Last week we stayed in Ballina for a reunion, one of our outings was to visit the Tweed Regional Gallery and the Margaret Olley Art Centre. It was a 45 min drive from Ballina to Murwillumbah situated in the rolling hills of the hinterland of the NSW North Coast. The gallery is built on top of a hill with stunning views.
The first thing we found was the.....coffee shop of course. I just loved the views and it was a lovely warm Autumn day.
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Mt Warning in the distance, was formed from a volcanic plug millions of years ago. It is situated close to Byron Bay the most easterly point of Australia. Therefore, the mountain is the first place in Australia to receive the suns rays each day.
After coffee we perused the interesting art works. Inside the gallery there is an amazing structure. The house of a famous artist has been rebuilt. Margaret Olley (1923-2011) a famous Australian and international artist was born in Lismore not far from here. However, she lived in many places including Brisbane, Sydney, London and Paris. Her last place of abode was in a converted hat factory in Sydney. Parts of this house was transported and rebuilt in this Gallery.
It is filled with her belongings and replicated as it was. It was amazing.
The Yellow Room (and my reflection in the mirror)
It was just as she left it. Filled with interesting things to see according to Margaret.
Just one of the many paintings by Margaret Olley.
Soon it was time to leave and drink in one more gaze of the fabulous view before we go to Byron Bay for lunch.(next post)
I can't believe it is five years since she died. The re-creation is terrific. We could never describe her as minimalist. From junk comes art. It is a very pretty and green area you were in.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a documentary about Margaret Olley not so long ago Diane, she was a wonderful artist and quite a character. Would love to see this re-creation. The gallery is in the most incredible spot, oh la! That view!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a documentary about Margaret Olley not so long ago Diane, she was a wonderful artist and quite a character. Would love to see this re-creation. The gallery is in the most incredible spot, oh la! That view!
ReplyDeleteIt can always more worse I see, sometimes I think we have to much stuff at home, but when I see those rooms here it is peanuts at our place....:) Must have been a lot of work to replace the rooms into the gallery, but nice to look at for the visitors.
ReplyDeleteWhat a view. And I love the whimsicallity of the artists home. Wouldn't it have been fun to know this woman!
ReplyDeleteFILLED for sure! LOVE the view! wow!
ReplyDeleteAwesome views there. Love the gallery, would look in there for ages..
ReplyDeletethat view is gorgeous and i could sit and drink coffee and drink in the view for hours. there are many beautiful things hiding in all that clutter.. i would have to snap and run, i like my rooms to look like your hubbys new office.
ReplyDeleteTop green landscape and super wide picture of the building.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Worth going just for the view. Absolutely spectacular.
ReplyDeleteA great panorama of the gallery and the views are wonderful! My husband would go mad in Margaret's house, but I enjoyed poking around in your photos to see what she collected.
ReplyDeleteWow! It all looks fabulous. I'd love to visit there.
ReplyDeleteSo she was no minimalist then? Chuckle. I didn't know that about Mt Warning- interesting. Love the lush green view too x
ReplyDeleteAs interesting as her rooms were, I am amazed by that gorgeous view!! Beautiful mountains
ReplyDeleteThere is a one hour special on Margaret Olley on Sunday evening
ReplyDeleteon the ABC that Australian viewers may be interested in.
Colin
The rebuilt rooms are interesting, but I really like the setting of the museum.
ReplyDeleteI've never explored that area. Now I know I must next time I visit. Beautiful views and a fabulous gallery.
ReplyDeleteQuite fascinating. Margaret Olley must have been a very interesting person to know. One of my cousins has had exhibitions of her work at this gallery but I have never been to it - yet. Beautiful countryside - I grew up on a farm which looked towards Mt Warning from the other side.
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, the view is fabulous! The gallery and replica of the artist's home is neat. I like the your reflection shot. Great series. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Olley lived a couple of streets away from me in Paddington (the Sydney one, not the Brissie one). She had lived there for 30-40 years. It was an intruiging mess, with an up-turned tinnie in the front garden. She had been an alcoholic earlier in her life, and she suggested that, along with style, the other reason for all her stuff was so that she had something to hold onto when she toppled.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! So much to see in the reconstructed house of Margaret Olley!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great balcony for your coffee Diane ... the views are stunning. I remember seeing a portrait of Margaret Olley by Ben Quilty a few years ago .... she certainty has an eclectic collection of bits and pieces.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing place you visited Diane. Loved those spectacular views and the reconstruction was impressive. I enjoyed her artwork also.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous place... I could just sit there and enjoy the beauty for HOURS. Margaret Oiley must have been a very interesting lady and obviously a wonderful painter. Wow---what a talented lady!!! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
I love that you visit all these interesting places and take us along!!!!! Absolutely fascinating!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful landscape and an interesting home ! At least it looks cozy/messy !
ReplyDeleteWhat a talent! Love the piece of the child holding the lollipops in front of her eyes. You visit the most interesting places.
ReplyDeleteWhat a view! And how nice to enjoy it with coffee. I have seen photos of the artist's home before and my first thought was, how did she keep it all clean and dusted?!! I do love her paintings though.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a house. What an interesting woman she much have been.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed sharing your trip to the Gallery and Art Centre. I'd heard that Margaret Olley's house was being re-created... it was fun seeing all her little knick knacks, and those comfy chairs she loved.
ReplyDeleteWonderful views too, a lovely spot all round :D)
The artist's house was amazing! I love creative clutter! It reminds me of the home of an artist in Birmingham, AL that I knew many years ago. The museum must have been a great place to visit. The views are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis gallery is on my bucket list. I really want to see the Ollie rooms.
ReplyDelete