Objects of Substance - A modest abode for an illustrious alu

The reverse side of the “Arnwood” photograph.

Breakthroughs in archival research are often serendipitous and it was while I was searching through old Victorian newspapers that the name “Mooroolbark” appeared in an article titled “Stretton water colours”. Miss Grace M. Wilson of Mooroolbark, a former Army Matron-in-Chief, was quoted as saying, with regards to a Stretton painting, “"I wonder if it might have been done when Stretton was a war artist in France about 1916. He was living in No 3 AGH for a time, and, I know, did some water colours. I have a view of the hospital he did for me." ( The Argus, 17 July 1948 p22) Imagine my delight when I read these few brief sentences!