Gwen Dolores Walsh (1914-1958) was a remarkably talented artist and although her name may not be widely known, her meticulous illustrations contributed significantly to the fields of dentistry, anthropology, and botany.

Dental Illustrations
The CALHN Health Museum holds a collection of 72 hand-drawn dental illustrations by Gwen Walsh, depicting various aspects of dental anatomy, including cross-sections of jaws, teeth, skull structures, the palate, and facial muscles. Between 1949 and 1957, Gwen created these detailed and precise drawings, which likely served as teaching aids at the University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Dental School. Some of the illustrations have pencil markings on the reverse, indicating dates and additional notes.



Early Career
Gwen’s artistic talents were most likely influenced by her father, a designer and architect, as well as her mother, who was also an artist. She worked for several years as a draftsperson in her father’s business before doing scientific illustration.
In 1941, Gwen joined the staff of the South Australian Museum as an artist and photographer, where she developed a passion for Egyptology. Her illustrations were primarily used for museum records and scientific research rather than public display. Her tasks ranged from painting reconstructions of Egyptian figures to creating microscopic sketches of rare insects. She designed backgrounds for museum exhibits and was also responsible for photographing Aboriginal skeletal remains.
Collaboration with Dr Thomas Draper Campbell
Gwen worked closely with Dr Thomas Draper Campbell, a prominent figure in both dentistry and anthropology. Dr Campbell, who graduated in dentistry from the University of Adelaide in 1921, became Superintendent of the Dental Department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1926 and later Dean of the School of Dentistry in 1938. His extensive research on Aboriginal anthropology led to expeditions where Gwen assisted in collecting artefacts and documenting findings.
Their professional relationship extended beyond the museum. Gwen accompanied Dr Campbell on exploratory trips into the interior of Australia. During these trips, she honed her ability to identify significant artefacts among Aboriginal camp remains.

Photograph courtesy of South Australian Museum
Transition to the University of Adelaide
She resigned from the museum in 1949 to take up a position at the University of Adelaide in the Department of Anatomy. Some of the projects she worked on included maps and text figures for research such as ‘Studies on the Epidemiology of the 1947-1948 Epidemic of Poliomyelitis in South Australia’ by R.V. Southcott, N.D. Crosby, and N.S. Stenhouse, published in The Medical Journal of Australia on 1 October 1949.

Ca 1950. Courtesy of The University of Adelaide
In 1951, she was one of two women from the University of Adelaide who went on a three-week anthropological expedition, led by Dr Campbell, then Director of the University Dental School, to Yuendumu Native Settlement, about 200 miles north-west of Alice Springs.
A Passion for Scientific Documentation
Even during her holidays, Gwen’s passion for scientific exploration remained evident. In 1947, she accompanied Dr and Mrs Campbell, along with their friends Mr and Mrs Johnson, on a trip to Victoria. During this trip, they made a notable stop at Penola, where they discovered Aboriginal stone tools.
In 1948, at the suggestion of Honorary Botanist J.B. Cleland, Gwen began producing watercolour sketches of South Australian fungi for scientific documentation. Over time, she completed 120 highly detailed illustrations, some of which were later reproduced in colour to accompany scientific papers by Cleland and J.R. Harris.

Despite passing away at the young age of 44 in 1958, Gwen Walsh played an important role in documenting medical, anthropological, and botanical findings in South Australia. Her dental illustrations stand as a testament to her meticulous attention to detail, precision, and dedication to scientific accuracy.
Written by Margot Way, CALHN Health Museum
(Information sourced from Trove, Ancestry, State Library of South Australia and SA Health Museum collection. Copies of all newspaper articles and other relevant documents are available on request).