Lot 7

The Artist
Thence by descent
Private collection, Melbourne

Mary Elizabeth Maud Chomley OBE was deeply woven into Melbourne's cultural and civic life at a moment when women were forging new roles in art and society. Raised at the family estate of Dromkeen, she became a founding member of the Victorian Arts and Crafts Society and served as secretary of the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work in 1907. Both ventures gave female artists and makers greater visibility at a time when professional opportunities were often restricted, and Chomley's advocacy and commitment were central to their success.

Travelling to England in 1914, Chomley was prevented from returning home by the onset of war. She turned to relief work, assisting Belgian refugees, volunteering in hospitals, and helping run a canteen for allied troops in France. In 1916 she became secretary of the Australian Red Cross Prisoners of War Department in London, coordinating vast networks of supplies and correspondence for captured servicemen. Her dedication earned her the affectionate title "angel of prison camps" and in 1918 she was awarded with an OBE.

Following the war, Chomley continued to shape opportunities for women on an international stage. She represented Australia on committees examining women's working conditions and migration and later served as president of the women's section of the British Legion in Surrey. Returning to Melbourne in 1934, she remained active in public life until her death in 1960. Elizabeth Chomley's story is a reminder that the shaping of Australia's cultural history was not only carried out by artists in the studio, but also by women whose advocacy and service helped define the world in which art could flourish.

Hannah Ryan
Senior Art Specialist