RELATED COVERAGE: Council calls VIC meeting

The proposal submitted last month would see a permanent home for the “My Country” collection of watercolours by the late Jean Isherwood. 

It would be located in an under utilised space, currently used as storage, within the Visitor Information Centre.

The area would be renamed the WR Clegg Gallery in memorial of the late Mayor who was such an enthusiastic patron of the arts in Gunnedah.

This unique collection, which depicts the iconic poem, was painted by the artist in 1983, but has never had a permanent home. 

The paintings are hung at the Creative Arts Gallery in between visiting exhibitions and attracts both visitors and locals alike. 

The collection has become a promotional tool for the town with the society consenting to lend the paintings to Manly Council in 2006 and our sister city of Lane Cove in 2012.

Committee member Philippa Murray said the establishment of a gallery would complete a “Dorothea Mackellar Precinct” with the office of the society – which runs the national poetry awards – now located within the VIC and the bronze statue of Dorothea Mackellar amid a newly landscaped area across the road.

“A permanent home within the VIC would not only preserve the 32 delicate watercolours and their frames but also be a significant drawcard to the centre,” Ms Murray said.

“The storage area was part of the extension to the centre in 2010 and the society has obtained price quotes, which indicate that it could be converted to gallery use for a modest cost.

“If the area outside the VIC was re-drawn to allow a turning circle for vans and RVs, I feel confident the current VIC would boost its numbers considerably.

“It draws inquiries and attracts visitors to the Creative Arts Centre, where it is hung in between visiting exhibitions. 

“Reproductions on cards are sold at the VIC and the collection is considered a tourist drawcard for the town,” Ms Murray said.

“The society and Creative Arts Centre volunteers have recorded comments from disappointed visitors who have arrived to see the collection at the centre, only to find it was not hanging.”

The collection was completely reframed in 2011 at considerable cost to the society with a contribution from the council – the original frames were badly damaged and scratched from the frequent hanging and taking down of the 32 works.

Ms Murray said the society has investigated various options to conserve this unique collection, including a storage pod, hanging racks and a permanent home. 

“In the past year, there have been renewed efforts to find a permanent hanging space for the collection so it can be enjoyed by tourists and locals alike during the year,” she said.

Measuring approximately 5.5m x 6.5 metres, the storage room would comfortably accommodate the 32 pieces as well as introductory boards explaining the collection.

“The room has two skylights which would need to be covered but it is air conditioned, which would provide some temperature control,” Ms Murray said.

“The flat brick faced walls on three sides would lend themselves to a gallery hanging track system and the room is also spacious enough to accommodate a padded seat in the centre for visitors to sit and view the collection.”

The society has fully costed the expense for such a conversion and it has been submitted to Gunnedah Shire Council.

Jean Isherwood’s connection with Gunnedah started in the early 1980s when she heard about the fund-raising efforts, spearheaded by Mikie Maas, for the Dorothea Mackellar statue.

Jean contacted Mikie and mentioned that she wanted to paint a series, representing the hauntingly beautiful poem which still touches the heartstrings of every true Australian – My Country.

Mikie mentioned that the statue would be ready for unveiling in a few short months and Jean said she would attempt to finish her watercolour collection – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now all that is needed is a permanent display gallery.