50 years of arts and crafts in Leongatha

A PUBLIC meeting was advertised to call a meeting at the Leongatha High School in August 1972, for an idea hatched by Mrs. Dorothy Court (now deceased). 

Thirty people came to that first meeting which was chaired by Vic Rowlands, the new art teacher at the school. 

The majority moved that an Arts and Craft Group be formed, and so the Leongatha Arts and Craft Society was born. 

The group held alternate monthly meetings and hosted a range of speakers whose talents spanned many skills. 

Exhibitions were arranged and the Old Council Chambers were rented so new members could display and sell their work. 

Membership fees were $2 and 20 per cent commission on sales was retained to pay expenses and save for a permanent venue. 

It wasn’t long before the Society secured a lease on the old Shire’s secretary office on the corner of McCartin Street and Michael Place in 1973. The space needed to be reworked and renovated to accommodate the group. 

Vic Rowlands, still a member of the group, remembered when member Peter Norton’s ladder went straight through the floor while Peter was on it repainting the walls.

Despite holding the paint tin in one hand and roller in the other, he didn’t spill a single drop on the way down, but the reno job did become a little larger. 

This venue become known as the Leongatha Gallery. 

The group’s first Competitive Art Show received a huge number of entries and panic set in amongst the members as they anticipated the arrival of 
artworks from Melbourne on the train. 

In total they received 220 paintings and 64 wall hangings and had a terrible time hanging them all, particularly as some were very long. 

A $100 special award was awarded for the best wall hanging, $100 for the best painting, and a prize was donated for the most popular exhibit. 

The Gallery committee later organised and ran an event during the Daffodil Festival, called the South Gippsland Craft Awards, which attracted entries from some of the top crafts people in the region. 

Rotary ran an art show at the same time in the hall and the gallery was emptied of all other stock while the event was on display for three weeks. 

The Society members lobbied council for a larger space and about 14 years later moved into the space directly across from the offices, where the gallery is still located now, having also recently undergone some renovations.

The Gallery is completely staffed by volunteers and remains popular among locals and visitors to the area. 

The gallery membership has changed over the years from featuring artists with exhibitions of high quality artworks to now displaying handmade multi-crafts and a few feature artworks and artists.  

A morning tea to celebrate 50 years of the Society will be held for all past and present members on Monday September 4 from 10am – 12.30pm at the Leongatha Community House. 

To attend contact Karen on 0409 387 396 or email leongathaartandcraft@gmail.com