The Nelson Meers Foundation assisted the University of Sydney’s Power Institute’s Department of Art History and Theory in the establishment of a 3 year Lectureship in Australian Art History. Whilst the Department is regarded as one of the jewels in the crown of the Faculty of Arts, budgetary constraints had created a situation where there was no specialist in nineteenth century Australian art history. The 3 year lectureship was so successful that the Department was able to obtain University funding for the position in the subsequent year.