Beyond Exploration: Illustrating the botanical legacy of the German/Australian explorer Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt based on his written observations, letters and herbarium specimens 1842-1844.

Tanya Louise Hoolihan B. Nat. Hist. Illus. (Hons)

Exegesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Doctor of Philosophy (Natural History Illustration)

This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

Date May 2018

Statement of Originality

This thesis contains no material that has been accepted, or is being examined, for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. I give consent to the final version of my thesis being made available worldwide when deposited in the University’s Digital Repository, subject to the Copyright Act 1968 and any approved embargo.

I hereby certify that the work embodied in the thesis is my own work, conducted under normal supervision.

Tanya Louise Hoolihan

Dr Anne Llewellyn

Dr Andrew Howell

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Acknowledgements

This research has been an incredible journey which has progressed in directions I never thought possible. There are many people who have contributed to the outcome of this research whom I would like to thank.

I must first acknowledge Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, for his dedication in the field of science, his meticulous record keeping and, importantly, his love of Australian flora. Without his vast legacy of written and collected material this research would not have been possible.

Secondly, grateful and sincere thanks are extended to my Supervisors, Dr Anne Llewellyn and Dr Andrew Howells. Both have been invaluable in offering advice and encouragement. I would specifically like to thank Anne for sharing her comprehensive knowledge of early colonial Australian history and her passion for Australian flora. I am indebted to Andrew for his constant confirmation in the value of this research and his faith in my ability.

Without the English translation of Leichhardt’s Diaries this research could not have been possible. I am grateful to Dr Rod Fensham for his vision to publish Leichhardt’s Diaries and for his help in deciphering Leichhardt’s botanical collection. I am especially indebted to Dr Thomas Darragh who spent countless hours translating Leichhardt’s written content and making the publication possible. He is a remarkable man with a great passion for learning and I thank him for sharing his knowledge.

I extend my appreciation to the numerous institutes, including the Royal Botanical Gardens in both and Victoria, who have made valuable collection material available during my study.

I am appreciative of all the contacts I have made in throughout this research, including the members of the Leichhardt Museum in Trebatsch, especially Britt Henning and her family.

Sincere thanks to Mum and Dad, my children, Peter and Daniel and their partners, who have always encouraged my study, praised my illustrations and been very proud of the work I do.

Most importantly, thank you to my husband Darren, who has supported and encouraged me through my studies over the past 12 years. For the numerous hours spent searching for plant specimens, for the holidays spent retracing Leichhardt’s journeys and for all the moments where you have been second best to Leichhardt - thank you. This work could not have been possible without your support.

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Table of Contents

Statement of Originality ...... i Acknowledgements ...... ii Table of Contents ...... iii List of Figures ...... vii Abstract ...... x INTRODUCTION ...... 1 LEICHHARDT and HISTORICAL CONTEXT 7

CHAPTER 1 LEICHHARDT’S BOTANICAL JOURNEYS 1842-1844 ...... 8 Background and Education ...... 8 Arrival in Australia ...... 9 Learning Curve and a Change of Direction ...... 10 Journeys of Botanical Discovery ...... 11 The Legacy ...... 19

CHAPTER 2 LEICHHARDT’S BOTANICAL COLLECTING ...... 20 Methods and Challenges ...... 20 The Collection Legacy ...... 25 CHAPTER 3 THE INTERPRETATIONS OF LEICHHARDT ...... 26 Lost and Forgotten ...... 26 The Last Word ...... 32 INVESTIGATION and ANALYSIS 33

CHAPTER 4 DIARIES, LETTERS AND TRANSLATIONS ...... 34 Diaries ...... 34 Letters ...... 39 Interpreting the Data ...... 41 Establishing Guidelines ...... 41 Collating Written Records ...... 48 CHAPTER 5 HERBARIUM RECORDS ...... 49 A Significant Legacy ...... 49 Collecting the Information ...... 49 Interpreting the Data ...... 53 The Leichhardt Collection ...... 54 DATABASE DESIGN and APPLICATION 55

CHAPTER 6 THE DATABASE DESIGN ...... 56

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Developing the Database ...... 56 Entering the Data ...... 59 The Significance of the Database ...... 68

CHAPTER 7 DATABASE APPLICATION ...... 69 Displaying the Information ...... 69 The Database as an Interactive Application ...... 76 SETTING THE STYLE 78

CHAPTER 8 DEFINING THE CONSTRUCT ...... 79 The Story and the Style ...... 79 The Final Intent – My Style and Story...... 89 PROCESS and METHODOLOGY 91

CHAPTER 9 STAGES of the CREATIVE PROCESS ...... 92 Defining the Stages ...... 92 Stages of Creative Process ...... 93 Fieldwork and Collecting ...... 94 The Final Selection ...... 107 CHAPTER 10 DATA COLLECTION and CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH ...... 108 Acquiring Knowledge ...... 108 The Collaboration Between Science and Art ...... 120 CHAPTER 11 COMPOSITION ...... 121 Defining the Rules ...... 121 The Final Picture ...... 133

