Arthur Streeton, the fourth of seven children, was born at Duneed, near Geelong, Victoria on the 8 April 1867. From Christmas 1888 to mid 1890, he lived on the Mount Eagle estate. In August 1889, he exhibited 40 works in the 9 x 5 Impression Exhibition, and during the 1890’s visited Adelaide and areas of New South Wales. In 1897, he travelled to London, and returned to Australia in October 1906. He again travelled to London in 1907, and married Esther Leonora (Nora) Clench on 11 January 1908. He returned to Australia, and in 1921 purchased a property in Olinda, which he called ‘Longacres’. In 1924-25, he organized the building of his house at ‘Longacres’. In 1937, he was knighted for his services to art. Arthur Streeton, who was known to his friends as ‘Smike’, died on 1 September 1943 and is buried in Ferntree Gully Cemetery.
