MAYLANDS HISTORICAL AND PENINSULA ASSOCIATION

Flora Annie Margaret Le Cornu was born in Adelaide in 1888, but in 1896 moved with her family to Guildford in Western Australia.

In 1898, she and five other children from East Guildford organised a bazaar that raised and raised one pound for the Children’s Hospital proposed for Perth. Her interest in flowers and art were evident by 1901 and she soon also showed she was a talented cook.

In 1901,  she won prizes at the Annual Exhibition and Fancy Fair of the Guildford Floral and Industrial Society for:

• floral work  (hand bouquet, lady’s spray),
• pencil drawing (Division for those under 14 years),
• neatest exercise (Division for those under 14 years),
• plain sewing (Division for those under 14 years), and
• woolwork (Division for those under 14 years).

In 1902,  she won more prizes at the Annual  Guildford Floral Exhibition for:

• floral work (a collection of cut flowers, roses – three varieties, bouquet)
• artwork (pencil drawing (14-18 years), painting, illuminated text, neatest exercise,
• fancy work,
• cookery (scones, Victoria sandwich, toffee, coconut icing, date creams, and
• scrap album.

At the 1903 Guildford Fancy Fair, she won more prizes:

• hand bouquet (Division for those aged over 15 years),
• drawn thread work (Division for those over 15 years), and
• works of art.

At the 1904 Guildford Floral and Industrial Society Exhibition,  she won more prizes for:

• hand bouquet (Division for those aged over 15 years),
• roses – three varieties (Division for those aged over 15 years)
• drawn thread work  and shadow work (Division for those over 15 years), and
• painting in oils by a child under 18.

By 1904, Flora was also learning music with Miss Taplin and passing practical and theoretical music examinations.

At the 1905 Guildford Floral and Industrial Society Exhibition,  she won more prizes for:

• floral work (collection of cut flowers not more than six varieties by a person over 16 years, roses (4 varieties), a hand bouquet, ladies spray, pelargoniums, verbenas),
• works of art over 18 years (crayon drawing, pencil drawing, ornamental writing, painting in oils, illuminated text)
• fancy work (shadow work, table centre, drawn thread work),
• cookery by a person over 16 years (jams – three varieties, fancy cakes – three varieties, pastry),
• scrap album.

By then, she was studying art at the Perth Technical School formed by Mr Linton three years earlier. She studied light and shade, design and model drawing.  Her fellow students included Loo Steitz. In 1905, Flora was part of a committee making a presentation ‘of esteem,  to Mr. and Mrs. Linton, and Mr. Edgar, assistant art teacher’.  The WA Society of Arts 1905 exhibition included ‘a few very effective flower studies for decorative purposes, the work of Miss Flora Le Cornu’.

At the 1906 Guildford Floral and Industrial Society Exhibition,  she won more prizes for:

• floral work (bridal bouquet, hand bouquet, ladies spray, gladioli), and
• cookery by a person over 16 years (fancy cakes, pastry and special prizes for puff pastry and orange cake),

In 1907, the first Exhibition of Women’s Work in Australia included work by Flora Le Cornu. She was awarded a second prize at the WA Society of Arts 1907 exhibition and at its 1908 exhibition.

She became a visiting art teacher at Perth’s Methodist Ladies College in 1908.

The 1913 WA Society of Arts Exhibition included Almond Blossom in pastel and Roses by Flora Le Cornu. Miss Flora Le Cornu’s 1913 art class at Midland Junction Central School was well attended, and excellent work accomplished, evidence of which has been given at the exhibition held last year, when some fine drawings were shown in light and shade, freehand and model’.

She founded the Maylands School of Art.

After 40 years of teaching at Methodist Ladies College, Flora Landells retired in 1948.

Flora Landells died in 1981.

The Flora Landells Art Centre remains a valued part of Methodist Ladies College and the College’s archive collection includes works by Flora Landells.