Creswick of The Lindsays Art Trail
Creswick was the birthplace and home for the Lindsay family, many members of which achieved fame and notoriety in the field of the arts.
Norman Lindsay was a famous painter, and also wrote 11 comic novels, and illustrated 30 other books. Sir Lionel Lindsay was a printmaker; Sir Daryl Lindsay was director of the National Gallery of Victoria and a water colourist; Ruby Lindsay was an illustrator; and Percy Lindsay was both a painter and a distinguished art teacher.
The Arts Trail highlights the sites and buildings in Creswick that have significance to the Lindsay family. At each site there is a description explaning why each site was important to the family. Many include QR codes, allowing you to access further information on your mobile device.
The best place to start the trail is at the Visitor Information Centre at the corner of Victoria Street and Albert Street, although you can join it at any site you choose.
This guide contains a map, with each site numbered from 1 to 24. Most of them can be reached with an easy walk, but some - such as the cemetery - are best visited by car. The total distance of the trail is 7.3 km. However you choose to travel, enjoy the journey.
Map Showing All Locations
Map Showing Central Locations
1. VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
Here you will find the background story to the whole Lindsay family, whose father was attracted to Creswick by the discovery of gold. You can find details of the five famous children, as well as information about their lesser known relatives. The large glass panel at this site features a portion of a Norman Lindsay painting, titled The Amazons. You can walk from here to sites 2, 3, 4 and 5.
2. THE LINDSAYS' SECOND FAMILY HOME
was on the corner of Victoria and Cambridge Streets in Creswick. It was demolished in 1968. Seven of the children were born here. There is a photograph of the former home on a stone cairn in front of the site. A re-creation of the drawing room can be seen at the Ballarat Art Gallery.
3. THE FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SITE
The Lindsay children's grandfather, the Reverend Thomas Williams, was the minister here from 1863 to 1866. The Lichgate contains panels describing Williams' influence on the children's artistic aspirations and religious views. From here you can walk or drive to site 4.
4. CRESWICK GRAMMAR SCHOOL
The school was located across the road from this memorial. Percy, Robert, Lionel, Norman and Pearl all were pupils.
5. BRITISH HOTEL
Norman, Lionel and others frequented this and other hotels in the town. Many of their artworks pay homage to the fruit of the vine. You can walk or drive to the next few sites.
6. FORMER CHINESE CAMP
The present day Calembeen Park was once the site of the Black Lead gold diggings, which was occupied by between 3000 and 6000 Chinese miners. The vibrant Chinese community provided a source of fascination and inspiration for the Lindsay boys.
7. THE GULLY
between Raglan and Victoria Streets was a favourite hiding place when the Lindsay boys wagged school - a frequent occurrence, apparently.
8. THE CRESWICK RAILWAY STATION
Then as now, the train to Melbourne provided a link to the city and to the bohemian community of writers and artists that was developing there at the time.
9. THE STATE SCHOOL
The Lindsay children attended at least for some of their education. Across from the school is the Magic Pudding Playground, named after Norman Lindsay's beloved children's book. It features some of the characters and settings mentioned in it.
10. NAPIER STREET
This is the approximate location from where Percy Lindsay painted a scene of Creswick in 1892. The painting is now in the Art Gallery of Ballarat. A comparison between it and the current view demonstrates how little things have changed over more than a century.
11. PERCY LINDSAY'S PAINTING
The Girl with the Red Dress was set near here. It now hangs in the Art Gallery of Ballarat .
12. THE OLD AUSTRALASIA BANK
In the 1880s the bank manager, himself a talented watercolourist, encouraged Percy Lindsay's interest in art.
13. THE FORMER SCHOOL OF MINES
Percy and Lionel Lindsay attended art classes and Percy went on to teach here.
14. & 15. LIBRARY AND POST OFFICE (FORMER)
This site on a prominent corner in Creswick was significant to the Lindsay's through access to the library and through the contact that letter writing provided to all family members. For Mary Lindsay, letter writing was the only outlet she had for a talent which may well have been equal to her brothers.
16. THE LINDSAY FAMILY
had a rich engagement with WWI. Brother Reg's name appears on the war memorial. Daryl enlisted in 1915. In 1917 he became batman to war artist Will Dyson.
17. FIRST LINDSAY FAMILY HOME
on the corner of Raglan and Cambridge Streets. The family lived here from 1869 to 1877.
18. AMERICAN HOTEL
This hotel was one of many frequented by the Lindsays. It has a dedicated Lindsay room and a number of reproductions of family paintings.
19. THE CRESWICK ADVERTISER
occupied several buildings over the years. It is thought this was the site at the time the Lindsay boys were publishing their own school newspaper.
20. TOWN HALL AND CRESWICK MUSEUM
The Town Hall features prominently in the Lindsay family story. It is mentioned in Norman Lindsay's Creswick novels, and was where six of the children took part in a production of "Faust" in 1893. The building now houses the local museum, containing several artworks by Lindsay family members.
21. CRESWICK HUB (LIBRARY)
Norman Lindsay was a prolific writer, and many of his books were set in the town. The plaque on the library wall illustrates some of his book covers, and many of the books themselves remain on the shelves.
22. OLD GOLDFIELDS HOSPITAL
Originally the Creswick Goldfields hospital, Dr Robert Lindsay was honorary medical officer here. The two storey mansion, Tremearne House, was built in 1881.
23. THE LAKE
Park Lake, created in 1888, was, in fact and fiction, the scene of adolescent seduction for the Lindsay lads.
24. CRESWICK CEMETERY
Seven members of the Lindsay family lie here.
Location
Cnr Victoria Street and Albert Street, Creswick 3363 Map
Web Links
→ Creswick of The Lindsays Art Trail Map (PDF)
