Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum
The home of artist and author Norman Lindsay
Location	14–20 Norman Lindsay Crescent, Faulconbridge, City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
Elevation	400 metres (1,300 ft) AHD
Built	1898–1913
Owner	National Trust of Australia (NSW)
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Norman Lindsay Gallery; Maryville; Springwood
Type	State heritage (landscape)
Designated	1 March 2002
Reference no.	1503
Type	Historic Landscape
Category	Landscape - Cultural
Builders	Francis Foy; Patrick Ryan; Norman Lindsay; Rose Soady
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The Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum is a special place in the Blue Mountains, Australia. It used to be the home and farm of a famous Australian artist and author named Norman Lindsay. Today, it's an art gallery, a museum, and a popular spot for visitors.

Located in Faulconbridge, this historic site was built between 1898 and 1913. Norman Lindsay lived here with his wife, Rose Lindsay, and they both helped create the unique property you see today. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) now owns and looks after the gallery and its beautiful grounds.

The property covers about 17 hectares (42 acres) and includes a stone cottage, which was their home. There are also smaller buildings that Norman Lindsay used as his art studios for oil painting and etching. This amazing place was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002, because of its importance.

Discovering Norman Lindsay's Home

The land where the gallery stands was first owned by a local stonemason named Patrick Ryan. In 1898, he sold the property, then called "Erin-go-Braugh," to Francis Foy. Foy was the brother of a well-known Sydney businessman, Mark Foy. Francis Foy asked Ryan to build a sandstone cottage, which his family used as a stopover when traveling between Sydney and Medlow Bath.

The house, later named Maryville, was a small cottage with four bedrooms. It had a unique roof made of French tiles and a curved verandah. The kitchen was in a separate building, possibly to reduce fire risk. Over time, other small buildings were added, including a cottage for servants.

Norman Lindsay Makes it His Own

In 1912, Norman Lindsay and Rose Soady found the property. It was a bit run-down, but they saw its potential. Rose bought it at the end of that year, and in 1913, they started making many changes. They replaced old floorboards and began major renovations.

The original verandah was removed and replaced with a larger one, covered with tiles that matched the main roof. Norman, who loved classical art, even made many Grecian Ionic columns to support the verandah. They also changed the layout inside, creating a large drawing room and adding French doors.

Norman built a temporary wooden art studio first. Later, a more permanent sandstone studio was built further down the hill. This studio eventually became his Etching Studio. Near it, there was a Roman-style bath, possibly from before Lindsay's time, fed by a natural spring.

In 1915, they realized the etching studio was actually on someone else's land! So, in 1916, the Lindsays quickly bought the extra seven acres to make sure their studio was on their own property.

Art in the Garden

Norman Lindsay loved to fill his garden with sculptures. He started creating statues of human figures and mythological creatures, placing them around the property. The first statue, a standing female figure, was installed before the verandah work was finished. Later, two more figures were placed on either side of the front steps.

Between 1914 and 1916, a swimming pool was built, and the surrounding hillside was landscaped with terraces. Soon after the pool was finished in 1916, a statue of seated women was placed at its edge. Another statue, "Satyr Pursuing the Nymph," was also created and positioned.

In 1918, Norman Lindsay built his main painting studio with the help of a local man, Percy Louden. This studio was made from concrete and special bricks Norman created himself. It was a single room with a deck on one side, though the deck was later abandoned due to weather. At this point, the older studio was used only for etchings.

Family Life and More Changes

Norman and Rose married in 1920, and their daughter Jane was born soon after. This led to more changes to the house. Four new rooms were added at the back, including a nursery. The bathroom was built next to the kitchen, and the sleep-out area was enclosed with glass.

In 1924, the kitchen and bathroom were renovated and tiled in a style designed by Rose. She also tiled the doorsteps, fireplace, and front steps. A significant addition during this time was the construction of a courtyard behind the house. This courtyard became the main area for entertaining guests. A statue of a Balinese dancer was placed in the center of the courtyard.

