Editing Melbourne (section)

=== '''Chloe - The Icon of Melbourne''' ===

She has graced magazine covers, had wine named after her and poems written to her. She has experienced fame and adoration and has won high acclaim from critics. Chloe has kept company with artists, poets, wharfies, Prime Ministers and drunks, soldiers, sailors, celebrities, bushies, laborers and art connoisseurs. Her history involves transformation, death, intrigue, love, war, depression and passion. And still she smiles down on Melbourne. 

Chloe was brought to life in Paris in 1875 by the artist Jules-Joseph Lefebvre, a respected leading academic master of the painted nude figure in the late 1800's. Marie, a young Parisian woman, modeled for Lefebvre's Chloe at around the age of 19. Marie was a model who posed for several artists and, after throwing a party for her friends, spent her last money on poisonous matches, boiled these up, drank the concoction and painfully died. It is thought she was rejected and left destitute her long-term lover. Marie was about 21 years of age and left a small daughter, nothing is known of her fate. And we think of the French as a romantic people.

Chloe's debut at the Paris Salon - a showcase exhibition for the leading French academic masters and their prize works - was a raging success. Chloe won the Gold Medal of Honor, the greatest official award to be bestowed on a French artist and the first of three gold medals Chloe was to win. In 1879 she was the central figure in the French Gallery at the Sydney International Exhibition and at the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880; Chloe scooped the pool, winning both the highest awards and acclamation.

Chloe was then purchased by Dr Thomas Fitzgerald of Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. However, while Chloe had won the highest of critical acclaim, she had not yet won the hearts of the Melbourne people. With new Sunday opening times in effect and a naked woman at the Gallery, the Presbyterian Assembly worked themselves up into a frenzy of religious protestation. Chloe remained with Dr Fitzgerald for a further 21 years causing scandal until his death in 1908.

In 1908, Messrs Young and Jackson, who had been successful in the gold fields of New Zealand, purchased and hung her above the bar, now named after her, in their [http://www.youngandjacksons.com.au/ hotel]. Custom increased dramatically with the cultured viewing and criticism of a wholly new audience.

Chloe has kept soldiers company through two World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. She has held a special place in the hearts of Australian soldiers, as witnessed each Anzac Day when more than 2,000 people visit Young and Jackson's to have a drink in her company. During the World Wars diggers came to drink with Chloe before being shipped out. Letters were written to her from the trenches of Turkey, France, and Papua New Guinea, swearing their true love and promising to return. Many diggers during both World Wars arranged to meet their mates afterward at Young and Jackson's, if they survived.

American GI's so in love with her during World War II that plans were made to abduct her. Another GI was so besotted with Chloe that he threw a glass of beer at her exclaiming that ''he would give her something to remember him by''.

Having put up with each other for almost 100 years, Chloe and Y&J's have become inextricably linked as part of Melbourne's heritage. The National Trust and Heritage Victoria decreed several years ago that they remain bound together forever. Chloe is now raising money, for [http://www.challenge.org.au/ Challenge], a cancer support network.