Historical information

Donald REFSHAUGE (1912-1952)

A Senior Technical Scholarship recipient, Donald Hamilton Refshauge studied Commercial Art between 1929 and 1935. He was a highly successful student, winning multiple prizes at competition.

His father, John Henry (Johann Heinrich) Refshauge, was headmaster at the Ballarat Agricultural High School. Donald Refshauge worked as a commercial artist near Ballarat, until he moved to Hamilton with his aging mother, Donella, in 1949. Sadly, within three years he died, aged 40. His probate notice labelled him a ‘retired farmer’.


This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

Physical description

Framed original poster by Don Refshauge of the Ballarat Technical Art School.

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.