Piece of Busselton art history finds new home

The Busselton Historical Society has become the new custodian of some important local wood carvings thanks to the cooperation of Woolworths Busselton.

Previously displayed in the store, the carvings are the works of Marion St Clair Layman (affectionately known as Clair) who was an extraordinarily gifted and talented woman, believed to be the first Western Australian woman to work creatively using local timbers.

Born at Wonnerup House in 1869 as the fifth child of George Layman II and his wife Amelia, Clair was educated at Wonnerup school and later attended Bishop’s Girls’ College in Perth.

After her graduation, she became acquainted with Mr and Mrs H.C. Prinsep. Henry Prinsep was at this time Under Secretary for the Department of Mines, and he and his wife Josephine entertained many well connected and well-known members of Western Australian colonial society.

Prinsep was a competent artist and photographer who, with his artistic connections, would have influenced the young Clair Layman.

Clair travelled to Hawaii in 1903 where she learnt chip carving. Some years later, when spending time with relatives in Bridgetown, Clair took lessons in woodcarving and in later years studied woodcarving in Perth with William Howitt.

She created a collection of works, the majority held by the National Trust, including the over-mantle at Wonnerup House for the occasion of her parents’ Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1909 and a tray showing distinctive chip carving which was made as a wedding present in 1910 for a relative, Helen Rose Lodge.

Clair built a house at 70 Duchess Street, Busselton and moved there in 1931.

The house contained many pieces of her work, including a matching pair of carvings which formed part of the mantle overhead shelf, an overhead cupboard front and a carving above her front door with the words inscribed in Latin: DEUS HAEC OTIA FECIT which translates to “This pleasant place was provided by God.”

Following Clair’s passing in 1949, the house had several owners including the St. Vincent de Paul Society from 1991 who maintained the facade of the building, before it was demolished to make way for the Woolworths supermarket in 2012.

Along with a carved timber tray which survived the 2018 Busselton Museum fire, the Society plans to place these additional carvings on permanent display to acknowledge a craftswoman way before her time.