Design and Art Australia Online

sketcher and explorer, arrived at WA with F.F. Fraser on board the Will Watch on 24 February 1852. He was appointed third in command of Robert Austin 's exploring party to Shark Bay in 1854 and acted as the expedition’s artist. Occasional references to Fraser’s artistic activities appear in Austin’s Journal . On 13 July, for example, Austin noted that Fraser went kangaroo hunting in the morning and 'finished a sketch he had taken at Mombekine’ in the afternoon. On 25 July the party set up camp at Waddouringa just before noon: 'Ere half an hour had elapsed, the horses were hobbled out, loads stowed and covered up, tents were fixed, and the party distributed; Mr Whitfield weighing and issuing rations … Mr Fraser sketching; Mr K. Brown, with Mr Guerin, C. Farmer, and Narryer shooting mourrarungs, and making as much noise among the rocks as a park of artillery; Edwards writing a letter to his wife and repairing saddle bags…’

Full-page illustrations of Mount Marshall , Mt Churchman and Mt Kenneth after sketches by Fraser were drawn by W.A. Sanford for Austin’s published Journal . Carved Cave , initialled W.A.S. and an unsigned plate, Mount Luke , are evidently also by Sanford after Fraser; but Reconnoitring Party and Team and Escort (both unsigned) appear to have been taken directly from Fraser’s sketches in the field. At the conclusion of the expedition, Austin wrote: 'I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the obedience and general good conduct of my party. Messrs Whitfield and Fraser were very industrious and active bushmen, and I am indebted to the latter gentleman for some sketches of the most remarkable places visited’.

An artist with the same initials, 'Mr J. T. B. Fraser, of Forsyth Street, Glebe Point’, painted watercolours of Sydney scenery in 1886.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1992

Last updated:

2011