (1) Condition: May not be true to colour of original work. Scanned from a 4 x 5 inch colour transparency which was taken c.1970 (approx. 50 years old) and which has undergone significant colour degradation towards the red spectrum. Allowances made for colour cast correction in scan with best guess for white balance. In some cases, significant light flare is reflected off glossy surface of original work at camera lens causing quality issues.sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, john olsen

framed bookplate, bookplate, john olsen, available

Bookplate featuring two owls with a paintbrushbookplate, john olsen, two owls, paintbrush

Lithograph 150/300Signed, title, edition and date

Gift of Mack Jost, 1993

Gift of Mack Jost, 1995

Gift of Mack Jost, 1999

Gift of the Davidson family in memory of Jean Davidson, 2022etching on paper

Gift of the Davidson family in memory of Jean Davidson, 2022etching on paper

Sepia photo of conditions in France 1914-18label War Conditions in France donated by Miss B Olsen

ink on paper student's technical drawings .1) 2-speed and reversing electric drive for Olsen Tension Testing Machine .2) Lifting geartechnical drawing, mechanical engineering, p. kempe

Cohn Bros printed Memorandum to E. P. Hastings re: receipt of share certificates from H. Olsen dated 16/8/1894bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery

Wireless Patrol crew of Sid Olsen, Gordon Marchesi, Ken Williams and Ernie Spinks, standing in front of a Ford Mercury. Near Heyington, circa 1948police vehicles; transport branch; wireless patrol; motor police branch; motor traffic section; ford mercury car; olsen, sid; marchesi, gordon; williams, ken; spinks, ernie

Pastel drawing of a black and white dogs head, glass covered gold inner frame and light brown wooden outer frame with mottled effect. Unnamed.Sticker 38 Pencil writing on back "Ölsen No.1"pastel, art, olsen

Depicted are nine Ruyton Girls' School prefects for the 1951 school year. The image is a formal school portrait taken outdoors on school grounds outside of Henty House (formerly Tarring). In the background, we can see three bicycles with cane baskets. The students are all dressed in knee-length check skirts, a dark jumper, light-coloured collared button-up blouse with a dark tie, wool blazers, and dark coloured shoes. Four girls are standing in the back row, and five are positioned in the front row. Students in the back row have been identified from left to right as M. Murray, B. Addison, T. Abson and H. Cole; in the front row, from left to right we can see S. Backhouse, J. Wigg (Vice Captain), F. Jacobs (Captain), E. Duff, and A. Dickinson. The same photograph appears in the Ruytonian 1951. Student leadership commenced at Ruyton Girls' School in 1906 with the introduction of the prefect system. Prefects had numerous responsibilities—gate duty, grounds duty, classroom marking, assembly door watch, uniform monitoring, and even supervising student detention. In 1947, a dedicated Prefects Room was erected on the east side of the Ruyton Girls' School Assembly Room in Henty House. The prefects system was revised in 1968 with a new leadership structure: there would be a permanent School Captain, Vice Captain and School Sports Captain; six permanent prefects would be elected, and the rest of the Matriculation class would form committees. These included Library, Social Services, S.C.M., Editorial, and Music. In this way, it was thought "that each Matric girl would have a certain amount of responsibility." With this revised structure came a brand new Prefects' Study, located in a former classroom next to the Domestic Science building. Each prefect was allocated one book locker, one clothing locker, "a small share in the heater", plus a new shared lounge. The prefect system was updated again in 1974. All sixth formers would become prefects, or "school officials." This saw the sixth form divided into two halves: one group would be prefects for the first half of the year, then the second group would take the reigns in the latter half of the year. In October 2023, Ruyton announced a new collaborative leadership structure for captains, prefects and house leaders, which would see two students in each leadership role.The record has strong historic significance as it depicts a former notable student, Helen Gordon (maiden name Cole), pictured third from the right in the front row. Helen started at Little Ruyton in Prep 1940 and finished Year 12 in 1952 as School Captain, Bromby Captain, Form Captain for Matric, Tennis Captain, Hockey Captain, Swimming Vice Captain, and an award for Best All-Round Girl. She also played baseball for Victoria. After finishing school, Helen went on to graduate from the University of Melbourne as a physiotherapist in 1956. Her first position at age 19 involved setting up clinics with the Victorian Health Department Poliomyelitis Rural division. Helen’s strong ties to Ruyton continued when she held the position of President of the Old Ruytonians’ Association from the start of 1966 to the end of 1967. In 2019, Helen received an Order of Australia Medal for service to community health as a physiotherapist. She was also the recipient of the 2022 Victorian Senior Achiever Award at Parliament House. Helen passed away in July 2023 at age 88. The record's significance is further enhanced by its strong provenance, having been produced by Ruyton Girls' School and donated to the Archives by a familial connection.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: Felicity Jacobs / Judi Olsen / Ann Dickinson / Bev. Addison / RGS011/1951/0004 /ruyton girls' school, ruyton, students, school, senior school, girls school, kew, melbourne, school uniform, prefects, photograph, henry henty, henty house, marion henty, tarring

Honda CB900F motorcycles being ridden in exhibition formation. Riders are L to R Tony Borg, Paul Martin, Dave Rogers, Barry Olsen and John Hall. Circa 1980police vehicles; wireless patrol; motor transport branch; motor transport section; motor cycle patrol; police motorcycles; honda motorcycle; borg, anthony; martin, paul; rogers, martin; olsen, barry; hall, john

The document was written for John Olsen's U3A class on Buninyong History'Library Copy. Donated 21.11.2017 Glen Lake'boninyong, buninyong, settlers, aboriginal history