On finding Daisy Llewelyn

PICTURE Her is a theatre piece about the search for early Ballarat photographer Daisy Llewelyn.

It’s been created by Marg Dobson, a local writer and performer, and inspired by untold stories.

The serendipitous collaboration started with the discovery of over 400 photographic glass plates – many badly damaged – on Frank Street, Ballarat, nearly 40 years ago.

“We were determined to secure the provenance of these remarkable photographic plates,” Dobson said.

“Our search led us to museums, archives, and collectors until we were finally able to say – yes! this is the work of Daisy Harriet Llewelyn, born Bungaree in 1882, died Ballarat in 1959.”

Llewelyn skilfully hand coloured her photographs of Australia’s flora and fauna. She also captured family life in the early 1920s.

With the support of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Dobson brought the search for Daisy Llewelyn alive.

After one performance she received a letter from one of Daisy’s relatives with additional information, now incorporated into her production.

A recent pre-performance Q&A session presented an audience with an opportunity to meet members of the Llewelyn family as well as Marg Dobson, Heather Horrocks – finder of the negatives, and photomedia artist Karenne Ann who has used Daisy’s works to create contemporary works of her own.