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While
the
goldrush
has
slipped
gently
into
history,
you
can
still
capture
the
optimistic
spirit
of
its
pioneers.
The
Goldfields
region
abounds
in
picturesque
botanical
gardens
and
impressive
regional
art
galleries
born
from
the
optimism
of
the
pioneers.
The
Bendigo
Art
Gallery
is
outstanding.
Local
surgeon
Neptune-Scott
bequeathed
his
19th
century
French
Collection
which
shows
Sisley,
Harpignes,
Courbet,
Rosseau
and
Hortlear
to
the
gallery.
Such
acts
of
generosity
were
not
uncommon
in
these
times.
Many
wealthy
mining
magnates
were
collectors
of
Australian
and
European
Art
and
they
would
often
bequeath
them
to
the
local
galleries.
Australian
artists
represented
in
this
region
include
George
Lambert,
Rupert
Bunny,
Ray
Crooke,
Clifton
Pugh
and
Fred
Williams.
The
Gallery
houses
the
largest
Louis
Buvelot
collection
in
Australia.
The
contents
of
the
Ballarat
Fine
Art
Gallery
are
equally
impressive.
A
key
feature
is
the
Lindsay
Gallery
where
works
of
art
by
Lionel
Lindsay
and
other
members
of
the
family
are
on
display.
The
only
surviving
item
from
this
artistic
family's
house
in
Creswick
is
their
sitting
room
which
you
can
also
see
in
the
gallery.
Paintings
of
Eugene
Von
Guerard
portraying
Ballarat
in
the
1850s
and
those
of
Waiter
Withers,
E.
Phillips
Fox
and
other
early
Australian
School
Painters
are
also
on
display.
At
the
Gallery
at
Castlemaine
you
can
see
Frederick
McCubbin's
Golden
Sunlight
which
was
donated
by
Dame
Nellie
Melba.
You
can
also
admire
the
works
of
Tom
Roberts
and
E.
Phillips
Fox
who
underline
the
importance
of
the
Heidelberg
School
in
the
development
of
Australian
art.
And
that
is
not
to
mention
the
several
Margaret
Preston's
you
will
discover
here.
Collectively
these
three
Victorian
art
galleries
hold
some
of
Australia's
key
art
pieces
and
other
works
which
portray
early
regional
scenes
are
valuable
historical
references
and
certainly
worth
noting.
You
will
discover
many
outdoor
works
of
art
in
both
Ballarat
and
Bendigo
which
also
mark
the
exuding
confidence
of
the
goldrush.
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