Brenda Holland (1900-1995): Albany-born artist and teacher, captured local landscapes, portraits—including Archibald Prize entries and community life across Western Australia.

Brenda Holland was born in Perth on 25 August 1900 to Archie Holland and his wife May (née Pugh). During her early childhood, the family moved frequently within Western Australia, living in Perth, Bunbury, Northam and Geraldton, as her father followed work opportunities as a brewer. When Brenda was ten, the family settled in Albany, where her father, together with a business partner, established the Holland Long Lion Brewery on Middleton Road.

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Brenda’s schooling began in Geraldton and continued in Albany, where she attended the local Convent before moving to the State School until she was sixteen. Even as a young student, her artistic talent was evident. In the 1930s, she became a student of the renowned Perth artist Henry Van Raalte, further honing her skills. Brenda also attended the Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne for two years and later spent a year at Sydney Technical College, where she deepened her interest in portraiture.

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Returning to Albany in 1939, Brenda set up an art studio in the family home on Aberdeen Street and began teaching private pupils. In interviews, she fondly recounted her memories of childhood visits to her father’s brewery, life in Albany during World War I and the many personalities she encountered growing up in the region. She also spoke of her experiences teaching art and guiding the next generation of local artists.

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A notable aspect of Brenda Holland’s work is her series of portraits of Aboriginal sitters from Albany. Several of these portraits have been donated to the Albany Historical Society. In 1930, she entered two portraits of Aboriginal individuals in the prestigious Archibald Prize, although the identities of the sitters remain unknown. These works highlight her sensitivity as a portraitist and her engagement with the community around her.

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Later in life, Brenda and her sister maintained their charming home and garden at 90 Aberdeen Street, where they delighted in native birds and the local pets that frequented their property. Brenda Holland lived a long and creative life, passing away on 9 March 1995 at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of art, teaching, and a vivid record of Albany’s people and culture through the 20th century.