Historical information

Nornie GUDE (1915-2002)

Eleanor Constance (Nornie) Gude was the daughter of Walter Gude, a leading musician, and highly regarded teacher. She grew up in Ballarat and was educated at Loreto College. From 1931 to 1936 Nornie Gude attended the Ballarat Technical Art School, a division of the Ballarat School of Mines. She was accepted into the School at the age of 15 because she was so advanced in painting. Nornie Gude studied at Ballarat for five years before progressing to Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria School.

In 1936 Nornie Gude was studying at the Ballarat Technical Art School, and the National Gallery Drawing School in Melbourne. She won many art competitions, including first prize at the 1936 Melbourne Royal Agricultural Show for still life drawing, and in 1941 became the first woman to win the National Gallery Students Travelling Scholarship.

In the 1936 Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report it was stated: "It is my pleasure to report a most successful year in the Technical Art School. I the Annual Poster Competition for Technical Schools, organised by Wiltshires Pty Limited, 16 prized valued at 33 pounds 8 shillings - out of 23 prizes valued at 56 pounds - were won by our students.

As an artist Nornie Gude held no theories and was once heard to say, “You spend your first 20 years learning technique and the next 20 years losing it”.


This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

Physical description

A large, original goauche poster produced for one of the regular poster competitions held during the 1930s (the exhibition stickers are still evident on the lower left hand side). It depicts a scene in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Inscriptions & markings

Written verso "Nornie Gude Technical Art School Ballarat"

Exhibition Sticker "Exhibit NO 8545 Class No 1736