The Dining Room Project - Seeking expressions of interest

This year at Birregurra Easter Arts was the "Parlour Room Project". 

Eleven incredibly clever artists created beautiful tailored pieces of work referencing the history of the room at Tarndwarncoort Homestead.




Next.....for Birregurra Easter Arts at the Homestead....the "Dining Room Project"!


Birregurra Community Arts Group is putting the call out to artists to take on the challenge.

Each piece of work will be displayed in the Dining Room at Tarndwarncoort over the course of the Birregurra Easter Arts weekend—held on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of March 2016.

If you are interested, email birreartsgroup@gmail.com or call Fiona on 5236 2464 and we will send you the guidelines for the project. Expressions of interest by 1st December 2015.

Works must be original and somehow reference the Tarndwarncoort Dining Room. While we suggest you reference the room and homestead’s history, furnishing, past or present use, colour or character associated with the room, this shouldn’t limit your imagination. Artists are allowed full and unfettered expression of their interpretation of the room and its atmosphere as an inspiration. Soundscapes are welcome.

Artists are encouraged to visit the room by arrangement with the owners and spend some time at the homestead to take photographs. The homestead is used as a venue for weddings and hosted weekends,so advanced notice will be appreciated. Contact Tom Dennis on homestead.australia@bigpond.com or call (03) 5233 6241.



The wing was designed by Colac based architect, Alexander Hamilton. He was a profilic architect and builder around Colac and the Western District at this time, often rolling out similar designs. In fact, another Dennis famly property near Mortlake, Eeyuek, has a near identical look. Hamilton constructed the former Post Office and Shire Hall in Colac amongst others. The quality of the stonemasonry is credit to the Scottish labourers of the time who worked with in this style in their homeland.

On the walls of the Dining Room are the owners of the property since European settlement in 1840, and also in painted form, parents who stayed behind in Cornwall. The Dining table was made in 1875 out of Australain Cedar and has never left the room. All of the people behind the protraits on the wall have sat around the Dining table at some point, sharing many Christmases and special occasions.