Artist etched in city’s history
From UK to goldfields and The Gordon
WHEN Edmund Sasse arrived in Geelong from England in 1852 there were many tents and few houses beyond the town proper, apart from the local “public” house. Edmund and his brother Harry, like so many, arrived searching for their fortune on the goldfields.
After his short – and unsuccessful – stint on the goldfields, Edmund began a partnership with Charles Edward Winston in 1853. Located on Bellarine St, the pair were in the business of making drawings and engravings advertising land sales in the district, including advertisements for Hooper’s Hotel (formerly Mack’s Hotel) and the Belle Vue Hotel.
The same year, Edmund produced two of his most famous pieces: Geelong Railway and Banquet to mark the turning of the first sod for Geelong and Melbourne Railway.
During these years, Edmund kept up regular correspondence with his mother in England describing the trials and tribulations of life in Geelong. He also began to share his knowledge and teach art to students from his home.
Initially teaching students from his three-roomed home in Virginia St, he and his wife Elizabeth built the two-storey, nine-room Plym House in Myers St.
Many people were experiencing hard times economically, but Edmund saw students coming to his house every evening to perfect their craft. Many could not pay for their lessons; however, Edmund never turned a student away, instead fostering their love of art and artistic talents.
As well as taking classes at his home, Edmund was a drawing master at Geelong Grammar and Geelong College, and then in 1869, alongside Mr William Pye, Edmund Sasse helped to establish the Technological School and School of Art and Design in the old Christ Church day school.
By the early 1870s he had organised art and design classes for girls at the Technological School followed by an exhibition held in the Mechanics Institute in September 1874 of his students’ work.
In 1879 the school he had established with William Pye was moved to Edmund’s home in Myers St.
It was his initial art school that pioneered technical education in Geelong, and The Gordon Institute of Technology, which opened in 1887, grew from his classes.
Historic Images from the archive of Kim barne thaliyu / Geelong Heritage Centre. Begin your search online: https://archives.grlc.vic.gov.au
Kim barne thaliyu / Geelong Heritage Centre is located in the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, 51 Little Malop Street, Geelong on Wadawurrung Country. While you’re visiting, check out the library collection, or explore our collection online at www.grlc.vic.gov.au.