Margaret Olley Centre taking shape

Construction of the Olley House, within the purpose-built Margaret Olley Art Centre extension of the Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah, has reached a stage where it is time to start relocating the collection items across from their storage site.

The aim is to create an exact reproduction of Olley’s famous Paddington home.

The $4 million Margaret Olley Art Centre is due to be officially opened next month (March).

Last month, Ballina gallery coordinator Ingrid Hedgcock was appointed as the first curator and collections manager of the new centre.

Ms Hedgcock will begin her new role next month, after working as the coordinator of the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina since 2010.

Ms Muddiman said, ‘Ingrid has achieved wonderful things during her time at the Ballina gallery, displaying many qualities that will make her a fantastic addition to the Gallery team’.

Ms Hedgcock began her career at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney and has since worked as public programs manager at the Ipswich Art Gallery and education officer at the Museum of Sydney.

She said she was thrilled at the prospect of working with the Olley collection.

The Margaret Olley Art Centre is being built as an extension of the Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah to celebrate the art and legacy of the late artist, who attended school in Murwillumbah and went on to be an icon of the Australian art scene.

The centre recreates Margaret Olley’s studio, elements of her home in Paddington and part of her invaluable collection, providing an insight into the life of one of the country’s most acclaimed and beloved artists.