New Art Exhibition Opens at Camden Art Gallery

'Portraits of Camden' Exhibition Opening

A new art exhibition, 'Portraits of Camden', was opened in Camden at the Alan Baker Art Gallery in John Street on Thursday 12 March 2020 by Camden Mayor Theresa Fedeli.

The cover of the exhibition catalogue 'Portraits of Camden' that is open between March and August 2020.. 

The exhibition 'Portraits of Camden' celebrates the second anniversary of the opening of the gallery.

Camden Mayor Theresa Fedeli opens the 'Portraits of Camden' exhibition on Thursday 12 March 2020. (I Willis) 

The exhibition celebrates the contribution of Alan Baker to the Camden art scene in the early 1970s  through the Camden Art Group.

The Camden Art Group met in the classroom of Ken Rorke at Camden Public School in John Street Camden.

The assembled audience at the exhibition opening was addressed by an original member of the Camden Art Group Nola Tegel.

Original member of the Camden Art Group Nola Tegel tells the audience stories about how Alan Baker guided the budding artists in the art works. (I Willis)

The artworks hung at the exhibition are a variety of subjects in charcoal drawn by Alan Baker at the Camden Art Group sessions.

A keen art enthusiast admires the artwork of Alan Baker at the 'Portraits of Camden' exhibition opening. (I Willis)

A guest at the exhibition opening writing their thoughts on Mr Rorke's classroom blackboard in the gallery. Ken Rorke initiated the Camden Art Group in the 1970s. Workshops and lessons were held in his classroom at Camden Public School. (I Willis)

The 'Portraits of Camden' exhibition runs from March to August 2020 at the Alan Baker Art Gallery. The gallery in located in the 19th century gentleman's town house Macaria in John Street Camden.

The assembled have dispersed for refreshments and eats after the formalities have finished at the exhibition opening in the Macaria forecourt in John Street Camden. Macaria is a wonderful 19th century gentleman's townhouse. It is one of the few 19th colonial buildings open to the public in Sydney's south western suburbs. (I Willis)

The Alan Baker Gallery is located at 37 John Street, Camden. 

Learn more about the life of Alan Baker the artist, the Camden Art Group and the house history of Macaria. 

Read more about Alan Baker and the Camden Art Group in Camden History from those budding young artists who participated in the lessons and workshops in the 1970s. 

The signage the fronts the Alan Baker Art Gallery in the 19th century gentleman's town house of Macaria in John Street Camden. (I Willis)

Spring into artworks at Macaria

Spring Exhibition at Local Art Gallery

The Alan Baker Art Gallery in Macaria has launched a new exhibition for Spring 2019.

The exhibition has three themes:
1. Local Landscapes
2. Flora
3. A Model Wife: A Model Life.

1. Local Landscapes

Alan Baker's local landscape painting captured The Oaks and the surrounding area. Baker loved painting en plein-air with the breeze blowing in his face so he could feel the air around him and take in the environment.

Alan Baker landscape artworks at Macaria 2019 (I Willis)

2. Flora

The exhibition displays some of Alan D Baker's prolific flower artworks in his representational style.

3. A Model Wife: A Model Life.

Alan Baker's wife Marjorie, an artist in her own right, was his model, muse and wife. This exhibition investigates the role of the artist's model.

Alan Baker artworks of his wife Marjorie at Macaria 2019 (I Willis)

The exhibition also highlights the role of Rita Lee, one of Sydney's top artist models, who regularly worked with renowned artist Norman Lindsay. There is work by Lindsay on display.

The exhibition is part of the Unlock Camden open day at the Alan Baker Art Gallery at Macaria in John Street Camden.

Unlock The Past

Unlock Camden 2019

Camden's past is full of interesting stories about all sorts of things. What is the story of this picture? (Camden Images)

Tell us your story.

Be part of Camden’s Living History.

Camden Brass Band (Camden Images)

An appeal has been put out to the Camden community to tell people your story.

The easiest way it to use the hashtag #mycamdenstory on one of the many social media sites.

Visit the Camden Museum.

Camden Royal Hotel in Argyle Street Camden. (Camden Images)

Learn lots of stories about the past with the exciting displays and strange objects.

Experience Camden’s past, its stories, its characters and its wags. Immerse yourself in their stories.

Visit a local art gallery.

Macaria was once the offices of Camden Council and Camden Library and is now the Alan Baker Art Gallery. (Camden Images)

Learn stories told in pictures.

Local artists and others tell their own stories through sketches and painting.

Experience their world at Macaria – the Alan Baker Art Gallery in John Street Camden.

Talk to a volunteer of a local organisation.

Learn their story at their stalls in the forecourt of the Macaria in John Street Camden.

Listen to stories told in music from The Honeysippers – a bunch of local musicians.

All this is one local contribution to History Week 2019.

Preview of Alan Baker Art Collection

In July 2017 there was a preview of Alan Baker Art Collection at the Tegel Gallery at Cobbitty.

This is the invitation to the preview of the Alan Baker Collection at the Tegel Gallery, Cobbitty in July 2017. The painting used on the invitation is Alan Baker's Lady in Pink (Marjorie). Marjories was Alan's wife.

Work is coming along on the new Alan Baker Art Gallery that is going to be located in the iconic Italianate style Macaria in John Street Camden. The building is currently surrounded by scaffolding and a construction safety fence. The original chimney's are being replaced by the heritage construction company doing the restoration work. They are currently on view at the Camden Museum.

