Early Life, Family and Training Born in the Australian town of Ballarat on 25 December 1879, Will Longstaff was shaped by the creative spirit of his surroundings. He was the cousin of the portrait painter Sir John Longstaff, a connection that placed him within a lineage of significant artistic talent. This familial tie likely provided a quiet backdrop of ambition as he began to find his own way through the visual arts. His formal edu…