Federation University Australia Art Collection Victoria
The Federation University Australia Art Collection aims to develop and maintain an important public art collection of high quality works of visual art which contributes to the intellectual and cultural enrichment of its student body, staff and wider community. The collection enhances the physical environment by adding colour and liveliness to the University and is displayed throughout our Ballarat, Gippsland (Churchill), Stawell and Horsham campuses. The Art Collection provides a valuable educational and research experience, as well as a providing potential to mentor.
The earliest works in the collection are associated with the Ballarat Technical Art School, although a coordinated approach to collecting was initiated by the Ballarat Teachers' College. Collection has continued over the decades, and has benefitted by generous gifts under the Cultural Gifts Program.
The collection covers most periods of Australian Art, and while most media is found it in the collection, it is predominantly Australian painting, printmaking and sculpture. Works by renowned Australian artists feature, as well as staff and students associated with Federation University Australia or its predecessor institutions.
Contact Information
Opening Hours
By appointment.
Entry Fee
Free entry.
Location
Artworks are displayed at Federation University Australia campuses at Ballarat, Gippsland (Churchill), Stawell and Horsham. Victoria
View on Google Maps2321 items
2321 items
Oil on linen - 'Colette' by Vera Moller
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Artwork - Painting - Portrait of Margaret Bennett: Drum Major of the Ballarat Ladies Pipe Band
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Framed portrait of Margaret Bennett as the Drum Major of the Ballarat Ladies' School of Mines. She wears tartan, blazer and a bearskin hat, and holds a mace.
Historical information
Drum Major Margaret Bennett (formerly Reynolds) attended Ballarat Teachers' College in 1949. She was Drum Major for the Ballarat Ladies Pipe Band from 1950-1975. At times Margaret Bennett was a life model for Geoff Mainwaring.
'Crossing the Divide' by Cody Joy
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Artwork - Painting - [Untitled]
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
If you can assist with information on this artist or artwork please use the comment link below.
Historical information
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.
Artwork - [Untitled]
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Bookplate - 'Ex Libris Zelma Gartner'
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
A wren sits on a twig surrounded by a leafy forest
Historical information
John Gartner was a fine printer and publisher, an author, a noted philatelist, and also collector of Australian banknotes and coins. He was born on 16 July 1914 and was largely self-educated, leaving school at fourteen for work following the death of his father. Gartner developed a strong interest in the history of typography and printing and was apprenticed at the Advocate where his father had been a linotype operator. Aged 17, Gartner bought a hand press and some fonts of type, and in 1937 acquired a platen press from which he set and printed his private press books, published under the imprint of The Hawthorn Press. Gartner had a strong collection of Australian bookplates. He also looked at the work of artists overseas and commissioned personal plates. He subsequently built an international collection with preference for artists who printed from wood. His initial searches were in Belgium and Holland.(http://www3.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-84/t1-g-t7.html)
Inscriptions & Markings
Pencil signature of what appears to be G. P. VVuym
Printmaking - Drypoint - Grey State
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Ceramics - [Lidded Teapot with Shells] by Robert Hyams
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Artwork - Ceramic - 'Todays Jean World' by Paul Huguenin
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
Gippsland Director's Collection
Oil on board - 'Whiskey Distillery at Warrenheip via Dunnstown' by Neville Bunning
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Printmaking - Silkscreen - Untitled
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Oil on linen - 'Wattle Ridge' by Doug Wright
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Watercolour - 'Towards Braco Spring', by David Alexander
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Framed watercolour depicting a treed landscape.
Historical information
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.
Inscriptions & Markings
Signed 'D.A. 1961'
Printmaking - Multi-plate Aquatint - Ross
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Artwork - bookplate - Ex Libris Alan Wambeek
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Blue bookplate featuring the bust of a scholar a lyre and a book
Inscriptions & Markings
"Ex Libris ALAN WAMBEEK"
Printmaking - Lithograph - 'Great Meeting of Gold Diggers Dec 15th 1851' by Thomas Ham
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Colour lithograph of a meeting of diggers at a meeting in Mt Alexander. The meeting was the result of goldfields agitations against the license fee.
Historical information
One of the first large goldfield meetings was at Castlemaine in 1851. After the extraordinary success of the Mt Alexander Diggings the Government issued a proclamation, raising the licence fee from thirty shillings to three pounds. As soon as these intentions became known a public meeting of miners was held. For miles around work ceased, with diggers travelling as far as Bendigo to attend the meeting. It is estimated that around 18,000 people attended the meeting. The notes with the engraving state The trees in this locality are chiefly Stringybark; some of them are peeled of their covering, as many persons prefer erecting bark huts to living in a comfortless tent. The various groups, and costumes of the men, are characteristic of our gold digging community. 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.
Inscriptions & Markings
lower centre "Great Meeting of Gold Diggers Dec 15th 1851" lower left side "Drawn By D. Tulloch" lower right side "Engraved by Thomas Ham"
Artwork - Printmaking - 'Appendages - Little Monster' by Geoffrey Ricardo
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Unframed limited edition photo etching. Promised gift under the Australian Government's Cultural Gift Program.
