28 Michael Reid and his partner Nellie Dawes were in their 40s when they decided they wanted to go back to their roots. They started looking for a forever home in the country about 24 years ago, looking as far afield as Tasmania but right under their noses Bobadil House at Murrurundi came up for sale through a relative. “It was Nellie’s great, great, great, great Grandfather’s house and it’s been in the extended family since the late 1800s. So, we bought it in 2005 and the longer we’ve lived here we realised just how much we love it. We started to gingerly develop a gallery here and look at it now.” Michael and Nellie had already established successful galleries in Surry Hills in Sydney and Berlin in Germany. Establishing a contemporary gallery in Murrurundi felt right. The grounds of Bobadil House became the Michael Reid Gallery which is now home to the contemporary gallery, a gift shop, café and gardens where you can easily spend an afternoon soaking up the sunshine and the atmosphere. Bobadil House is nestled behind towering hedges and London plane trees. As part of the rejuvenation of the grounds 80 truckloads of privet and blackberry bushes were removed making way for dormant agapanthus, iris, rosemary and hibiscus plants to grow and flower again. The Big Brown Dog Kiosk and the store are in the sandstone ruins of an old cellblock that was hidden behind truckloads of blackberry and privet. “We started the Kiosk about seven years ago. The idea was that we wanted to bring people out and get them to slow down. I don’t want people to come and breeze through and leave. I want them to have some beautiful homemade food, see a good exhibition and go through an interesting concept store – it’s a whole experience. “We curate our concept store in the same way that we curate an exhibition. We only work with interesting brands or brands that fit into our ethos which is trying to have all Australian made and designed. “We’re not here to sell you throws or lampshades, we want to sell interesting, original objects.” The Big Brown Dog is the Michael Reid Gallery’s own retail brand with everything from chutneys and jams, to candles and household items. The gallery was built in late 2017 adjacent to the old cellblock. “This Gallery is focused on nationally significant regional artists. We try to work with artists who are not urban or live in regional Australia. We have a fair bit of First Nations and artists who have representation and are well known. “We have had leading Australian artists such as Adam Cullen, David Bromley, Noel McKenna, Robert Jacks, Chris Langlois, Paul Ryan and Sally Gabori have all mounted solo exhibitions here too.” The gallery rotates every month or so and about 12 to 18 months ahead. Michael and Nellie agree their spot of paradise, hidden on the edge of the New England Highway is a great stop for locals and visitors alike. “Generally speaking, geographically half of the people who stop are from northern NSW so Moree, Narrabri, it’s about four hours’ drive and it’s another four hours to Sydney so it’s geographically handy. “Most locals are within an hour and a half drive so it’s a beautiful getaway for lunch or a even a day trip.” AMONG THE TREES An Escape Hidden behind the trees just off the New England Highway, the Michael Reid Gallery not only offers contemporary art, but it also has homemade baked goods that you can enjoy in the garden and a store with only Australian made unique gifts. The Michael Reid Gallery, Kiosk & Store are open 9:30am to 4pm every Thurs to Sun. For the latest exhibition details head to: michaelreidmurrurundi.com.au Photo credits: Michael Nicholson & Pip Farquarson
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