Harry McClelland
Harry McClelland was born in 1884 and is part of a group of Australian artists known as the ‘Gum Tree School’ whose members painted the Victorian countryside and coast. McClelland and his sister Annie May McClelland moved to Long Island, Frankston, in 1912. By the 1920s, the siblings had developed friendships with other creative Victorian identities including Sir Daryl Lindsay and W.B. McInnes. McClelland was the subject of W.B. McInnes’ winning Archibald Prize entry in 1930.
McClelland attended the National Gallery School, Melbourne, from 1907 to 1909 and was taught by Bernard Hall and Frederick McCubbin. Continuing his passion for painting, he became an early student of Max Meldrum and was an active member of the Victorian Artists Society until his death in 1954.
McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery occupies the Langwarrin bushland property which McClelland built his studio upon in the 1930s. To honour her brother, Annie bequeathed the land and money in her will, leading to the establishment of the Harry McClelland Art Gallery, which was opened in May 1971, by the Premier of Victoria, Sir Henry Bolte.
Harry McClelland’s studio remains in its original setting.
Harry McClelland is from a generation of Australian artists known as the ‘Gum Tree School’ who painted the Victorian countryside and coast. He attended the National Gallery School from 1907-09 under Bernard Hall and Frederick McCubbin. Continuing with his passion for painting, he was an early student of Max Meldrum (1916) and an active member of the Victorian Artists Society (1912) until his death in 1954.
In the 1930s, McClelland acquired the property that is now McClelland Sculpture Park and built a simple stone studio, which still stands. From here he painted the landscapes of Langwarrin and its surrounds, influenced by Impressionist landscape painters. McClelland had grand ideas for the property, however it was not until after his death and the death of his sister Annie May 'Nan' McClelland in 1961 that the gallery bequest was formally announced. Finally in 1971, The McClelland had its officially opening, setting the foundation for the renowned institution that stands today.
