MR KREITMAYER’S MUSEUM OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

In this article Daryl Wight highlights an amazing travelling show that comprised a number of wax figurines depicting points in the history of European exploration and exploitation of our continent. As a centrepiece was an evocative portrait of the ill-fated Burke & Wills expedition of just a few years prior which we can also see in this article, courtesy of the SLV collection.

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.