When I was young we had a painting of gum trees and desert mountain ranges on the wall. It was by Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. He was the first artist I knew by name, and the first artist who's work I could identify. Driving through this country I have seen scenes which immediately recall those paintings. I therefore decided to turn off the road I was on and to visit Hermannsburg where Albert Namatjira lived and learnt to paint.
Albert was born at Hermannsburg in 1902. He was raised on the Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission and baptised as a christian. At this point he was given the name Albert, before it had been Elea. Although raised in a western style on the mission he was taken back into the bush at age 13 and given the initiation rights of the Arrente people. At 18 he married Rubina but she was the 'wrong skin' type according to Arrente law and Albert was ostracised. He found work as a camel driver in Central Australia.
In 1934 he saw two Melbourne artists painting at the mission. He later acted as a guide for one of these and he was shown how to use watercolour paints. In 1938 his work was exhibited in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. His work quickly sold out. Even Queen Elizabeth became a fan and awarded him the Queen's Coronation Medal in 1953. A painting of Albert won the Archibald Prize in 1956. Albert was the first Aboriginal person to be exempt from legislation which forbade Aborigines the right to vote, own land, build a house and buy alcohol. The culture of the Arrente people meant Albert had to share everything he owned, this meant that although he was becoming wealthy from his paintings he was living in poverty.
I first visited the house that Albert built outside the Hermannsburg community, it is still standing today. Then after looking at the community I wandered around the Lutheran Mission Station where Albert went to school. The coffee shop in the Mission station is a popular tourist attraction, unfortunately it had closed down for a three month break.
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| Albert Namatjira's house |
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| Buildings at the Mission Station |
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| Kids at Hermannsburg |
