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The South Australian Alps as first seen by Messrs. Hovell and Hume on the 8th November 1824undated

by George Edwards Peacock

This painting records the moment when explorers William Hovell and Hamilton Hume first saw the Southern Alps on their 1824 expedition from Sydney to Geelong. Hovell noted on 8 November that the view was ‘most magnificent. This was an immensely high mountain covered nearly one-fourth of the way down with snow, and the sun shining upon it gave it a most brilliant appearance.’

This painting is George Peacock’s interpretation of something that happened many years before he arrived in the colony. It was given to the Library by Hovell’s grand-daughter — presumably he commissioned it to celebrate his achievements as an explorer.