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Uncover a piece of history

  • Watercolour of 'View of the north shore, Port Melbourne', WFE Liardet, 1862
    View of the north shore, Port Melbourne, WFE Liardet, 1862
  • A close-up of Liardet's watercolour shows mid-19th-century buildings jostling for space on the beach behind boat masts
    Mid-19th-century buildings jostle for space on the beach in this detail of Liardet's watercolour
  • A close-up of different types of boats from WFE Liardet's painting 'View of the north shore, Port Melbourne'
    A close-up view of just some of the boats crowding the bay in Liardet's painting
  • Colour photo showing Liardet's watercolour on an easel in the State Library's Conservation Lab awaiting assessment
    Liardet's watercolour in the Library Conservation Lab awaiting assessment
  • Colour photo of Liardet's watercolour being assessed by two staff in the State Library Conservation Lab
    Liardet's watercolour being assessed in the State Library Conservation Lab
  • Colour photo of microscope screen used to view artworks in detail for conservation purposes
    Specialised equipment can reveal detail not easily visible to the naked eye.
  • Watercolour of sailing ships, steamship, boats at dock and horse drawn vehicles on wharf
    Cole's Wharf, WFE Liardet (Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn), 1799–1878
  • Colonial-era watercolour of busy beach scene with buildings, people, animals and boats
    Liardet's Beach and Hotel in their heyday, WFE Liardet (Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn), 1799–1878
  • Colonial-era watercolour of riverboat landing place with boats, buildings, people and horse-drawn carriages, scattered surrounding buildings including Lamb Inn in Collins Street
    The Landing Place and Market Reserve in 1839, WFE Liardet (Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn), 1799–1878

Thank you for your support

We are thrilled to share the news that, thanks to your generous support, we have reached our fundraising target of $100,000 and secured the acquisition of WFE Liardet’s stunning 1862 watercolour, View of the north shore, Port Melbourne. Thank you – we could not have done it without you.

This beautiful and historic watercolour can now be conserved, protected and held in the State Collection for the enjoyment of the people of Victoria, in perpetuity.

View of the north shore has been digitised for you to view and download, and we look forward to inviting you to see it on display in the near future.

About WFE Liardet

London-born Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn Liardet arrived in Melbourne in 1839 and became a prominent founding figure in Port Melbourne. He established a string of businesses, including the Brighton Pier Hotel, and his name was given to a local street.

Liardet's charming watercolours and sketches present rare illustrations of everyday life in early Melbourne, from the first punt on the Yarra River to the Flagstaff Hill celebrations when Victoria separated from New South Wales.