***The view from the Erith Mob’s base in West Cove***

When most people arrive at the Kent group of islands - about halfway between Wilsons Promontory and Flinders Island - the last thing on their mind is art.

They are more likely to be occupied with drying out their wet weather gear, assessing the next forecast and perhaps pulling in a gummy shark for dinner (assuming they are not in the no-fishing zone on the west side of the islands!)

However, the spectacular scenery which deserves the adjective “awesome” in its pre-millennial meaning, has inspired some famous artists over the years.

Passing through the Islands earlier this week, I became aware of the island’s links with Fred Williams and fellow painter Clifton Pugh who together spent a week on Erith Island in March 1974. They were invited and accompanied by academics Ian Turner and Stephen Murray-Smith members of the “Erith Mob”, who had been holidaying on Erith Island regularly since 1962. The two journeyed to and from Port Albert in Gippsland, on the ketch, the MARJORIE PHYLLIS that at the time supplied the Deal Island lighthouse on a fortnightly basis. Turner had planned the trip as an opportunity for the two artists, friends of his and Murray-Smith, to paint what he saw as a unique Australian landscape and for this exercise to be observed and documented.

Williams wrote in his diary during the 1974 trip, "I do 'strip' paintings of the beach using sand glued on – but the wind has worn me to a 'frazzle' … My final half doz. strip paintings are my best."

They had originally intended to go a year earlier but were forced to postpone due to Williams’ ill health. Turner’s account of the visit “Artists’ Camp: Erith Island was subsequently published in “Overland”, the literary journal edited by Murray-Smith. (issue 60 autumn 1975)

***A hand drawn map of the Kent Group pinned to the wall in the hut on Erith Island.***

Williams had in fact been painting parts of Bass Strait coastline since 1971, during holidays with his family around Waratah Bay and Wilsons Promontory.

In January 1974 Williams, his wife Lyn and three daughters visited Flinders Island for the first time accompanied by younger artist Fraser Fair, a friend of Andy Warhol’s, with whom Williams frequently painted “en plein air”. They stayed with relatives of Fair near Emita.

Late in 1977, the family joined the Murray-Smiths and their friends for their annual summer camping expedition to Erith. Lyn Williams recalled that “the weather was atrocious. Fred scarcely painted”

A major Williams retrospective, “Infinite Horizons” organised by the National Gallery of Australia in 2011 featured twelve of the artists Bass Strait oils amongst the 120 works on display.

And it is a strange thing to note, however - Ian Turner died on his beloved Erith in 1978 aged 56; Williams died in 1982 aged 55; Murray-Smith in 1988 aged 65; and, Pugh in 1990 also 65. Tragically young, stunningly brilliant.