CHAPTER 12 RENDERING THE IMAGE ...... 134 The Process ...... 134 Equipment and Tools...... 134 Watercolour Techniques ...... 140 Finishing and Critical Assessment ...... 143 CHAPTER 13 A CASE STUDY ...... 146 Castanospermum australe ...... 146 THE JOURNEY 169

CHAPTER 14 THE JOURNEY ...... 170 Developing the Research Proposal ...... 170 People Places and Presentations ...... 173 Personal Connection ...... 189 Journey’s End ...... 190

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CONCLUSION ...... 192 THE FINAL BODY OF WORK 194

THE FINAL BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 195 Locations and Collections ...... 195 List of Final Illustrations ...... 197 Eriostemon australasius ...... 198 Correa reflexa var. speciosa ...... 201 Isopogon anemonifolius ...... 204 Aegiceras corniculatum ...... 207 Asplenium australasicum ...... 210 Blandfordia grandiflora ...... 213 Lambertia formosa ...... 216 Allocasuarina distyla ...... 219 Callicoma serratifolia ...... 222 Brachychiton acerifolius ...... 225 Ficus coronata ...... 228 Hibiscus trionum ...... 231 Exocarpos cupressiformis ...... 234 Kennedia rubicunda ...... 237 Cyathea leichhardtiana ...... 240 Castanospermum australe ...... 243 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 246 APPENDICES 251

APPENDIX 1: List of Species named in Leichhardt’s honour ...... 252 APPENDIX 2: Species collected by Leichhardt between 14/11/1842 and 22/11/1842 ...... 253 APPENDIX 3: Herbarium Report for the Genus, Passiflora ...... 254 APPENDIX 4: Herbarium Report for the species, leichhardtiana ...... 255 APPENDIX 5: Herbarium Report for the Genus and species, Ficus coronata ...... 256 APPENDIX 6: Herbarium Report for the institute, Canberra Herbarium ...... 257 APPENDIX 7: Letter or Diary Report by date ...... 258 APPENDIX 8: Letter and Diary Report for the Genus, Rubus ...... 259 APPENDIX 9: Letter and Diary Report for the Genus and species, Doryanthes excelsa...... 260 APPENDIX 10: Comparison Report ...... 261 APPENDIX 11: List of Leichhardt’s Field Sketches included in his Diaries ...... 262

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APPENDIX 12: Page of Proposed Publication ...... 264 APPENDIX 13: Page 2 of Proposed Publication ...... 265 APPENDIX 14: Record of Diagnostic Features ...... 266 APPENDIX 15: Diagnostic Key for Brachychiton acerifolius ...... 267

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List of Figures

Figure 1 from Leichhardt’s lookout ...... 12 Figure 2 George Wyndham’s house, Dalwood...... 13 Figure 3 Mount Royal, Glendon ...... 14 Figure 4 Memorial at Woodford, ...... 17 Figure 5 Russell’s property at Cecil Plains ...... 18 Figure 6 Herbarium specimen of Cyathea leichhardtiana...... 25 Figure 7 Ludwig Leichhardt as drawn by John Mann, 1846-1847 ...... 27 Figure 8 Leichhardt’s Second Diary ...... 35 Figure 9 Leichhardt’s Third Diary...... 35 Figure 10 Examples of different written languages used by Leichhardt...... 36 Figure 11 Wide left-hand margin ...... 36 Figure 12 Leichhardt’s drawing of the seed from a Bunya Tree (Araucaria bidwillii)...... 37 Figure 13 Paris herbarium specimen...... 51 Figure 14 Berlin specimen of Gleichenia rupestris...... 52 Figure 15 Herbarium specimen checked by George Bentham...... 52 Figure 16 Table design ...... 56 Figure 17 Query design ...... 57 Figure 18 Form design ...... 58 Figure 19 Report design ...... 58 Figure 20 Form with imbedded macros...... 59 Figure 21 Data entry form for herbarium records ...... 60 Figure 22 Data entry form for diary / letter records...... 65 Figure 23 Main menu...... 69 Figure 24 De Candolle’s Prodromus ...... 80 Figure 25 Robert Brown’s Prodromus, Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen ...... 81 Figure 26 Bossiaea cinerea ...... 83 Figure 27 Leichhardt’s hand-drawn sketches...... 84 Figure 28 Handwritten herbarium label...... 95 Figure 29 Artwork by Jacob Janssen...... 97 Figure 30 View from the Mrs Macquarie’s Chair ...... 97 Figure 31 Undertaking Field work ...... 98 Figure 32 Awabakal Nature Reserve, Newcastle...... 99 Figure 33 Atlas of Living Australia Report...... 100 Figure 34 Asplenium australasicum...... 103 Figure 35 Ficus coronata...... 104 Figure 36 (the Leichhardt Tree)...... 105