Roger Percy with latest promotional material for the Alan Baker Art Gallery at Macaria at the Tegel Gallery Cobbitty preview of the Alan Baker Collection in July 2017. Behind Roger is the Alan Baker's portrait of Majorie Alan's wife. (I Willis)

There will 77 works by Camden artist Alan Baker (1914-1987) on loan from Max Tegel and Garry Baker, Alan's son, dating from the 1930s to the 1980s.

The gallery will have themed rooms around commercial artist, still life, flowers, portraits and landscapes.

Macaria will also house the Camden Art Prize Collection for care, storage and management.

Roger Percy spoke at the Camden Historical Society on the plans for Macaria in April 2017. He outlined the progress of the project and the conceptual design of the interior and how the art works might be displayed around the walls.

It is anticipated that the gallery will open later in 2017.

The gallery will looking for a friends of the gallery and is looking for volunteers.

Macaria threatened by demolition

Macaria

37 John Street
Camden

Macaria was used by Camden Council as part of its office in 1980s (Camden Images)

In 1970 Macaria was threatened with demolition by Camden Council when it was considering the re-develop John Street. The council had purchased the Macaria site in 1965 and was considering the construction of a new council administration building.

One definition of heritage is what is valued by the community and can be handed down to the next generation. Heritage is a political concept that changes over time. What one generation considers important is not what the next generation wants to hand on to their children. Heritage is a very disposable concept. One decade something is considered important, the next it is considered worthless.

In 1970  Camden Council did not consider Macaria worthy of saving.

 Camden's historic buildings might be valued by most of the community now, but it was not always like that.

In 1970 the Camden Historical Society wrote to Camden Council to re-consider the demolition of Macaria. (Image below)

Letter from Camden Council to the Camden Historical Society dated 31 August 1970 about the possible demolition of Macaria

 The councils reply stated:

The Council of the Municipality of Camden
Box 10, PO,
Camden. 

August 31, 1970
Mrs N Blattman
Hon Secretary
Camden Historical Society
57 Menangle Road
Camden.

'MACARIA' JOHN STREET, CAMDEN.

I refer to your letter of August 17, 1970, concerning the Council's reported decision to demolish the above property in the near future, and wish to inform you that it was considered by Council at its meeting held on August 24, 1970.

Council acquired the property some 5 years ago for the purpose of providing a suitable site for a future civic administration building. The question was raised at that time as to whether the property had any architectural or historic value, which would warrant its retention. Council's Architects at the time, who were connected to the National Trust of Australia, reported to Council that 'Macaria' had no historic or particular architectural value and that its retention on these grounds could not be justified.

However, Council decided to inform the Society that it had in mind to recover and re-use bricks and sandstone from 'Macaria' as far as this is practical, with a view to preserving the present character of John Street. You might rest assured that the views of the Society and others regarding the preservation of the present character of John Street, will be fully considered by Council when the time comes for the re-development of the 'Macaria' site to take place.

Yours faithfully,
J Mack
Town Clerk

Note: The loss of Macaria was this close! John Wrigley

The National Trust of Australia (NSW) considered Macaria in the 1970s.

Macaria was considered an important historic property in the 1970s by the National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Macaria in 2016 after Camden Council moved to new office premises in Oran Park (I Willis)

Macaria's heritage importance today

Today Macaria's heritage importance is recognised as being nationally significant.

The New South Wales State Heritage Inventory states:

For a house of this scale, Macaria is among the best picturesque Gothic houses in Australia. This, when combined with its importance to Camden, makes it a building of great significance.  A fine early townhouse of distinctive and interesting architectural quality, associated with an important figure of the town's early years.

The Australian Heritage Place Inventory states:

Built 1842. For a house of this scale, Macaria is amongst the best picturesque Gothic houses in the Commonwealth of Australia. This, when combined with its importance to Camden, makes it a building of great significance.

Macaria, a Camden heritage icon.

Macaria

37 John Street, Camden, NSW 2570  Lot 1 DP 216189

Macaria. 37 John Street, Camden. c.1990 (Camden Images/John Kooyman)ca

History and Description

Macaria was built by Henry Thompson, a notable Camden identity, who took up residence in the mid 1840's. He founded the first water-driven mill at the corner of Argyle and Edward Streets and later built brick steam mills which eventually became the Camden Tweed Mills. It was for many years the home of Dr F.W. West and later of other medical doctors. Now it is owned by Camden Council and retained as part of their Civic Centre complex. The stable and barn, a small building of similar style on the southern side of the house, were demolished to allow an entranceway to the new Council building behind.  (NSW Heritage)

Macaria is an excellent example of a Picturesque Tudor-Gothic residence of brick with stone dressings, wooden fretwork on the verandahs, and high brick chimneys and gable windows. Its high pitched gable roof, which was probably once shingled, is now covered with corrugated iron. It has two single panelled timber entrance doors with a highlight window, double hung windows, ornate timber barge-boards, quoining stones and finials and pendants on the gables. (NSW Heritage)

Condition and Use

The building is in good condition.  Macaria retains good integrity and intactness.
Its current use is for the Camden Council Chambers

Heritage Significance

For a house of this scale, Macaria is among the best picturesque Gothic houses in Australia. This, when combined with its importance to Camden, makes it a building of great significance. (National Estate Database) 
The building is part of the John Street group. 
Macaria is a  fine early townhouse of distinctive and interesting architectural quality, associated with an important figure of the town's early years. (NSW Heritage)

Heritage Listing  

Camden LEP No 145

Read more about Macaria on the 

Register of the National Estate Click here
NSW State Heritage Inventory  Click here
Camden Heritage List Click here