(Private Collection)

1856 - 1931

Tom Roberts, painter and photographer, was born on the 8th March 1856 at Dorchester, Dorset, England.

He arrived in Geelong on the 22nd June 1869, and settled in Collingwood. In his early years he was encouraged to paint plein-air by Louis Buvelot and his interest in plein-air painting was further stimulated after a study tour of Europe between 1881 - 1885.

On his return he encouraged others to follow in Buvelot's footsteps, painting along the Yarra in Heidelberg and from Eaglemont hillside. In 1889, Roberts exhibited 62 works in the 9 by 5 Impression Exhibition. Roberts died in Kallista on the 14th September 1931 and his ashes are buried in the Illawarra churchyard, near Longford, Tasmania.

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