Heide Museum of Modern Art and Gardens
Presenter: Melissa King
Episode: 22 (22nd September 2007)
In a mad chaotic world, two things that can provide an escape are gardens and art. These two elements come together in a very special place in Victoria. Add some great architecture and a fascinating history and you’ve got the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Bulleen.
The Bulleen area has a rich artistic history and Heide was the centre of it all. It was originally the home of John and Sunday Reed, the prominent Melbourne Art collectors. In the 1930’s it was a peaceful artists colony, a haven for greats like John Perceval, Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker who created some of their greatest work in and around the farmhouse and gardens. Sidney Nolan even painted his famous Ned Kelly series in the dining room. But it’s not just art that Heide is famous for.
Interview with Nick Harrison, Head Gardener.
Melissa:
“So Nick this is the original farmhouse and garden?”
Nick:
“Yes it is John and Sunday bought this property in 1934 and moved in soon after and started gardening straight away.”
Melissa:
“OK so what’s this area?”
Nick:
“This area we generally refer to as the heart garden and it’s their garden that exists within this walled section here.”
Melissa:
“Did a lot of the artists create masterpieces in the gardens?”
Nick:
“Oh yes and there are actually some masterpieces that feature in the garden. For instance there was a famous painting by Sidney Nolan called Rosa Mutabilis which is a Chinese rose which still grows in the property today.”
Melissa:
“One of the things that I am always drawn to when I come here is the kitchen garden, tell me a little bit about the history there.”
Nick:
“The kitchen garden was started to be planted out John and Sunday in 1967, soon after they moved into their new modern house which we call Heide Two and they did this because they grew a lot of their own food and they loved providing for others aswell with food that they grew. The gardens started to move toward a mixed borders and beds of herbaceous perennials, roses and different flowers as well as vegetables and herbs.”
Melissa:
“What have you got going on here in October which people can come and experience”
Nick:
“Each year we have a garden festival called Growingrowing Heide and that consists of walks, talks, tours and activities. We’ll also be doing a thing called a picnic culinary tour where we will be taking a number of lucky people around the garden to pick all the fresh produce and then take it to our café here and they can eat what they pick.”
If you have any artistic ideas for your garden which you would like to bring to life, check out the Garden Gurus Design, Maintenance and Advisory service at www.thegardengurus.tv
The Place:
Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe Rd
Bulleen Victoria 3105
03 98501500
www.heide.com.au
The Festival:
Growingrowing Heide 2007
13th – 21st October
7 Templestowe Rd
Bulleen Victoria 3105
03 98501500
www.heide.com.au
Episode: 22 (22nd September 2007)
In a mad chaotic world, two things that can provide an escape are gardens and art. These two elements come together in a very special place in Victoria. Add some great architecture and a fascinating history and you’ve got the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Bulleen.
The Bulleen area has a rich artistic history and Heide was the centre of it all. It was originally the home of John and Sunday Reed, the prominent Melbourne Art collectors. In the 1930’s it was a peaceful artists colony, a haven for greats like John Perceval, Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker who created some of their greatest work in and around the farmhouse and gardens. Sidney Nolan even painted his famous Ned Kelly series in the dining room. But it’s not just art that Heide is famous for.
Interview with Nick Harrison, Head Gardener.
Melissa:
“So Nick this is the original farmhouse and garden?”
Nick:
“Yes it is John and Sunday bought this property in 1934 and moved in soon after and started gardening straight away.”
Melissa:
“OK so what’s this area?”
Nick:
“This area we generally refer to as the heart garden and it’s their garden that exists within this walled section here.”
Melissa:
“Did a lot of the artists create masterpieces in the gardens?”
Nick:
“Oh yes and there are actually some masterpieces that feature in the garden. For instance there was a famous painting by Sidney Nolan called Rosa Mutabilis which is a Chinese rose which still grows in the property today.”
Melissa:
“One of the things that I am always drawn to when I come here is the kitchen garden, tell me a little bit about the history there.”
Nick:
“The kitchen garden was started to be planted out John and Sunday in 1967, soon after they moved into their new modern house which we call Heide Two and they did this because they grew a lot of their own food and they loved providing for others aswell with food that they grew. The gardens started to move toward a mixed borders and beds of herbaceous perennials, roses and different flowers as well as vegetables and herbs.”
Melissa:
“What have you got going on here in October which people can come and experience”
Nick:
“Each year we have a garden festival called Growingrowing Heide and that consists of walks, talks, tours and activities. We’ll also be doing a thing called a picnic culinary tour where we will be taking a number of lucky people around the garden to pick all the fresh produce and then take it to our café here and they can eat what they pick.”
If you have any artistic ideas for your garden which you would like to bring to life, check out the Garden Gurus Design, Maintenance and Advisory service at www.thegardengurus.tv
The Place:
Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe Rd
Bulleen Victoria 3105
03 98501500
www.heide.com.au
The Festival:
Growingrowing Heide 2007
13th – 21st October
7 Templestowe Rd
Bulleen Victoria 3105
03 98501500
www.heide.com.au
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