A hand drawn illustration of little people with gumnut hats clinging onto a gum leaf.

May Gibbs: Celebrating 100 Years

  • Past Exhibition
Exhibition

In December 2016 we celebrate 100 years since the publication of Gumnut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies, the first of May Gibbs’ much-loved bush baby books. Two years later, with the publication of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Adventures Wonderful, Gibbs would become one of Australia’s most successful children’s book authors and illustrators.

Exhibition Information

to
Past Exhibition
Free

1 Shakespeare Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
+61 2 9273 1414

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A watercolour illustration of three little babies wearing gum-nut hats, peering over the edge of a gum leaf they are clinging to.

Gumnut Babies

A black and white hand-drawn illustration of tiny babies dressed up in gum blossom-petal hats, sitting and hanging off gum leaves.

Gum-Blossom Babies

Hope you're still going strong! [tennis] c. 1916, colour postcard by May Gibbs

The story of May Gibbs

May Gibbs, author, illustrator and cartoonist, has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of Australians with her lovable bush characters and fairytale landscapes.

In December 2016 we celebrate 100 years since the publication of Gumnut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies, the first of May Gibbs’ much-loved bush baby books. Two years later, with the publication of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Adventures Wonderful, Gibbs would become one of Australia’s most successful children’s book authors and illustrators. An early environmentalist, she drew her inspiration from her childhood spent visiting the bush south of Perth and later, from her large garden in Sydney’s Neutral Bay and bushwalks in the Blue Mountains. She urged her readers to ‘be kind to bush creatures’.

This display celebrates (Cecilia) May Gibbs’ life and work with a selection of original and reproduction artwork from her children’s books and other work.

Level 1 Macquaire Street building until 26 February 2017 and in the AMAZE Gallery until 29 January 2017.

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May Gibbs Archive, State Library of NSW © The Northcott Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance