160 YEARS AGO IN GEELONG
(From the pages of the Geelong Chronicle)
MR KREITMAYER’S MUSEUM OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Mr Kreitmayer, of Melbourne, brought his Museum of Illustrations to Geelong, for four days
only, in April 1862. The venue was the Geelong Mechanics’ Institute in Ryrie Street.
Admission was one shilling; children half price.
The Museum of Illustrations was, in fact, a series of wax figures. One was of John Pascoe
Fawkner, one of the founders of Melbourne. Another was of Mr Hargreaves, the discoverer
of gold in Victoria. Chief among the works were several wax figures depicting the sad fate
of the recent Burke and Wills expedition.
After a visit to the Museum, the reporter from the Geelong Chronicle pronounced that the
exhibition was deserving of patronage by its readers:
“As a well executed work of art it can be commended, whilst the interest of the subject
illustrated places it beyond criticism. The chief group is composed of Burke, Wills and
King: the scene is Cooper’s Creek – the time, the evening of the day that the depot party
had turned homeward. Burke is portrayed as resting on a tree, and reading a
memorandum left at the depot; Wills is represented with his field book; and King is in a
reclining attitude.”
For the last two days of the Museum’s time in Geelong, a Band, under the direction of Mr
Stoneham, performed some choice selections of music. On its last day in Geelong, Mr
Kreitmayer advertised that schools would be admitted to the Museum at the rate of 3d each
child “in order to afford every child an opportunity of witnessing this interesting exhibition.”
After four days, including evening sessions, Mr Kreitmayer and his Museum of Illustrations
took leave of Geelong.
This article was provided by the Geelong Historical Society. For inquiries, please email
admin@geelonghistoricalsociety.org.au or write C/- P.O. Box 7129, Geelong West, 3218.
