In 1934 a Western Arrernte Aboriginal man by the name of Albert viewed an art exhibition at the Lutheran Mission of Hermannsburg, Central Australia. The exhibition was arranged by Pastor Albrecht and featured landscape watercolour paintings by Rex Battarbee and John Gardner. Over the two day exhibition more than 300 Arrernte people attended, they stood enchanted and amazed at the sight of their tribal lands portrayed in a new artistic form. The exhibition fired Albert’s imagination and interest to learn the new craft.

Albert success with watercolour painting inspired a school of artists which became known as the ‘Hermannsburg School’. Walter Ebatarinja was one of the first to follow in his footsteps then came the three Pareroultja Brothers and Albert’s sons. By the late 1940s exhibitions of Hermannsburg art were being held across Australia.

The Western Arrernte People are an indigenous tribe of Central Australia. Anthropologists believe that they are the descendants of the first people to have arrived in Australia more than 40 thousand years ago. Their tribal lands lie in the Western MacDonnell Ranges, an area characterized by rugged mountains, deep gorges and arid plains. It is some of the most spectacular country in Australia, but also the harshest and at times stricken by drought.

The Arrernte people prospered in the hardy conditions by living as an organized community, one in which each member played an important role. Men would carve weapons and utilize their remarkable tracking abilities to hunt. Women would collect honey ants, prepare food and care for the children. Tribal elders used medicine to heal the sick and would perform sacred ceremonies to replenish the natural world. Necessities like food and water were shared throughout the group.

“These laws have made them a happy people. Laughter is ever present among them. That is so even today, when the blight of our civilisation has fallen upon them and robbed them of their ancient hunting grounds”. C.P. Mountford

On October 23rd, 1875, the missionaries departed from the German settlement of Bethany, north east of Adelaide, South Australia. Their journey to the centre of Australia would test the spirit and courage of the two men.

“How gladly I would have preferred to relate only good news. Yes often our courage nearly fails us. Often I have been almost tempted to exclaim in the words of the prophet: It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am sick at heart”. Kempe 500 miles north of Adelaide.

On Friday, June 8, 1977, afer 20 months and over 1,000 miles the missionaries chose the site for the mission on the banks of the Finke river. They named it after the town in Germany where the they had trained. For 13 long years the missionaries toiled in the tough climate, erecting several buildings including a church and school. The missions ambition was to provide Aboriginal people with religious instruction, European education and Christianity. By 1891 all seemed lost as the mission was abandoned by the last of the missionaries. Three years later, on October 8, 1894, Pastor Carl Strehlow arrived to find the settlement close to ruin. Over the next few years he worked tirelessly to rebuild and improve the mission. A talented linguist he conducted pioneering research into the Arrernte language and customs. During his 28 years he gained respect from both the black and white community becoming known as Ingkata (chief) by the Aboriginal population and to the white population the ‘Iron Man’. The great man passed away on the fateful trip to Horseshoe Bend.

Rex Battarbee was born in Warrnambool, Victoria in 1893. In 1916 he joined the Imperial Force and and was sent to Europe to fight in the First World War where he was seriously injured and left on the battlefield for two days before being rescued. Upon returning to Australia he was hospitalized for four years. Whilst recovering from his injuries he took up painting. Unable to return to work on the land he moved to the Melbourne to study commercial art before taking an interest in landscape painting. In 1932 Battarbee and fellow artist John Gardner set off on a painting trip to Central Australia. The two artists traveled in a Model T Ford adapted as a caravan. The pair reached Hermannsburg mission and painted in the surrounding country, met with the missionaries and many local Aboriginal people before making the long trip home. Two years later Battarbee and Gardner returned. This time they painted in the surrounding country for four months but before leaving Pastor F.W.Albrecht arranged to hold an exhibition of their artwork.

“Prior to their return to Victoria, Battarbee called and, in gratitude for what we had done for them, invited us to view their paintings. Of course we would like to see your work, I said, but why us only, why not the Aboriginals as well? Both men gladly consented, and the following Saturday the seats were removed from the old school house and the room was turned into an art gallery.” Friedrich Albrecht.

Two Styles

Although Hermannsburg Artists became renowned for painting in a European style Albert Namatjira produced a series of artwork in a traditional style for C. P. Mountford and his early mulga wood plaques were decorated with traditional motifs. Another founding artist Richard Moketarinja painted a small series of works in a traditional style. And the later artist Wenten Rubuntja became successful as a watercolour landscape painter and an acrylic painter in a traditional style.

The two works featured here are by Desmond Ebatarinja and ‘WIRRI’. The work by Desmond depicts a Honey Ant story and the second work is attributed to Kevin Wirri, story unknown.

Albert Namatjira Central Australian Watercolours 1938. Albert Namatjira’s first major exhibition.
Albert Namatjira ARUNTA TRIBESMAN CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN WATERCOLOURS At Athenaeum Art Gallery 1st to 12th November, 1948. Includes 44 works with prices ranging from 18 to 55 Gns.
EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY THE ARUNTA GROUP Sponsored by the BRISBANE TELEGRAPH Held in the Brisbane Telegraph Auditorium, June 5th to 12th Year? Forward by O.A.Wallent June 1954 and biographical information of many Hermannsburg Artists.