Hidden in Plain Sight: Stories of Ballarat’s stained glass

Every stained-glass window has a story to tell, and Ballarat has more than its fair share of excellent examples from the colonial period onwards. We often look at the subjects, colour, light and design of a window, but, as we absorb its beauty, we tend to overlook the donors, dynasties, artists and makers.

In this talk, Bronwyn explores Ballarat’s past through a selection of notable works in stained glass, paying tribute to the people involved in their commission, production and installation. She will reflect on the evolution of style over more than a century and the changing values and fortunes of a community.

Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM is an art historian specialising in stained glass in Australia. For many years, she taught glass studies at Monash University, Holmesglen Institute and the University of Melbourne, and now promotes glass in contemporary architecture and the conservation of historic glass through the not-for-profit organisation, GLAAS Inc. Bronwyn’s book, ‘Lights Everlasting: Australia’s Commemorative Stained Glass from the Boer War to Vietnam’ (2023) spawned a documentary film, ‘Let the Light Shine’ (2024). In collaboration with Dr Alison Inglis AM, she is now completing a book on the stained-glass artist, John Orval.

Attend Talking History in person at the Eureka Centre (no booking required).

Past lectures can be viewed on YouTube by clicking this link.

Image: Window at the Ballarat Observatory, 1914 [detail], provided by Brownyn Hughes OAM