Visual Arts
Bundanon Art Camp 2025
At the end of last week, a group of Year 10 and Year 11 Visual Arts students travelled to Bundanon with Ms Dawson, Ms Jackson and Ms Willems for an unforgettable art experience.
Bundanon is a breathtaking property located on the land of the Dharawal and Dhurga Peoples, just outside Nowra on the South Coast. In Dharawal, Bundanon means “deep valley.” The property was once home to the acclaimed Australian Modernist painter Arthur Boyd, who settled at what was then known as “Riversdale” on the banks of the Shoalhaven River in the 1970s. Boyd built his home and studio on the site, where he worked until the end of his life.
In 1993, Prime Minister Paul Keating announced the Australian Government’s acceptance of Arthur and Yvonne Boyd’s gift of Bundanon to the Nation and the formation of the Bundanon Trust. Boyd believed that “you can’t own a landscape,” and this generous act reflects their wish for others to find inspiration in the beauty and power of this remarkable place.
The Boyd Education Centre was built by renowned architect Glenn Murcutt and completed in 1998. In 2020, construction of a new light-filled (and bushfire resistant) contemporary art museum was announced. Partially buried in the landscape, the new museum development sits at the centre of the new vision of Bundanon, with a bridge structure landing onto an expansive public plaza near the existing 19th century buildings. The new Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) buildings have enlivened Arthur Boyd’s iconic Bundanon property and provide a most exquisite place to work, stay and relax.
Below is a reflection on the trip by year 11 student Zara Eade:
“Going to Bundanon was such a special experience, with the beautiful landscape, abundant wildlife and calm, rainy atmosphere making for a truly relaxing weekend. I’m so grateful for the time I had making art and creating memories with my friends that I’ll always hold onto.”
Banner Acknowledgement: This week’s banner is an en plein air work by Year 11 student Georgia Farrow painted on the banks of the Shoalhaven River.
Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts
