Name/Title
HIGH RESOLUTION SCAN OF ENGRAVINGEntry/Object ID
2013.9.1Tags
Interpretive Significance, Rarity SignificanceContext
The sketch shows nine mining scenes in Peg Leg Gully, a suburb of Bendigo. The scene in the centre shows a town scene and two Chinese men with bamboo poles on their shoulders carrying parcels in the bottom left corner. The artist, William Ralston was a Scottish photographer and artist who came to Victoria during the gold rush (probably in 1854). This work appeared in the Australasian Sketcher (Melbourne) in 1879.
This engraving offers insights into the Chinese involvement in tin mining in Bendigo, and representations of Chinese miners in early Australian publications. Ralston was a recognized artist in the United Kingdom, and at one time illustrated for Punch. This sketch is a representation of some of his work from his time in Australia.
Rarity: Several black and white prints exist in various collections, including the State Library of Victoria’s. The museum also has a framed black and white newspaper copy in our collection. The black and white image was also reproduced in the New York publication, Harper’s Weekly (Supplement) on 28 June 1879. These copies suggest the popularity of this engraving. Coloured reproductions seem to be rare.
Interpretive: This can be used in exhibitions on the gold rush era, especially since coloured images of the time are less common.Acquisition
Accession
2013.9Source or Donor
O'HOY DennisAcquisition Method
DonationInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Makers MarkNotes
W. Ralston