Coach House Gallery
The Coach House is located at 3A Farmer Street, Kiama.
Although no longer operating as a gallery, remains the home of the Kiama Art Society.
A History of the Coach House
The site on which the Coach House stands formed part of Thomas Chapman’s Hartwell Estate, made up of purchases from Thomas Dawson and Thomas A. Perry in 1855, William Francis in 1857 and nine acres from T.S. Kendall later that same year. By 1858 Hartwell House and a coach house Stables with grooms quarters above were competed – this is now the Coach House . Access was gained by a very steep, narrow, inside stairway.
After Chapman’s death the estate was administered by trustees – Chapman’s grand niece Sarah Elizabeth Caird (nee King/Chapman) lived there until her death in 1937 and with permission of the trustees her daughter Helen Kay Caird remained there for the next 8 years.
In 1945 the property was purchased by Mr. H. Brown and Mr. W.K. Young and leased to various tenants, the Coach House being used as a joinery shop. In 1947 Hartwell House and the surrounding land was bought by Kiama Municipal Council, they subdivided and resold the remainder to Mr. & Mrs. Twamley in 1949. Between this time and when they sold it to the Dr. Barnardo’s Homes in 1959 the Twamleys subdivided the area know as Hartwell Crescent to pay for renovations to the house.
In 1962 the rear section was bought by Mr. & Mrs. A. Spackman, and, on formation of the Kiama and District Art Society in 1966 – Mr. A.J. Woodcock, President, Miss Gladys McKellar, Hon. Secretary, and Mr. John Spouszta, Hon. Treasurer. The formation of the Society was possible only because of the generosity of the Spackmans who gave the Society the use of the top floor of the building for use as a gallery and meeting place. The original members of the Society worked hard in repairing and restoring the room and converting it into a gallery.
The gallery was officially opened at the first exhibition of the Kiama and District Art Society by the May or Kiama, Mr. H.J. Pearce on the 14th December, 1966.
In 1975 the gallery was in danger of sale and possible demolition. In order to ensure the continuation of the Society and preservation of the building, grants were obtained from the Federal and State Government for the Kiama Council to purchase the land and renovate the Coach House. The gallery was closed in October 1980, renovated by Council and re-opened by the Mayor, Ald McKinnon on the 27th March, 1981.
The Kiama Art Society became incorporated on the 18th of August, 1988.
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History of the Kiama Art Society Inc.
The Kiama Art Society was formed in 1966 as the Kiama and District Art Society. Mr and Mrs Alan Spackman generously allowed the use of the upper floor of the old Hartwell House stables at 3A Farmer Street as a meeting and exhibition venue. The founding members worked hard to repair and restore the room and turn it into a gallery. The first exhibition of member’s paintings was opened on 14th December 1966 and the gallery is still in use today with exhibitions changing four times a year.
The first president was Arthur J. Woodcock followed in 1969-70 by George Bristow. Dick Moss was elected in 1970 and served until 1984. During his presidency in 1979, the first open Annual Exhibition was held in the Kiama Showground Pavilion with the main sponsors being the Peter Stuyvesant Foundation and Kiama Council, who continued their sponsorship until 1988 when there was an outcry against tobacco company sponsorships.
From 1980 the major award for the best overall painting in the exhibition had become acquisitive, the painting being retained by Kiama Council.
The Kiama Leagues Club (formerly The Group 7 Leagues Club) in 1989 became the major sponsor for the 11th and subsequent Annual Exhibitions which have been held in their auditorium. Since that date the overall prize winning paintings have been retained by the Kiama Leagues Club and displayed in various parts of the club complex.
Fred Nolan became President in 1984 and after his untimely death in 1986 Elaine Colefax held the reins until leaving the district in 1990. Jim Evans succeeded and has continued in that capacity except for two years when Mark Halley & Len King filled the position. Jim stepped down in 2003 with the presidency now in the capable hands of Norm Gilmour.
The Annual Exhibitions have gone from strength to strength. The total prize money has risen from $775 in 1979 to $7,800 in 2004 due to the generosity of our many sponsors. The major overall prize, donated by the Kiama Leagues Club rose to $2,500 in 1994. The 18th Exhibition in 1996 saw a second overall prize of $1,000, donated by Cleary Brothers and 1997 saw the introduction of a third overall prize of $500, donated by the Kiama Council. The People’s Choice Award was introduced in 2000 and 2003 saw the introduction of two new Young Artist’s sections, ages 12 years and under and ages 13 to 18 years.
We have had many hard working Exhibition Convenors over the years and our thanks go out to them and to our present Convenor Carole Johnston whose organising skills are sure to make our exhibitions a continued success
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Phone: 02 4232 3420 Fax: 02 4232 3420 |
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