Eltham is unearthing the hidden stories of its visionary women art pioneers

Montsalvat, Dunmoochin, Baldessin Studio, and Garambi Baanj/Laughing Waters – four hubs that have spent decades as quietly bewitching havens for artists – are united in this sprawling exhibition running until 1 March in Eltham.

Buried tales of visionaries are erupting from the Barn Gallery walls, with rarely-seen works and hidden histories of the women who helped shape Australia’s artistic landscape now finally getting their moment.

The opening night on 6 February saw Amanda Grant, Cath Rutten, and Sarah Hammond unveil the Women of Montsalvat project, sharing hidden histories of pioneering women, upcoming front-gate sculpture designs, and songs honouring these long-unsung legends. The energy that kicked things off continues to burn every Friday throughout February with a free In-Conversation series spanning history, intrigue, and contemporary art.

Women of the Badlands – Eltham

• When: Now to Sunday 1 March, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
• Where: Barn Gallery, Montsalvat, 7 Hillcrest Ave, Eltham

Upcoming In-Conversation events:

• Friday 13 February: In Conversation with artists from Dunmoochin
• Friday 20 February: In Conversation with artists from Laughing Waters/Garambi Baanj
• Friday 27 February: In Conversation with artists from Baldessin Studio

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All Friday events run 6 pm to 8 pm at Montsalvat, 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham.

Nillumbik, meaning “bad land” or “shallow earth,” has cultivated a one-of-a-kind creative realm over generations; a place of collaboration, camaraderie, and bold creation. These four hubs lit the fuse for so much of Australia’s artistic explosion, and Women of the Badlands finally drags those stories into the light.

Entry to the Eltham exhibition is free, and so are the Friday night talks.

For more information, head here.