You don’t have to travel to the Louvre in Paris to see amazing artworks, you can just pop into the Nyngan Museum where local Bogan Shire art royalty Lynn Hodge and Lyn Quinton have recently hung a two metre long by one-metre-high mural titled ‘Memories’. 

Following a successful application for a $2100 Country Arts Support Program Grant the pair put their heads together and over a six-month period produced a work of depth and colour. 

The pair who have gifted the artwork to Nyngan, put in hours of thought, research and work to come up with the vision they had in mind and it is undoubtedly a nod to Nyngan’s history which is why it has been homed at the Nyngan Museum. 

With buildings and street scenes, gumtrees, cockatoos, old cars, dogs and horse and carriage, it is a blast from the past. With inspiration from their own private book collections, photographs and those from the Museum, the pair have outdone themselves, with each artist adding their own special touches to the work as a nod to family and friends. 

“The scenes we have painted represent many different eras of Nyngan, but we’ve put it together as one big scene,” said artist Lyn Quinton.  

To get the overall effect, the artists painted scenes on canvas and then cut them out and set them on the mural to decide the final settings.  

“Once we had decided on the composition, we used gum leaves and birds to tie it all together,” said Mrs. Quinton. “The work was so large we had to keep it in my front yard and work on it when time permitted.” 

PHOTO: Lyn Quinton putting final varnish on mural 

The mural will be of particular interest to Nyngan and district residents as it features buildings such as the Commercial Banking Company, St Joseph’s Convent, Original Palais Theatre, Canonbar Hotel, Old Meatworks, Original Masonic Lodge, Railway, Chemist, and more. 

Former Mayor and Nyngan Museum Volunteer's Committee President Ray Donald is thrilled with the new addition to the local museum. 

“Local artists Lynn Hodge and Lyn Quinton have put their exceptional talents and many hours painting into many old buildings and street scenes of Nyngan’s early years,” said Mr. Donald.   

“Appreciation is extended to them and all who helped put together what will be an outstanding attraction at the museum for all visitors.”  

“We have called it ‘Memories’ because it really is a collection of memories, many of which are our own and many we have found in historic photographs,” according to Lyn Quinton. 

“It has been a work of love and we are really proud of it and love that it will hang here for community and visitors to enjoy for years to come,” said fellow artist Lynn Hodge.