1917

In 1917, Geelong Gallery exhibited a collection of paintings by the late British-Australian artist, Walter Withers, at the request of his wife, Fanny.

After the exhibition, Fanny contacted John Traill, a Geelong businessman, and requested that he buy Walter’s painting The valley of the Lower Plenty. Traill purchased the painting, and gifted it on behalf of his family to Geelong Gallery.

Old newspaper clippings from the Geelong Advertiser revealed that this work was to be acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria, but a regulation at the time meant only two works by an Australian artist could be purchased for the NGV by the Felton Trustees, a bequest by the late Alfred Felton that funded the acquisition of works for the organisation.