skipper’s Studio / RESIDENCE

Built 1939/41.

Originally built as a garage, store and cool room with Justus Jörgensen's painting studio above.

The ground floor walls were made of mud brick, some second hand bricks, and timber uprights supported the floor above and roof. The walls for the floor above were made using traditional wattle and daub construction.

The west side originally had 3 garage doors and is now altered with one replaced by the bay window, the second with the large front window and the third with the green front door.

The largest of the front rooms form Matcham Skipper's residence and studios.

Matcham's display window in the archway showcased his works. See The Upper Gallery display for Matcham's jewellery display. 

To the right of Matcham's residence is Damien Skipper's residence and studio.

SCULPTUREs

WHITE MUD BRICK BARN AND STABLE STUDIOS

The main section of the building was built after the Second World War c.1947 as a hay barn/dairy. When built it was the tallest mud brick building in Eltham. The paving is recycled bricks from a racehorse stable in Flemington.

The middle of the building was originally designed as a milking shed. The upper two storage areas originally stored hay and chaff, and was constructed mainly by Matcham Skipper and his sisters Helen and Sonia. The small shed that extends towards the Glass Houses was built by Max Jörgensen, Sebastian Jörgensen, Sigmund Jörgensen and Saskia - daughter of Sonia Skipper and Arthur Munday.

In the mid 1950's the milking shed was converted into a pottery studio. To the back of the Barn on the left hand side stables were added facing Hillcrest Avenue - built in the late 1950's - early 1960's. The old stables were converted in 2006 to artist studios. Goldsmith Simon Baigent still resides and works here.

In the 70's it became a printery, and then used as a shop, gallery and residence.

A further addition created the studio/workshop to the right hand side of the Barn which was used by the "Thomas Lloyd School of Guitar Making" under Chris Wynne.

Wine making equipment bought from Chateau Yering in 1948 is stored above the guitar studio .

The fenced round yard was used for Sonia Skipper's prized bull and then by Helen Skipper who ran a pony and goat stud. For many years she exhibited her prized animals.

THE GLASSHOUSE STUDIOS

The two Glasshouses were moved here in the 50's when Mervyn Skipper ran the Montsalvat Plant Farm. The larger one to propagate and grow gardenias which he sold to a city florist. The smaller glasshouse was used for general propagation of plants. The compost bins made of mud brick and lined with bitumen were in part built by well known Australian painter Clifton Pugh who worked at Montsalvat in the 1950's.

The large glasshouse is now used by sisters Sue Thomas and Jo Ludbrook, textile designers, costumiers and dressmakers.

TOOL SHED / TACK SHED

This was used for the gardening tool shed and Helen Skipper's equipment for her horses i.e. saddles, bridles, harnesses. In the mid 1980's it was refurbished and is currently used for the gardener's, staff and volunteers, tool shed and tea room.