David CoombeFeb 23
I've noticed #TroveAU has recently cut over to using #StateLibraryNSW *new* catalogue. The new catalogue is great. (I transitioned my project.) #ozGLAM
David CoombeFeb 7

I did say my #S_T_Gill project would "further rock the art history boat, not by intent, but because that's where the evidence takes us". So here's the extra rock ...

Big claims need big evidence. My new article adds to the pile, showing despite his claim to his London publisher, George French Angas likely didn't go to the Victorian diggings in 1852 at all.

Pivotal to this story is Charles Lord for whom Angas had great affection. A quick trip to Melbourne by the pair landed Angas in the middle of gold rush lithography.

NARRATIVE, ANALYSIS & CATALOGUE. (Not light reading. Analysis only made possible by digitised newspapers.) #historyAU #artHistoryAU #TroveAU #ozGLAM

My new article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/George_French_Angas_Victorian_Diggings_1852.htm

George French Angas - Victorian Diggings, 1852

The weight of evidence is against Angas' presence at the Victorian diggings. He visited Gill in Melbourne in August 1852 and again used Gill's pictures for his own publication. This further cements the role of Gill as a ghost artist for Angas.

coombe.id.au
David CoombeJan 6

Bryce Ross kept the artist's name secret. Who was it sketching the gold diggings and looking to publish in #Melbourne or elsewhere?

Ross was an institution on the Victorian diggings in 1852. He reported weekly for the Melbourne Herald and his "Mems from the Mount [Alexander]" were reprinted in colonial newspapers. His office was at what is now Chewton near #Castlemaine. Ross was one of thousands of #SouthAustralia'ns on the diggings.

And why can't we find the artist's original field sketches?

#historyAU #TroveAU #1850s #S_T_Gill #Bendigo

My new article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_1852_at_the_Victorian_Diggings.htm

S.T. Gill at the Victorian Diggings, 1852

S.T. Gill was at the Diggings in June and July 1852, judging by dated works and a newspaper report. He sought a lithographic partnership. There may be only one field sketch extant.

coombe.id.au
David CoombeJan 5

#Coffee and breakfast sorted!

6 miles from the Bush Inn on the road from #Melbourne to the diggings (1852): https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/s-t-gill-melbourne-to-the-diggings_800099?feature=Coffee%20Tent%206%20m%20from%20Bush%20Inn,%20Diggers%20Breakfast%20|%20SLV%20H7824#11/-37.557/144.654

#historicalMapping #uMap #TroveAU #1850s #S_T_Gill

S. T. Gill - Melbourne to the Diggings

**Status: COMPLETE** # Introduction This map shows the route(s) from Melbourne to the Victorian diggings and S. T. Gill's views in 1852 along the way. Most of Gill's diggings works are of a general nature, but those that can be reasonably tied to place are included here. There is also a link (white box) at top for a map of the diggings. **Markers** Pins represent locations of points along the way (from several sources). Icons represent viewpoints of artworks - these locations are approximate. A caption will pop up when you hover over a pin or icon with the mouse. Click to get more information including images of the works and links to the catalogue. **Images:** Art work images are not stored but are dynamically displayed from the online services of cultural institutions, see: [[https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/help.htm#Images|Project Help - Use of Images]]. **Map backgrounds** The default map background is: <i>Hams' map of the routes to the Mt. Alexander & Ballarat gold diggings</i>, 19 January 1853 by Thomas Ham. NLA MAP RM 960. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231354263>. Tiles: <https://mapwarper.net/maps/tile/44732/{z}/{x}/{y}.png>. You can use the control at left to change the map background to a modern map or revert to the default *Hams map*. For more information on the use of maps in this project, see: [[https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_in_Maps.htm|S.T. Gill in Maps]]. [[https://coombe.id.au/|David Coombe]], 2026 {{https://coombe.id.au/DavidCoombeTintype25pc.jpg|64}}

uMap
David CoombeJan 5

S. T. Gill is arguably Australia's most recognisable colonial artist. The story of Gill's 1852 passage from #SouthAustralia to the #Victoria goldfields has been a confused one. But it can now be teased out with help of digitised newspapers and a database approach. Who he went with adds to a sense of story.

My new article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_1852_to_Victoria_and_Diggings.htm

#TroveAU #1850s #S_T_Gill

S.T. Gill to Victoria and the Diggings, 1852

S.T. Gill left South Australia for the Victorian gold rush. This article evaluates evidence for his passage and concludes he likely left with others of a cultural bent aboard 'Anna Dixon', February 1852.

coombe.id.au
Show threadDavid CoombeDec 16

Trouble again at #NationalLibraryAU / #TroveAU for display of NLA's images, although newspapers are fine.
HTTP504 Unable to load TileSource. AESST 13:30

EDIT: Working again at 14:30.

David CoombeDec 12

Trouble at #NationalLibraryAU / #TroveAU for display of NLA's images, although newspapers are fine.

EDIT 13:30 - back up again!

https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/online_availability_check.htm

Online Availability Check (System Services)

This page shows the availability of external online catalogue, image and map services used in this project. (Note: The services may not work, or may work differently, in different browsers.)

coombe.id.au
David CoombeAug 16, 2025

Australian National and State Libraries have been quitting / archiving Twitter/X recently. #ausGLAM

#StateLibraryNSW - 5 May
#TroveAU - 10 July
#NationalLibraryAU - 10 July
NSLA National & State Libraries Australasia - 30 July
VIC - last tweeted in February
WA - archive date not specified

QLD - still active
#StateLibrarySA - still active

David CoombeJul 16, 2025
I probably complained about this many years ago. #TroveAU lists are so polluted by everybody's keywords that a single list entry can occupy your whole screen. Can't see the wood for the tree! Trove is overdue for a redesign.
David CoombeJul 10, 2025

For generations the family
had been la crime de la crime of society.

I left this #TroveAU OCR'd text uncorrected for others to enjoy.