Artists’ & Writers’ Homes in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan?

March 2, 2023 9:39 AM

Some of my favorite places in the world are preserved artists’, writers’, and collectors’ homes, including Barbara Hepworth’s garden in St. Ives, Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, UK, and the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. I love seeing work in the environment it was created, and how real creative people lived. Do you have any recommendations for these kinds of museums or historic houses in Australia, New Zealand, or Japan? Specific cities inside.

Our trip will include:

- Sydney
- Melbourne
- road-trip along the Great Ocean Road
- Adelaide
- Auckland
- Hobbiton :)
- Milford Sound
- Lake Tekapo
- Christchurch
- Tokyo
- Fukui
- Kyoto
- Hiroshima & Miyajima

Itinerary is pretty settled now!

While it’s on your mind, I wouldn’t say no to additional recommendations for:
- modern art
- fantastic vegan restaurants or dishes
- vintage or ethical clothing shops
- best wildlife viewing & birding
- “dark history” or haunted tours (Australia specifically)
- anything weird & beautiful off the beaten path
- any general tips that proved vital to you!

Thank you, international friends and world travelers!

posted by Isingthebodyelectric to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

I think you'd probably enjoy Montsalvat.
posted by flabdablet at 9:50 AM on March 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Ngaio Marsh's house in Christchurch. I haven't been; someone I know has and it sounds amazing (I am speaking as a Marsh fan - I don't know how much it appeals to others).
posted by paduasoy at 11:09 AM on March 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

I haven't actually been to these, but from Googling, some New Zealand options. Mansfield is probably our most internationally-acclaimed writer; I'd say Sargeson and Frame are among our very best.

Auckland: Frank Sargeson's House
Auckland: Colin McCahon's House (1960s painter)
Oamaru: Janet Frame's house (sadly, this is probably out of your way. Not impossible that you could get there on your way to Christchurch, and Oamaru also has a pretty cool steampunk museum that's worth a few hours of your time).
Wellington: Katherine Mansfield's House (just in case you make it that way; also the best bird viewing in NZ is undoubtedly going to be at Zealandia in Wellington).

(Artwise I think the Auckland and Christchurch galleries are fine, but nothing exceptional, though they might have an interesting exhibition when you're there).
posted by Pink Frost at 11:22 AM on March 2, 2023

If modern architecture is your thing, you may enjoy the Rose Seidler House in Sydney.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 1:49 PM on March 2, 2023

Some things that come to mind for Sydney - the Brett Whiteley Studio and, a little more whimsically, May Gibbs' Nutcote.
posted by doomsyrup at 3:07 PM on March 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

In Melbourne you’d do well to hit up Heide which includes a modern art museum, and 2 preserved historic residences of the couple that were a focal point of (i.e. bankrolled) a lot of modernist Australian painting, and hosted a lot of retreats for that scene. One’s a colonial farmhouse style building, one’s a really cool mid century modernist one designed by one of Australia’s foremost architects of the period.
posted by threecheesetrees at 3:20 PM on March 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

Great suggestions so far.

Dark history/haunted tours in Sydney:
- Razorhurst True Crime walks (more background here)
- The Justice and Police Museum
- Quarantine Station Ghost Tours (haven't done the others but have done this one, was suitably spooky)
posted by happyfrog at 6:41 PM on March 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Oh and you'll have LOTS of choices in Melbourne but probably the most famous vegan restaurant is Smith and Daughters. They also have a deli. Or if you're craving pizza try Red Sparrow Pizza. See if anything is on at Collingwood Yards while you're in the neighbourhood.
posted by happyfrog at 6:51 PM on March 2, 2023

Agree with above suggestions re Heide and Monsalvat in outer Melbourne. Also the Grainger Museum may be of interest, composer Percy Grainger didn't live there but they have all his stuff (apparently). It's a little hard to work out when they are open from the website, you might have to sign up to the mailing list?

In Hahndorf in regional South Australia I highly recommend the Heysen House, if it isn't too far out of your way!

Also in South Australia, the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary., Check out their dawn and dusk guided tours because a high proportion of Australian wildlife is most active at those times.
posted by Coaticass at 11:33 PM on March 2, 2023

Kawai Kanjiro's house in Kyoto
It is one of my favorite artist houses.
posted by mumimor at 4:50 AM on March 3, 2023 [1 favorite]