Painting of Harold Freedman wearing his olive green airforce uniform and hat in front of a dark brown background.
Self portrait as a war artist, 1942. Painting by Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright; H90.62

Harold Freedman (1915-1999) was Victoria’s first (and so far only) State Artist. Previous to his employ by the State government, Freedman was a man of many talents – he was an official war artist during World War 2, a fine arts teacher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, an illustrator, and magazine art director who also found time to start businesses in housing design and high-volume poultry farming! It was from around his 50th birthday when Freedman moved into creating large scale art, and it was during this time period that he became best known.

Illustration on a box of clothing for girls. Main illustration of a young girl in a red polka dot dress with friendly lamb and woodland fairies in a fairy tale type setting. Smaller side illustrations depicts children, fairies and three blind mice. Brand is Kiddies Wear created by Lucas.
Illustrated poster of different eras of trains in colours of grey, white, black and royal blue.
Cover Illustration for Wings magazine showing a smiling Santa Claus, seated and leaning forward, gift wrapping a large bomb with a card stating Best Wishes to Tojo.
Detailed and lightly coloured illustration of the Southern Cross building, streetscape, and surrounding skyline of Melbourne dated to 1962.

Lid of a cardboard box designed to hold children’s wear, between 1930 and 1939. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright; H2011.131/240

Mock-up for cover and issue of the magazine “Wings, official magazine of the RAAF”, 1943. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright; H2011.131/116 – http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/399335

Behind the railway scene – Victorian Railways, [between 1940 and 1979]. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright; H2011.131/237

The Southern Cross Hotel Old Eastern Market site, [1962]. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright; H93.153/9

In 1966 Freedman was one of several artists commissioned to create pieces for the Australian War Memorial Aircraft hanger (likely due to his service for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War 2). As a former student of famous muralist Napier Waller, he was well-placed to undertake mural artwork. His main project was a 150 foot long mural depicting aircraft flown by Australian servicemen. Whilst completing this mammoth project, he took on a domestic aircraft themed mural for the 1970 opening of Tullamarine Airport .

His first major large scale Victorian project was the ‘Cavalcade of Transport’ mural, located at Spencer Street railway station (now known as Southern Cross Station). In undertaking the project, Freedman was employed as Victoria’s ‘State Artist’.1

He led the project to create a mural 150 feet long and 40 feet high of a multitude of vehicles that were part of Victoria’s transport history. Victorian Rail provided much assistance with technical drawings of trains and providing a massive workspace for Freedman and his team at the East Camberwell Railway Substation. 2

Visits from politicians and school groups were encouraged (a practice he would continue with later monumental works) as the mural took shape over 4 years between 1973 to 1978. The mural’s final installation and unveiling on Australian Day (January 30, 1978) was accompanied by a classic vehicle display around Spencer Street.3

The mural was a key feature of the otherwise drab transport hub for many years, but several renovations to the station have left the mural currently placed at the rear wall of a large retail store.

The Spencer Street passenger area where the Cavalcade of Transport mural was once positioned. Taken from the ground level, the foreground includes young backpackers/travellers, one wearing a t-shirt with large writing titled "back". Signs for Platform No1, Train Information are on the wall, as well as some shops and kiosks near the doors to the platform. Above the sjops and signs is the mural showing many trains, trams, buses, and horse buggies in rows.
Close up of a portion of the Cavalcade of Transport mural. Large amount of vehicles likely dated from the 19th century with many horse buggies and carts, trains, trams, arranged in lines. A large section of the mural depicts a train engineer and driver in the engine room of a train.

Transport Mural, Spencer Street Station, visitor’s area, 1983. Mural by Harold Freedman. Photo by Rennie Ellis. This image is in copyright; H2011.150/2537

[Close-up view of the Transport Mural, Spencer Street Station], 1983. Mural by Harold Freedman. Photo by Rennie Ellis. This image is in copyright; H2011.150/2570

Freedman utilised the art of mosaics (the art of placing coloured glass) for three of his following major projects. The first was a history of the colonial settlement of Geelong, with the mosaic within the then new (and Brutalist) State Offices within Geelong’s city centre. Installed within the ground floor of the State Offices, Freedman and his team created the mosaic with a smooth finish, which allowed the public to be able to touch the glass work. 4

An excerpt from the Legend of fire mosaic, with depiction of Greek mythological figure Prometheus descending from the heavens with fire in his hands gifting it to grateful humans. Smaller elements of the mosaic show how humanity have engineered fire to their advantage over many years. A depiction of the firefighter in uniform from around the twentieth century, the bottom right corner of the mosaic excerpt reflects the need to recover from the loss of control of fire, which shown in other parts of the mosaic.

[Legend of fire by Harold Freedman], 1982. Photo by Rennie Ellis. This work is in copyright; H2012.140/173

The next mosaic work Freedman and his team created was the ‘Legend of Fire’, located at the Melbourne Fire Brigade building. Created in 1980-1982, the vibrant mosaic offset the grey of the award-winning concrete walls that adorn the building. 5

The mythological illustrations of Zeus, Phaeton, Prometheus, and Pandora recall ancient Greek legends about how fire came to earth reeking destruction and death, but when controlled, could help bring life. The ‘Legend of Fire’ stands intact and in full view of the busy Albert and Gisborne Street intersection in East Melbourne. 6

Photo that shows nearly the entire mosaic with only the very top section cut off. The mosaic excerpt includes the large sections of Greek god Zeus surrounded by fire and Prometheus delivering fire to humanity. The depiction of human industry and destruction by fire is shown, all against the Melbourne Fire Brigade grey concrete walls. A cyclist rides past in the bottom right corner of the photo, giving a sense of scale to the building and mosaic.
Legend of fire mosaic, between 1982 and 1990. [Mosaic by Harold Freedman]. Photo by Rennie Ellis. This work is in copyright; H2011.150/2578

The final major mosaic by Freedman was for the Victorian Football League, created between 1984-1986. This mosaic titled The Greats of Football, ‘greeted’ many hopeful visitors to VFL/Waverley Park in the 1980s and 1990s. Capturing the games greats in full-flight, the mosaic encapsulates a grandeur about Australian Rules not often represented in art. Of interest is that the finished mosaic was planned to be a centrepiece in combination with illustrated panels of footballers and logos from the then 12 VFL clubs (the panels were never created). 7

Drawing of Wayne Schimmelbusch in side profile in the process of kicking a football.
Drawing of Terry Daniher taking a mark, with his face and shoulders turned side on whilst his torso faces forward.
Drawing of Mike Fitzpatrick in process of handballing a football in a three quarter front facing pose.
Cover illustration of five footballers who were the captains of the five teams playing in the 1983 finals (Hawthorn, Essendon, Fitzroy, North Melbourne, Carlton). The five players are depicted in the action of playing football (marking, kicking, handballing). The cover has the label for the match being played Hawthorn Vs Essendon Grand Final MCG September 24, 1983. The Football Record title with the Victorian Football League logo, price of $2 and the logos of Hawks and Bombers in the bottom right corner of the illustration.

Drawing of Wayne Schimmelbusch in the motion of kicking the ball, 1983. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright. H2011.131/293

Drawing of Terry Daniher taking a mark, 1983. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright. H2011.131/291

Drawing of Mike Fitzpatrick handballing to another player, 1983. Harold Freedman. This work is in copyright. H2011.131/292

Football record. AFL record 1983 Week 4 finals – Grand Final. [Cover illustration by Harold Freedman]. Features the above images and also Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn, ball in hand) and Garry Wilson (Fitzroy, marking). This work is in copyright

The Greats of Football mural placed against a large concrete grandstand with thin vertical partitions.
photograph taken by the author

Freedman’s final project (and longest to create) was for the Victorian Racing Club based at Flemington Racecourse titled ‘The History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing’. The mural was placed upon the massive sloping ceiling underneath the Hill Stand. Historian Andrew Lemon provided valuable research for the team regarding horseracing in Australia, eventually authoring a book on the subject with illustrations by Freedman.

On the completion of the 6th of 7 ceiling panels, Harold Freedman suffered a debilitating stroke and did not work again. He died in 1999. Freedman’s longtime employees, David Jack and Joe Attard, marshalled the Flemington mural project to its conclusion in 1989. They have continued working in the mural and mosaic fields to great acclaim.8

Illustration of a crowd of racegoers at the first horserace in Melbourne in 1838. The foreground shows revellers in period dress sitting on the grass with picnic baskets and bottles. A range of ages are depicted. In the background are some tents, with some horses and riders and a horse buggy. IN the distance is a large hill and a pole surrounded by horses and riders. The sign on the illustration states "Melbourne 1838. The ifrst race meeting was held on 6th & 7th March at Batman's Hill [near the present Spencer Street Station] the important race, 'The Town Plate' was first run in 1839.

Melbourne 1838 – The first race meeting was held on 6th & 7th March at Batman’s Hill. 1989. Harold Freedman. This image is in copyright. H2011.131/274

To learn more about this well seen artist and to see the breadth of his work, the biography ‘Harold Freedman: the big picture’ by Gavin Fry, David Freedman, David Jack is recommended. State Library Victoria holds many of Freedman’s personal and working papers, plus a selection of his drawings, prints and paintings.

  1. ‘Artist brushes up on history’, The Age, 15 December, p 14
  2. Patterson, L, 1976, ‘World’s best studio in old sub-station’, Progress Press, 25 February, p 3
  3. Public notice: a grand cavalcade of transport to be held in Melbourne town 30th January 1978, poster, V.R. Print, Melbourne
  4. A regional history : the story told in glass, State Government Offices, Geelong, State Government Offices, Geelong, p 4
  5. Fry, G, Freedman, D, Jack, D, 2017, Harold Freedman : the big picture, Melbourne Mural Studio, [Doreen, Victoria], p 156
  6. 1983, Legend of fire, Materials Production, Curriculum Branch, Education Department, Victoria, p 4
  7. Fry, G, Freedman, D, Jack, D, 2017, Harold Freedman : the big picture, Melbourne Mural Studio, [Doreen, Victoria], p 174-175
  8. Fry, G, Freedman, D, Jack, D, 2017, Harold Freedman : the big picture, Melbourne Mural Studio, [Doreen, Victoria] p 184-185
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