Peter Power, Eureka Stockade survivor, father to Harold Septimus Power and colonial painter, was likely born on 1 May 1830, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, to his Irish parents Peter Power and Ann Sexton. Power arrived in Melbourne, Australia via the ship “Albatross” on 7 April 1853. Records indicate that he married Jane Amers in 1862 and then likely at some stage between 1862–1865, moved the family to Dunedin, New Zealand where they remained until approximately 1894. At that time Power and the family moved back to Australia to live in Brunswick, Victoria, before moving to Hampton until he died on 4 August 1920.
Power and wife Jane were the parents of one daughter and seven sons, including the highly successful artist Harold Septimus Power (1877-1951). Records indicate Power was hesitant for Harold to follow the artist path, before a conversation with the well-known artist Walter Withers convinced him that his son had special artistic qualities.
Several existing records indicate that Power was a hatter by trade, arriving in Australia to become a gold prospector in Ballarat and that he was a “self-taught artist”. However, an article in the Melbourne Herald dated 6 August 1920 and titled “Veteran Artist’s Death” (which seems to be sourced from a previous interview with Power) contradicts this to a degree, as it states Power actually studied art as a boy. Additionally, the Herald Article stated that Power originally moved to Geelong in Victoria (no gold mining areas nearby). This was likely to work on the new Melbourne to Geelong Railway Line, which many Irish immigrants had moved to Australia to work on, before they headed to the Victorian goldfields, including the leader of the Eureka Stockade, Peter Lalor. The article does indeed state that Power eventually followed the Victorian gold rush. Very significant to the overall story of Power is that the article states “He was with the miners at the Eureka Stockade rising, but, getting away without injury, he went to New Zealand where his family was reared.” Historically, this is a very significant statement with historical implications, in that it indicates that a survivor of Australia’s most famous rebellion, the Eureka Stockade, became a well-regarded artist and also the father of Harold Septimus Power.
Power specialised in romantic colonial style landscapes and was first listed as a Dunedin artist 1866-67 in Stevens & Bartholomew Directory; in 1875-78 and 1883-84 Wise’s. Power exhibited frequently as an artist, including with the Auckland Society of Arts, the Canterbury Society of Arts and the Otago Art Society. Perhaps his most significant exhibitions were the two international exhibitions held in Australia over 1879 and 1880, where some of the best artists across the world also exhibited. Power exhibited his signature Dunedin landscape paintings at these two international exhibitions. The Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London 1886 was also a significant exhibition where Power exhibited three paintings.
To give an insight into Power’s character, the well-known New Zealand artist Alfred Henry O’Keeffe wrote of Power as “a jolly old Irishman, who, if he sold a picture, gave a party,” which gives insight into Power’s character.
When Power moved back to Australia, he continued to paint but also teach in Brunswick, Victoria. The Herald article from 1920 indicated Power continued to paint until his death.
Power has a painting in the Geelong Gallery, Victoria, Australia and two paintings are held in the Hocken Gallery, New Zealand.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2023
