The reframing of Streeton Frosty noon, formerly The Centre of The Empire, c.1901, was a relatively early project in the reproduction frame program of the NGV.
The painting was acquired in 1986. It is one of a pair representing the subject, the other being in a private collection.
The former framing consisted of a thin classical style moulding, stained dark. The proposed reframing was to use a fluted scotia classical revival frame.
A number of John Thallon versions of this frame appear on paintings in the collection.
The reproduction frame was made in 1989 using composition mouldings for the torus, back edge, inner edge and mitred corners. The fluting was cut by hand.
A photograph was eventually located in the archives of the Art Gallery of New South Wales which shows the other version of the painting, when owned by Baldwin Spencer, in a classical revival scotia frame very similar to the one made for the NGV painting but with a plain rather than fluted scotia.
The archival evidence eventually re-enforced a decision that had been made on a broad rather than specific historical precedent.