Samuel Thomas Gill

Original Prints by S. T. Gill

Samuel Thomas Gill (S. T. Gill) is one of the most important visual chroniclers of colonial Australia. Born in England and arriving in South Australia in 1839, he became known for street scenes, landscapes and detailed observation of daily life, producing works that now form a vital record of the period.

Gill’s reputation was cemented after he travelled to the Victorian goldfields in 1852, where he produced acclaimed drawings, watercolours and lithographs of life on the diggings—scenes that combine documentary value with strong narrative and character. Many of his best-known images capture the social world of the gold rush: claims and disputes, licensing, work in camps, travel to and from the fields, and the bustle of towns emerging almost overnight.

This catalogue brings together original S. T. Gill prints spanning key subjects and locations, including South Australian street views, Victorian gold rush scenes (Ballarat, Bendigo and Mount Alexander/Forest Creek), and broader Australian life and landscape. Examples may include views and events in Adelaide, iconic goldfields compositions such as “The Licence Inspected” and “The Claim Disputed”, and later published views that look back on formative moments in Australia’s 1850s.

Collectors seek S. T. Gill’s work for its historical immediacy, recognisable places and enduring appeal as Australian colonial art. These are original period prints—often lithographs and related processes—selected for quality, authenticity and display. As with all early works on paper, condition, margins, original colouring (where present) and printing clarity are key considerations.