Deans Art 170 Years
Deans Art is Australia's first and most experienced art supply service with a rich history of supplying Australian artists with quality art materials since 1854.
W&G. DEAN, 65-67 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, 1887
1852 William Dean travels to Australia on the Rip Van Winkle from London
1853 William Dean arrives and starts hunting for gold at the Forest Creek Diggins, Castlemaine
1854 W & G Dean & Co is established by William Dean in Lonsdale Street
1857 George Dean, Williams brother travels from England and joins his brother and thus the firm of W&G Dean, oil and colour merchants now a limited propiretar, was founded.
1855 - 1887 W&G Dean's is now located at 65 - 67 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Adjoining The Age newspaper's office they would eventually expand into the Age building. W & G Dean had an extensive business in brushes, paints, wallpapers and artists materials and serviced the soon to be hub of the art trade in Melbourne.
Their range included materials designed to "fulfill the ambition of every man, to gratify the sense of beauty, and to elevate the intellect" wrote George Dean.
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Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Melbourne : Ebenezer and David Syme 1863
December 24, 1887 Print : Wood engraving published in The Australian news for home readers. State Library of Victoria
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Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Sept. 1864. London Tavern Hotel, Age Office, W. & G. Dean, Robertson & Mullens
CA 1906 1 postcard : printed, b&w ; 8.8 x 13.8 cm. approx State Library of Victoria
JUNE 1880 W & G Dean & Co. was one of the first businesses in the new Edison-Bell phone directory in constant use in Melbourne at the time.
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1880 Copy from the Deans Art Archive
Edison Bell Telephone Registry Melbourne 1882
1887 The completion of a new cable tramway brought the opportunity to expand into the inner suburb of Fitzroy
1897 William Dean passes away on 11 May 1897 at 66 years of age
1921 George Dean passes away on 22 July 1921 at 81 years of age at his home in hawthorn
November 1937 W & G Dean's opens the Leighton House Gallery. Located on 346-348 Little Collins Street
"MODERN DESIGN FEATURED IN £85000 NEW BUILDING Adding to the number of new city buildings erected to the limit height allowed by the City Council regulations, Leighton House, a most modern shop and office structure, has been completed at 346-348 Littlo Collins Street.
The owners of Leighton House, W. & G. Dean Pty. Ltd., will occupy the basement, ground and first floors. The six upper floors, to be let in offices, feature the new panel heating for which many new advantages are claimed.
The new building erected at a cost of £85,000 was opened officially on Friday, when the art galleries in Leighton House were opened by the Federal Attorney-General (Mr Menzies)."
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The Herald Wed 10 NOV 1937 TROVE
1970 Deans Art Logo
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From the Archives of Deans Art
Mid 1980's The amalgamation with the Camden Art Centre (est 1946) saw Deans become one of the largest retailers of art supplies in the southern hemisphere.
2006 Opening of Deans Art's Brunswick store.
2007 An amalgamation with Natart; a Footscray based supplier of art, craft, technology and stationery materials to schools, childcare, and business; strengthening an already successful commercial and education division within Deans Art.
2024 & Beyond
Deans Art is still an Australian owned & operated business, supplying expert advice and products to artists, designers & craftspeople from all spectrums, be they professional, student or hobbyists alike.
We are also keen to hear from you - so don't hesitate to give us your thoughts on how we can be of assistance to you in your next creative pursuit, as your work is our priority. Don't forget to tag us in your instagram or facebook posts as we love seeing what you're creating!
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