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Figure 37 Blandfordia grandiflora...... 106 Figure 38 Field Notes ...... 109 Figure 39 Colour swatches ...... 110 Figure 40 Graphite Rubbings ...... 111 Figure 41 USB microscope image ...... 116 Figure 42 Sketches using a drawing tube ...... 117 Figure 43 Digital microscope photograph...... 118 Figure 44 Composition – position...... 122 Figure 45 Composition – focal point...... 122 Figure 46 Composition – balance...... 123 Figure 47 Composition – detail...... 124 Figure 48 Composition – colour...... 125 Figure 49 Composition – negative space...... 125 Figure 50 Aegiceras corniculatum habit...... 126 Figure 51 Aegiceras corniculatum flower...... 127 Figure 52 Aegiceras corniculatum leaf details...... 128 Figure 53 Aegiceras corniculatum reproductive organs...... 129 Figure 54 Aegiceras corniculatum buds...... 129 Figure 55 Aegiceras corniculatum fruit...... 130 Figure 56 Aegiceras corniculatum composition...... 131 Figure 57 Composition with a colour block...... 132 Figure 58 Transparent Paints ...... 135 Figure 59 Staining Colours...... 136 Figure 60 Granulating colours...... 137 Figure 61 Palette and colour layout...... 139 Figure 62 Watercolour washes...... 141 Figure 63 Graded wash...... 141 Figure 64 Variegated wash...... 142 Figure 65 Glazing...... 143 Figure 66 Database selection box...... 146 Figure 67 Database report for Castanospermum australe (letters) ...... 147 Figure 68 Herbarium report for Castanospermum australe...... 149 Figure 69 Herbarium Sheet NSW 397278 and NSW31021 ...... 150 Figure 70 Castanospermum australe...... 152 Figure 71 Castanospermum australe dissection drawings...... 154 Figure 72 Castanospermum australe colour field sketches and notations...... 155 Figure 73 Castanospermum australe colour palette...... 156 Figure 74 Images imported into Photoshop for manipulation...... 158

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Figure 75 Castanospermum australe composition Photoshop layouts...... 159 Figure 76 Castanospermum australe with colour added...... 160 Figure 77 Castanospermum australe transfer...... 161 Figure 78 Castanospermum australe leaf painting process ...... 163 Figure 79 Castanospermum australe flower painting stages...... 163 Figure 80 Castanospermum australe seed sketches and painting experimentation...... 164 Figure 81 Castanospermum australe seed pod stages...... 165 Figure 82 Castanospermum australe seed painting stages...... 166 Figure 83 Castanospermum australe finished plate...... 168 Figure 84 In the Steps of Leichhardt ...... 171 Figure 85 Looking for Leichhardt ...... 172 Figure 86 Dalwood House on Wyndham’s Estate...... 176 Figure 87 Camden Park Estate ...... 177 Figure 88 Gardens at Camden Park Estate ...... 177 Figure 89 German Mission memorial ...... 178 Figure 90 Durundur memorial ...... 179 Figure 91 Jondaryan station ...... 180 Figure 92 The Cecil Plains homestead ...... 180 Figure 93 Jimbour homestead...... 181 Figure 94 Lake Murphy Conservation Park...... 182 Figure 95 The Leichhardt Tree, ...... 182 Figure 96 Emerald Botanic Gardens ...... 183 Figure 97 Pioneer Memorial, Clermont ...... 184 Figure 98 Botanischer Garten, Berlin ...... 185 Figure 99 Ludwig Leichhardt Museum, Trebatsch ...... 186 Figure 100 Exhibition and Presentation, Leichhardt Town Hall...... 187 Figure 101 Dracaena draco (Dragon Tree) ...... 189

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Abstract

Ludwig Leichhardt is synonymous with Australian exploration, yet his achievements extend well beyond the success of his overland expeditions. Born in Germany in 1813, Leichhardt arrived in Australia on the 14 February 1842, with the specific intent of studying the natural history of the continent. He is best remembered for his successful overland journey from to , which opened vast tracks of agricultural land for development. Beyond exploration, Leichhardt was a passionate observer of Australian natural history, who left a significant legacy of collected and written material, especially in the field of botany. These important contributions have been largely overshadowed by Leichhardt’s mysterious disappearance in 1848. The recent translations of his diaries recorded between 1842 and 1844 have exposed a lesser known period of Leichhardt’s life and helped to evidence him as a capable and diligent scientist. The published materials combined with Leichhardt’s collected plant specimens establish the foundation for my research and have subsequently informed my outcomes.

The information gained from Leichhardt’s written material along with his collected herbarium specimens have been collated in a database. This central platform of information allows examination, analysis and cross-referencing of data in seeking new insights and knowledge of Leichhardt’s botanical contribution and legacy. From information generated through database reports, I have painted a series of botanical illustrations depicting specimens that were observed, recorded and collected by Leichhardt more than 170 years ago. These illustrations provide a visual record of his observations and collections in much the same way as an accompanying artist would have done on Leichhardt’s original journeys of exploration.

The documentation of this research and creative methodology from field observations through to the final illustrations offers new knowledge of Leichhardt’s historical contribution to Australian botanical science and to botanical Illustrators.

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