George William Carseldine was born at the family home 'Fairfield’, Bald Hills, Brisane, the fourth child of a family of four girls and six boys born to Joseph and Sarah Agnes née Protheroe. He attended the Bald Hills State School and later was a student of R. Godfrey Rivers at the Brisbane Technical College. He exhibited at the Queensland Art Society 1904-14 where he was Honorary Secretary1912-14. He also exhibited at the rival New Society of Artists for a few years and was included in the South Australian Society of Arts Federal Exhibition 1913. He enlisted in the A. I. F. in 1914 when he was attached to 1st Australian General Hospital and served in Egypt and France holding the rank of sergeant. Before returning to Australia he spent six months studying commercial art at the Edinburgh School of Art in 1919. The war must have had a serious effect as subsequently he only exhibited at the Queensland Art Society in 1920 and posthumously at the Society’s Golden Jubilee in 1938. Carseldine married Emma Kate Pitney in 1924. During his earlier life he worked as a clerk for house and land agents, Cameron Bros, Adelaide Street and also at the Brisbane Markets. In later years worked a farm at Stanthorpe and later at the Bald Hills Soldier Settlement but had a nervous breakdown during the 1930s when he destroyed most of his work.
He died at the home of his sister, Mrs A. L. Neville at Sandgate, Qld on 8 March 1937.
Research Curator, Queensland Heritage
- Writers:
- Cooke, Glenn R.
- Date written:
- 2008
- Last updated:
- 2011
