Calico Ceilings – Women of the Goldfields is a powerful new exhibition paying tribute to the women who built their lives on the Victorian Goldfields. The exhibition will be officially opened at 2pm, Saturday 11 October, by Central Goldfields Shire Deputy Mayor Councillor Ben Green, with guest speaker Susan Fayad, World Heritage and Regional Development Lead, City of Ballarat.
Through this series of her new paintings, artist Linda Gallus sheds fresh light on the resilience, hardship, and dreams of the women who endured a harsh and unforgiving landscape.
Among the paintings is Field of Dreams, depicting hundreds of rudimentary calico tents across a barren vista. Despite the roughness of these shelters, Gallus brings to life the warmth of firelight, the smell of cooking meals, and the sense of family, hope, entrepreneurship and camaraderie that sustained those early communities.
Central Goldfields Shire Deputy Mayor Cr Ben Green said the Linda Gallus paintings were deeply moving.
"As we live in our comfortable modern homes, it's easy to forget the tenacity of gold rush settlers, and the difficulties they faced seeking their fortune in makeshift settlements across our Shire."
"Not just the miners, but their wives and children who had to eek out an existence in this strange new land. Can you imagine spending our winter just gone out here with nothing but a flimsy tent and a few pots and pans?"
"Linda's work really captures the distinctive features of our Victorian gold rush, one of which was the far greater numbers of women who set up businesses, stores, and rudimentary manufacturing to meet the needs of the booming population."
Over the past 18 months, Gallus immersed herself in family histories and the stories of the Central Goldfields in that era, exploring the lives, fears and struggles of its pioneering women. One inspiration was a relative of hers who raised 12 children in the harsh – and often dangerous conditions in the diggings.
Gallus also draws on Calico Ceilings: The Women of Eureka, a book of poetry by Susan Kruss. For Gallus, calico is an emblem of protection, light, softness and comfort – qualities she sees embodied by many of the women she honours in her work.
Central Goldfields Art Gallery will present a rich program of events to accompany the exhibition:
- Sunday 12 October, 2pm – Artist talk with Linda Gallus and poetry reading by Susan Kruss
- Wednesday 12 November, 10.30am – Lecture by Dr Katrina Place Dernelley, Women of the Goldfields
- Saturday 6 December, 1.30pm – Artist talk with Linda Gallus, as part of the 16 Days of Activism
Calico Ceiling – Women of the Goldfields is free to visit and will be on display at Central Goldfields Art Gallery from 9 October 2025 to 8 February 2026.
Central Goldfields Art Gallery is in the Old Fire Station, 1 Neill Street, Maryborough.
The Gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, and entry is free.
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