By 1928, many garden changes had occurred. Rose removed the two figures from the front steps, replacing them with urns she bought. A winged siren statue and a bench were installed where an old roundhouse used to be.

Just before Norman and Rose traveled overseas in 1930, a passageway was built between the dining room and the bathroom. When they returned, and Norman moved to Sydney for a while, Rose made more changes. She tried to turn the studio into a gallery, but this idea didn't last.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1941, a statue of a woman drying her hair was moved to the top of the stairs leading to the swimming pool. This made space for Norman's new three-figure statue. Around 1943, statues of a satyr and a sphinx were added, marking the path to the bottom of the garden.

The property was connected to town water in 1946, which allowed Norman to build his first fountain, featuring a seahorse. The wall between the dining room and nursery was removed, creating a larger dining area.

By 1949, Norman had changed his artistic focus, so the etching studio and its seven-acre block were given to his daughter, Jane. She designed extensions to the studio to create her own house, which was completed in 1950. Jane lived there on and off until 1956.

In the late 1950s, a bushfire destroyed the shed complex. The painting studio also started leaking, so Norman moved into the main house. From then on, he used the house as his studio, working on boats in the bedroom, carpentry in the courtyard, and painting in the dining room.

In 1968, Norman installed his final statue, a fountain with a reclining woman, in the courtyard. He decided to leave the property to the National Trust of Australia. He began preparing the house to become a gallery and museum. Norman Lindsay lived on the property until he passed away in 1969 at the age of 91. His oil painting studio has been kept exactly as it was when he died, with his unfinished artworks and materials.

The National Trust Takes Over

The National Trust purchased the property in December 1970. The Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum is a unique place in Australia. Norman Lindsay created much of his important artwork here, inspired by his home and gardens. Rose Lindsay was also a key part of his artistic journey.

The gardens, filled with statues and fountains, show how Norman Lindsay's imagination shaped his surroundings. The house and garden together help us understand his creative process. Today, the property is a popular tourist spot in the Blue Mountains, known for its art, beautiful gardens, and bushwalks. There's also Lindsay's Cafe, located in what used to be Norman Lindsay's etching studio.

What You'll See

The Norman Lindsay Gallery is a beautiful sandstone building with a terra cotta tile roof. It has a verandah on three sides, perfect for enjoying the views. A special walkway with columns, called a colonnaded pergola, runs along one side. There's also an enclosed courtyard next to the kitchen.

The gardens are a wonderful mix of styles, blending Blue Mountains plants with more formal designs. Norman Lindsay and his family added their own artistic touch. You'll find many sculptures of mythological figures like nymphs, satyrs, and sphinxes, along with fountains and urns. Formal hedges guide you to specific statues, and the wide lawns are dotted with interesting trees like conifers and coral trees.

Condition and Changes

The gallery and grounds are in good condition and largely look as they did when Norman Lindsay lived there.

Over the years, some updates have been made:

• In 2008, the collection of Norman Lindsay's papers and items was organized and stored properly.
• Funding was secured to install a water tank in 2008-2009.
• In 2015, a new air-conditioning system was installed in the gallery. This helps protect the artworks by keeping the temperature and humidity just right. It also uses less energy.

Why This Place is Special

The Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's connected to Norman and Rose Lindsay, their family, and the many artists and visitors who came here. This place played a big role in Australia's art, literature, and social history in the early to mid-20th century.

The property shows how Norman and Rose Lindsay combined buildings, landscapes, and artwork into one creative vision. The gardens, with their fifteen fountains and statues, along with the art inside the house, highlight the family's artistic talent.

The landscape and statues are unique because they mix different garden styles with Norman Lindsay's special artistic ideas. The garden is filled with sculptures of mythological figures, fountains, and urns. Formal hedges and lawns with interesting trees create a park-like setting surrounded by native bushland.

Many people continue to visit the Norman Lindsay Gallery, showing how important it is to the community and to Australia's cultural story. It offers a rare chance to see how an artist's home and environment can inspire and shape their creative work.

More to Explore

• List of museums in New South Wales
• List of single-artist museums