Art & Artists of the Central West

The tour starts at 10.00am on Saturday 11 May, at Central Station, Sydney.

The tour ends at c.5.30pm on Friday 17 May, at Central Station, Sydney.

We meet at Sydney Central Station at 10.00am. We depart by coach to Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains for a High Tea at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, an eccentric and legendary institution created by Sydney retailer Mark Foy in the 1920s. In the afternoon, after crossing the Blue Mountains, we visit the little-known Maiyingu Marragu indigenous rock art site near Lithgow. There are ancient ‘stencil’ paintings of hands on a rock ledge and a women’s birthing area, reminders of the very long indigenous occupation of the region before the arrival of Europeans. We continue north to Mudgee, our base for the next three nights. Dinner is in a local Mudgee Restaurant. Overnight Mudgee (HT, D)

Just north of Mudgee, the town of Gulgong retains an authentic gold rush heritage and has several places of interest. On our first stop we’ll visit Guntawang, a property that has a long rich history dating back to the very first land grant and the birthplace of Henry Lawon’s mother. We’ll then visit the Holtermann Collection of photography. The 3,500 images of the people and places of the NSW gold rush are an astounding visual record for the time. They were made for Bernard Holtermann, a German immigrant who struck it rich when he found a 153kg nugget at the Hill End goldfields in 1872. The photographs won a Silver Medal at the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle Internationale and are today recognised by UNESCO. Our next stop in Gulgong is the Henry Lawson Centre. This celebrated poet spent his childhood in the region with his mother Louisa, an influential early feminist. The Centre celebrates his life and writings. We return to Mudgee for a long lunch at The Zin House, where we’ll dine in the modern farmhouse, savouring the seasonal farm-to-plate dishes. The later afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Mudgee (B, L)

This morning we take the dramatic back road to Hill End, famous as a Gold Rush town and later as a mecca for the artists who settled in the area from the mid-1950s, seeking to capture and mythologise the spirit of the Australian bush. Thanks to these pioneering artists, the pretty village remains the home of several artists of note. On route, we visit Golden Gully, a much-painted site outside the village and enjoy a well-timed coffee break on arrival. Our first visit in Hill End is to a group of English Cottages compassionately conserved in the hands of the now owners – artist Genevieve Carroll and photographer and printmaker Bill Moseley. Taking on a 40-year lease from NSW National Parks & Wildlife in 2005, they have dedicated themselves to the property’s rebirth and their home and vintage press studio studio is now reminiscent of another time. We then visit La Paloma Pottery, established by Mexican potter Lino Alvarez with his partner – actor and performer Kim Deacon. Specialising in big pot commission work, Lino will take us through his award-winning pottery workshop before touring their adjacent 1865 wattle and daub miner’s cottage. Following a break for lunch in town, we take a stroll through Hill End in the footsteps of both fortune seekers and prominent Australian artists. Later in the afternoon, we travel along the Turon River to Sofala where we visit the home and studio of landscape painter Amanda Penrose Hart, winner of the 2017 Gallipoli Art Prize. Amanda moved from Sydney to this property, which includes stretches of the original coach road and goldfields, to paint the landscape she loves. As well as a studio visit, we enjoy a gourmet dinner cooked by the artist herself! We return to Mudgee in the late evening. Overnight Mudgee (B, D)

This morning we depart Mudgee for Bathurst, visiting the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) on arrival. One of the oldest regional galleries in NSW, BRAG is known for its collection of “Hill End” artists of the mid-20th century, including Russell Drysdale, Donald Friend and Jeffrey Smart. After a break for lunch, we then take a guided tour of historic Abercrombie House, set in stunning grounds at Stewarts Mount just west of Bathurst. This 1870s gem was home of the Morgan Family for half a century and our tour takes us through the main areas of the 50-room Scottish-baronial mansion, along with the grounds, gardens and outbuildings of the property. After checking into our hotel in the late afternoon, with time to freshen up, we then make our way to Bishop’s Court Estate – a beautifully restored property, which was once owned by the local bishop. Now owned by Christine LeFevre, our visit begins with pre-dinner drinks and canapés in the courtyard, before enjoying an elegant dinner together in the private Chapel. Overnight Bathurst (B, D)

Departing Bathurst by coach this morning, our first visit is the home and gardens of Colleen Southwell located in the picturesque Central Tablelands of New South Wales, just outside of Orange. A professional paper sculpture artist and garden maker, Colleen invites us into her tin cottage studio, hugged by her country garden, where she explains her meticulous art making process, inspired by nature, both wild and cultivated. We are then met by an indigenous elder who’ll share more about the rich and vibrant culture of the Wiradjuri nation in central New South Wales, while we sample some native Australian bush tucker foods. Our next stop is the excellent Orange Regional Gallery, re-opened in early December 2021 after an extensive refurbishment. The Orange collection includes important works by Sydney Nolan, John Olsen, Roland Wakelin and others. Later we check into our hotel, with the afternoon at leisure. Overnight Orange (B)

A later start this morning, we travel to heritage listed Millthorpe, where we take a heritage walking tour of the town, followed by some free time to explore the village and its historic buildings. After a break for lunch, we spend the afternoon sampling the award-winning Angullong Wines in their historic bluestone cellar door. With vineyards at the foothills of Mount Canobolas, an ancient volcano, this family-owned winery specialises in the vibrant, cool-climate styles common of this region. Returning to Orange, there is time to relax and freshen up in our hotel before we enjoy dinner together at the historic Union Bank Restaurant, including local wines. Overnight Orange (B, WT, D)

Departing Orange today, we make our way to the town of Portland – a ‘company town’ built to house workers at the Portland Cement Works. The Works closed in 1991, but recently a private philanthropist has purchased the entire site and is rehabilitating it as an arts and entertainment precinct, respectfully renamed The Foundations. We tour this exciting project with the site manager, and visit the foundry and studio of resident artist Harrie Fasher, now widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading sculptors. Harrie’s large scale works in steel, wood and bronze, many featuring horses, are represented in collections from Canberra to New York, and you may have seen her work in Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea over several years. Following Harrie taking us through her studio and forthcoming show, artist TC Overson then guides us through her studio – once the old bath house building where the workers showered after long shifts. Following our studio visits, there will be some time to wander around the town and spot the recreated vintage advertising signs that now adorn the local shop walls. We end our stay in Portland with a cafe lunch, before our coach takes us back to Sydney’s Central station, arriving at c.5.30pm. (B, L)