William Bustard Explained

William Bustard (18 April 1894 – 24 August 1973)^[1] was an artist in Queensland, Australia. His stained glass work features in many heritage-listed buildings.^[2]

Early life

William Bustard was born in 1894 in Terrington, Malton, Yorkshire, England. Living close to the York Minster, he was influenced by its stained glass work and music. He studied at the Scarborough Art School and won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art in London.

During World War I, Bustard served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Greece and Italy.^[3]

During his war service, he contracted tuberculosis. He immigrated in 1921 to Queensland, Australia where his health recovered.Not long after arriving, he joined the Royal Queensland Art Society, known then as the Queensland Art Society, and served on the management committee for many years with stints as President and Vice-President. He was made a life member of the Society in 1945.^[4]

During World War II, Bustard served in the Citizen Military Forces developing camouflage at RAAF bases. He was posted to Gayndah and Townsville where he disguised the appearance of Inland Aircraft Fuel Depots to look like farms.

Artist career

In order to make a living, he undertook a range of artistic work, including teaching and commissions. He illustrated books, including Robinson Crusoe (1949) and Treasure Island (1956).

He drew pictures for advertisements, including for:

• the Canberra Hotel in Brisbane

His stained glass work can be found in:

• Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Maryborough, Queensland^[5]
• Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola in Toowong, Brisbane^[6]
• St Thomas Church of England in Toowong, Brisbane^[7]
• Kurrowah, a mansion in Dutton Park, Brisbane^[8]
• St Pauls Presbyterian Church, Spring Hill, Brisbane^[9]
• RS Exton and Co Building in Brisbane^[10]
• St Brigids Catholic Church, in Rosewood^[11]
• St Barnabas Anglican Church, Red Hill
• St. Stephen's Uniting Church, Toowoomba

Later life

William Bustard died on 24 August 1973 in Southport, Queensland.^[2]

Exhibitions

Major exhibitions of his work include:

• 1931
• 1945: Brisbane^[12]
• 1950: Finney's Art Gallery, Brisbane
• 1983: Brisbane Civic Art Gallery and Museum
• 2015–2016: Museum of Brisbane Painting with Light: an exhibition of the works of William Bustard from June 2015 to January 2016 (over 70 original works)^[13]

External links

• Encyclopedia: 1979 . Bustard, William (1894–1973) . Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre for Biography, Australian National University . Mellish . Raoul . 7 . http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bustard-william-5443.

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: 1979 . Bustard, William (1894–1973) . Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre for Biography, Australian National University . Mellish . Raoul . 7 . http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bustard-william-5443.
2. Web site: William Bustard. Design & Art Australia Online. 9 May 2015. 18 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518070516/http://www.daao.org.au/bio/william-bustard/biography/. live.
3. Web site: Gunning . Judy . 2023-06-04 . William Bustard: Australian camouflage artist . 2023-09-12 . QAGOMA Blog . en-AU . 12 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230912014041/https://blog.qagoma.qld.gov.au/william-bustard-australian-camouflage-artist/ . live .
4. Bradbury, Keith & Cooke Glenn R Thorns & Petals, 100 years of the Royal Queensland Art Society (1988) p 211 and 226 ISBN 0-7316-3596-5
5. 10 May 2015.
6. 1 August 2014.
7. 1 August 2014.
8. 1 August 2014.
9. 1 August 2014.
10. 1 August 2014.
11. 1 August 2014.
12. News: Fine Art Show. . . Brisbane . 9 April 1945 . 25 June 2015 . 4 . National Library of Australia . 12 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230912014228/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48943403 . live .
13. Web site: William Bustard: Painting with Light. Museum of Brisbane. 19 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150619103309/http://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/william-bustard/. 19 June 2015.