28/05/2026
‘A Primrose from England’ tells a remarkable story. When a tiny English primrose arrived in Australia, carefully kept alive in a glass case, the response from colonists was so overwhelming that a guard had to be posted to protect it.
The painting vividly captures the homesickness and nostalgia felt by colonial society and reflects a broader desire to recreate an English landscape on Australian soil. While the primrose is a common meadow flower in the United Kingdom, it was rare and highly prized in the colonies at the time.
In the Victorian era, great significance was placed on the symbolism, or “language”, of flowers. The primrose was associated with young love and carried the message, “I can’t live without you”, a sentiment likely well understood by the English audience for whom the painting was originally created. The work was later acquired by Bendigo’s most prominent gold-mining magnate, George Lansell.
Stroll along View Street in Bendigo and discover The People’s Gallery, where iconic works from 150 years of the collection are brought into the open.
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Edward William John Hopley, ‘A primrose from England’ (detail), c1855 . oil on canvas. Gift of Mr & Mrs Leonard V Lansell, 1964. Photographer: Ian Hill.
Installation view, The People's Gallery, Bendigo Art Gallery, 2026. Photo: Bendigo Art Gallery.
