Montsalvat artists community
Montsalvat is Australia's oldest artists colony, comprising a cluster of distinctive buildings set on 12 acres of established gardens in the city s far northeast. This haven housing practising artists was the vision of Justus Jorgensen, a former architect and artistic student, who spent many hours painting around Eltham.In 1935, Jorgensen purchased land on which he began building two small, French provincial style, mud-brick cottages in which he and his artist friends could stay on weekends. Three years later they built the Great Hall , which includes two galleries, a studio and large dining hall. Its cast-iron, circular staircase was procured from the demolished Bijou Theatre in Bourke Street.
Self-sufficiency became the objective during World War II. A market garden, poultry farm and dairy were established, along with a barn, stables, silos and storehouses. They have since been converted into studios and workshops, currently in use as part of Montsalvat's Artist in Residence program. Montsalvat remains a working, not-for-profit arts centre, which welcomes visitors with concerts, exhibitions and private functions, as well as a popular cafe and restaurant.
The 'recycling' of architectural scraps from demolished buildings hasn't always lead to results that were incongruous or downright ugly, though the windows of Montsalvat artists' community look right at home. Beautiful Gothic stonework windows from the Royal Insurance Building at 414 Collins Street, Melbourne, were salvaged by the Whelan the Wreckers when the building was knocked down in the 1930s and sold to Justus Jorgensen who was at the time building the Montsalvat artists' community at the time. Some of the huge windows and doorways now grace Montsalvat s Great Hall and contribute very appropriately to the feel of the place.
Location: 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham
