Collections

Claude Hotchin Art Bequest

In 1955, the Municipality of Kalgoorlie was given a gift of 32 works of art by Claude Hotchin, with another 2 works donated the following year. Claude Hotchin was a business man from South Australia who owned successful hardware shops in Perth. He had a passion for art and after retiring from his business acquired a large collection of works which he displayed in his own gallery.

An annual competition called the Claude Hotchin Art Prize was started in the late 1940’s where a £50 prize was awarded to the best oil and the best watercolour by an artist who had lived in Western Australia for no less than two years.

Hotchin’s philanthropic nature saw him donate portions of his collection to local Municipalities to form public art galleries and Kalgoorlie was the eighth local government body to receive such a gift. At the time of the first opening of the public art gallery, the works were hung in the Kalgoorlie Town Hall at the foot of the staircase and in the foyer, and remained there for a number of years. To give the gallery added illumination the lighting in the town hall was replaced with new fluorescent bulbs.

The Claude Hotchin Bequest is a collection of artworks that at the time comprised a mixture of up and coming artists who became famous and a few who already had a reputation for fine work. In the Kalgoorlie collection are oils, watercolours and an etching, all excellent examples of the artist’s skills.

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder History and Heritage Unit would like to welcome you to examine these fine works and explore the art and the artists who created the works.

Quick Links

Claude Hotchin 2012 Artworks Guide