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Daniel Clarke, colonial artist and photographer, painted this poignant scene of Tower Hill/Koroitj at least four times in 1867 - each slightly different than the other.

We can only speculate, but perhaps the repetitive works reflect Clarke's grief at the destruction of indigenous culture and of the landscape, both of which he witnessed first hand.

Having arrived in Victoria from Ireland in 1865, one of Clarke's first jobs was as the supervisor of the Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve for the Anglican Church - a position he held for two years.

Part of his work was to "gather" Gunditjmara people to live at the reserve, and it was then he first visited Tower Hill/Koroitj.

By the time these landscapes were painted, Clarke was no longer supervisor, but his surname had been given to Frank Clarke, a Kirrae Whurrong man who was among the first to build a house at the reserve. (Frank was the grandfather of the late Banjo Clarke, a highly respected elder in the Framlingham community and beyond.)

Daniel Clarke went on to become a well-known portrait photographer with a studio in Timor St. We shared one of his works recently of Mrs Gaspar. He died in 1918.

[Credits: 1. Daniel Clarke, Tower Hill, Warrnambool, oil on canvas, 1867. Deutscher and Hackett Fine Art . 2. D. Clarke, Tower Hill, Victoria, oil on academy board, 1867, State Library Victoria. 3. Daniel Clarke, View of Warrnambool (Tower Hill), oil on cardboard, 1867, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. 4. D. Clarke, Tower Hill, Warrnambool, oil on academy board, 1867, National Library of Australia.]

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Sunday 24 May 2026

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