Herbert, Harold

Artist/Educator
Ballarat Technical Art School (a division of the Ballarat School of Mines)Black and white photograph from the Ballarat School of Mines Student's Magazine, c1918

Harold Brocklebank Herbert (1891-1945), was born on 16 September 1891 at Ballarat, Victoria. He married Dorothea Agnes O'Leary at Fitzroy, Melbourne, on 9 October 1935.

He studied architecture and applied design at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Technical School of Design later transferring to the Ballarat School of Mines Technical Art School. Herbert's talents were early recognised by Ponsonby Carew-Smyth, art inspector with the Victorian Education Department, and former Ballarat Art Educator.

Herbert moved to Melbourne in 1912 to become Carew-Smyth's assistant. Three years later he returned to teach at his old school, abandoning teaching in 1919.

Herbert travelled to England, France, Spain and Morocco for eighteen months in 1922-23 . On his return his first major exhibition in Melbourne was a huge success with every work being sold.

Herbert's friendship with Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Blamey resulted in his appointment as an official war artist in early 1941. He resigned after six months in the Middle East and until 1944 was an accredited war correspondent for the Australasian.

Harold Herbert died in Melbourne on 11 February 1945.

Image Caption: Ballarat School of Mines Students Magazine
Standing back left to right: Allan Bernaldo, S. Hoskin
Centre left to right: J. Wood; Noel Brelaz; H. Jolly; Albert E. Williams; Richard W. Richards, N. Green; H. Maddison
Front left to right: Harold Herbert; Maurice Copland; Alfred Mica Smith; McConnon; D. McGrath