Workers discover incredible hidden chalk artwork behind historic school hall’s walls

Workers stripping an old Northcote school hall got a shock after uncovering metres of meticulously hand-drawn chalk artwork. Now the incredible display’s creator has been revealed as a former teacher. SEE PICTURES

James Sanderson and Ross Bennie with some of the drawings.

Workers renovating a school hall in Melbourne’s north have uncovered incredible chalk artwork that has been hidden behind the walls for 61 years.

And the mystery artist has been revealed as 81-year-old Elaine Hobbs, who drew the images while teaching Grade 3 and 4 at Northcote Primary School.

Ms Hobbs said she was “amazed” to see her blackboard drawings in the newspaper and couldn’t believe they were still there after so many years.

Some drawings depict fairies and pixies.

A scene from Alice in Wonderland.

The beautiful drawings depict children’s nursery rhymes and stories including Bambi and Hey Diddle Diddle.

Some of the works are around 3 metres in length.

Ms Hobbs said she was teaching in the hall in 1958 and decided the hall was too bland for primary school students.

Another teacher took over her classes for two weeks while she worked her way around the room.

The school hall is undergoing refurbishment.

“It really lit up when I did all those drawings,” Ms Hobbs said.

“The principal went around photographing them all. I was very pleased with the final effort.”

Ms Hobbs said art was solely a hobby but had entered art shows and sold some pictures in the past.

Some of the drawings appear to have been covered with a fixing agent for preservation.

Newpol Construction site manager James Sanderson said his crew immediately downed tools when they made their discovery.

“It was clear it was done by somebody with some talent,” he said.

Mr Sanderson said he’d never heard of a discovery like this and the most he’d ever found was a hidden letter.

One drawing depicts Humpty Dumpty having a yarn with little Miss Muffet.

Sections of the boards were lost during past renovations.

Northcote Primary School assistant principal Ross Bennie said the school would preserve the blackboards and consult with the school community on how best to show them off once the restoration was finished.

“The school is very old and there’s not a lot of artefacts around that link it to that history,” he said.

The hall was built in 1910 and its restoration will include a number of elements from the school’s history, including restored stained-glass windows.

Ms Hobbs, who now lives in Mitcham, said the idea of preserving the drawings was “lovely” and she would be coming to look at them soon.

@richardapearce