Focus on The Golden Fleece (painting) and explain the Significance of the name.
When Tom Roberts first composed the painting in 1894, it was titled and exhibited as Shearing at Newstead, however when it was purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Roberts presented it under the title of The Golden Fleece. The exact circumstances surrounding the changing of the name are unclear, however it is generally acknowledged that Dunkin Anderson, the owner of the sheep station, was the one who suggested the new title in reference to the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece. This mythological story saw some of the greatest heroes of ancient Greek mythology on a quest to retrieve the valuable Golden Fleece which magical properties. The implications of the title is a reflection of Roberts' intention in creating the image of the rural worker as the 'Australian hero'. The Golden Fleece also has a uniquely Australian reference as the country was popularly referred to as ‘the land of the golden fleece’. This title was first coined by a well-known British journalist by the name of George Augustus Sala who referred to Australia as such.  This name was granted to Australia in reference to the significance of the Australian sheep and wool industry and its gross contribution the country's economic state.
Australia is often expressed as being ‘built on’ or as ‘riding on a sheep’s back’ in allusion to the fact that wool was the source of the countries national prosperity throughout the later centuries. The wool and pastoral industry where largely significant in Australia throughout the 17th century and in the year 1870, Australia became the world's largest wool producer.
George Augustus Sala 1894 Australia Art Gallery of New South Wales Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece station Greek mythology sheep station Tom Roberts Golden Fleece