Inscriptions & Markings
Signed lower right "Ricardo 09"
Marble sculpture - 'Professor Alfred Mica Smith' by Paul Montford
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Marble bust of Ballarat School of Mines Professor Alfred Mica Smith by Paul Montford. It is signed 'Paul R. Montford, Sc, 1924' at the back.
Historical information
Paul Raphael MONTFORD (1868 - 1938) Paul Montford moved to Australia to carve four buttress groups in granite for the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance. In 1924 he was teaching at Geelong Technical College. Professor Alfred Mica Smith was a long term lecturer at the Ballarat School of Mines. The sculpture was commissioned by former Students of the Ballarat School of Mines working in Western Australia. One of those former students, William Corbould, remembered his first encounter with the professor fondly:- 'From the Registrar's Office I was led to be introduced to the Professor of Chemistry, one Mica Smith. The initial encounter gave me little encouragement - his large laboratory was filled with hundreds of bottles bearing strange labels with queer symbols on them. My heart sank. At the first opportunity I grabbed my hat and made for the door, but the good professor called me back. I pointed out that I was never any good at school ... so it was no use pretending to be clever enough to understand all those weird symbols! The Professor told me not to worry about that and took me to one of the benches where he found a blowpipe and a charcoal block. Mixing together two powders from bottles on the shelf he transferred a sample to the charcoal and directed the bunsen flame onto it. Soon it began to melt and a white bead appeared in front of my eyes. He then took a test tube and added a little colourless liquid from each of two bottles. A beautiful dark blue colour appeared. My interest was won.' Alfred Mica Smith was the well-loved Professor of Chemistry and Metallurgy at the Ballarat School of Mines between 1881 and 1922. Upon reaching the age of 78 Mica Smith retired having influenced generations of miners. At the time of his death Ballarat School of Mines Students’ Magazine reported: "In the annals of the School, the year 1922 will be noted chiefly as the last year in which Professor Mica Smith taught here. With his retirement, a memorable epoch closed. The Professor has served the School for 42 years with a service, the length and thoroughness of which are unique. … It is not quite realised in this city how famous the School became throughout the world, nor to what extent the Professor was responsible for its high position in the mining and metallurgical world. … 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.
Inscriptions & Markings
Professor A. Mica Smith, 1924, Presented by His Old Students Associated with Western Australia as a Token of Affectionate Esteem
Oil on canvas board - "Balcanoona Station" by Neville Bunning
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
Drawing - [Unknown Title] by Colleen Brown
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Framed drawing. You you can assist with information on this artist or artwork please use the comment box below.
Historical information
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.
Gouache - 'Ideal Homes Exhibition' by Fred Longhurst
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
We are seeking information on this artist, who was a student at the Ballarat Technical School in the 1930s. If you are able to assist please make contact via the comments link below.
Historical information
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.
Bookplate - ‘Ex Libris Linda and Heather Jewell’
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Two girls kneeling on a mat are playing with dolls.
Historical information
After a quiet period, interest in bookplates in Australia began to increase in the early 1970s, Entrepreneurial art and book collectors such as Edwin Jewell and others commissioned multiple Bookplate designs from a range of well known fine artists. At a 1997 meeting in Melbourne of the Ephemera Society of Australia Edwin Jewell and others announced the formation of the Australian Bookplate Society. The society was instrumental in promoting the art of the bookplate through establishment of the Australian Bookplate Design competition.
Inscriptions & Markings
Pixie O'Harris
Bookplate
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Bookplate depicts abstract black and white shapes
Historical information
After a quiet period, interest in bookplates in Australia began to increase in the early 1970s, Entrepreneurial art and book collectors such as Edwin Jewell and others commissioned multiple Bookplate designs from a range of well known fine artists. At a 1997 meeting in Melbourne of the Ephemera Society of Australia Edwin Jewell and others announced the formation of the Australian Bookplate Society. The society was instrumental in promoting the art of the bookplate through establishment of the Australian Bookplate Design competition. The competition includes a design award for secondary schools students.
Inscriptions & Markings
This book belongs to Zoe Casbolt
Ceramic (Selkirk Prize) - 'Teapot with 5 Spikes' by Claire Blake
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Blue shoe shaped teapot.
Historical information
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.
Acrylic and Oil on Linen - 'Mesh' by Anne Saunders
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Framed abstract painting.
Historical information
Anne Saunders is a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Ballarat Arts Academy. In 1987 she was appointed lecturer in Drawing and Printmaking, and in 1999 she was appointed Senior Lecturer in Drawing and Studio Co-ordinator. 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.
Oil on canvas - 'Homage to Delacroix' by Noirin Wojciechowski
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
Noirin WOJCIECHOWSKI Noirin Wojcjiechowski completed a Bachelor of Art (Fine Arts) in 2010 at the University of Ballarat (later Federation University. 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.
Artwork - Banksia caleyi (Caley's Banksia) by Celia Rosser, 1986
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Framed photolithograph of a banksia.
Acrylic on canvas - 'Wattle' by Reinhardt Gromm
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
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.
ceramics - slip caste earthernware - In me it Bides I
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Two artworks.
Historical information
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.
Artwork - Painting - 'Vertigo' by Nick Dridan
Federation University Australia Art Collection ,
Historical information
Nick DRIDAN 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.