Stained glass windows in memory of ANZACs

Three Queensland Anzacs — Hogarth brothers Alexander Forbes (1886–1915), Archibald McDonald (1879–1916) and Joseph (1877–1918) — are remembered in stained glass windows designed by local artist William Bustard (1894-1973) in St Andrews Anglican Church (illustrated) at Pittsworth, a town in the Darling Downs region, 41 kilometres from Toowoomba and 169 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, and…

Go back in time with Queensland’s commanding ‘Glengallan’ sideboard

The ‘Glengallan’ sideboard 1868 is one of Queensland’s most significant examples of heritage furniture. While the backboard depicts the national symbols of an emu and a kangaroo, the inclusion of the lorikeet and pineapple give it a more local flavour. The carving is attributed to Matthew Fern, who was appointed the first instructor of wood…

Anthony Alder’s ‘Heron’s home’

Once a prominent colonial Queensland artist, Anthony Alder (1838-1915) and his works had all but vanished from public memory until, in 2011, his descendants’ estate was offered to the State Library of Queensland. Here, we reintroduce you to one of his works in the QAGOMA Collection Heron’s home 1895.  Heron’s home: Before Conservation Art history…

Conrad Martens: Insights into Queensland’s history

The watercolour The bark hut on the plain, Darling Downs, Qld., Mount Sturt from Glengallan c.1850s by Conrad Martens (1801–78) provides new insights and connections to the colonial history of Queensland’s Darling Downs. In late 1851 the Sydney-based painter Martens arrived in Brisbane from Sydney via sea, and for the next few months travelled on…