Mitchell's lime quarry by Arthur Streeton

Mitchell's lime quarry
1935

Oil on canvas
50 x 75 cm
Gift of David Mitchell Ltd

Mitchell's lime quarry is rare in Arthur Streeton's body of work in its industrial subject matter. This painting ushers in the exciting development of Impressionism in Australia, as well as looking toward a future filled with engineering feats. The Heidelberg School artist captures the essence of the yielding land with spontaneous brushstrokes, portraying mood rather than the plain reality of place.

The depiction of these two local features, Cave Hill with Mt Dandenong, seen in the background, contrasts the spirit of the landscape with the Modern age, almost as if the machines were digging a hole through the mountain.

The wood-fired kilns, depicted at mid-left, were soon replaced by coal-fired kilns, showing how quickly the quarry developed.

The choice of subject was close to the hearts of the people of Lilydale, the quarry providing a livelihood for many people and contributing greatly to the prosperity of the township.

Though no longer owned by David Mitchell Ltd, the quarry remains in operation today, leaving its distinctive mark on the Lilydale landscape.

Streeton lived and worked at 'Longacres', his property in Olinda, from 1921 until his death in 1943. 'Longacres' provided inspiration for his later landscapes and was the catalyst for his concern with the destruction of the forest of the Dandenongs. Streeton was a great friend of Dame Nellie Melba, whose father, David Mitchell, owned Cave Hill Quarry.