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Eltham and art just go together; with the famous impressionist artist Walter Withers once a resident in the area; his glorious landscapes captured the soft light and rich colors of the surrounding region on canvas¡V it is therefore not surprising that Eltham is the home to Australia¡¦s oldest artist community.<> In 1934 the artist and architect Justus Jorgensen trekked out to Eltham to design a studio for a fellow artist. Amongst the rolling hills and towering eucalyptus trees, Justus discovered the perfect property to serve as an artist¡¦s retreat. The early days of the artist community, as described by Justus son, Sigmund Jorgensen, the community¡¦s current director, sound both exciting and exhilarating. Art students would journey up by train from Melbourne at weekends to help build the cottage and farm buildings. In the evenings, the group would retire to the campfire to enjoy good food and stimulating conversation about art, life¡K.. In return for their volunteer efforts, Justus would conduct painting classes plein air on the Sunday¡¦s.<> The property provided not only artistic inspiration but also inspired the design and architecture of the buildings. Excavation on the property produced the materials to create the unique earth walls that populate the grounds. This European influence in the style of construction can also be seen in the slate roof and the high pitched ceiling. Creative use of recycled materials also became a feature of the buildings, with window pelmets of various buildings, and the spiral staircase in the Chapel from the famed Tivoli theatre.<> With students quarters built between the world wars, now home to an exhibit on the history of the community, painters and artists started to live in residence on the property.<> The community attracted painters, sculptors, writers and conservationists with its encouragement of new ideas and frank discussions on new philosophies. But posturing and ¡§navel gazing¡¨ were not encouraged, application and practice of new ideas were strongly promoted.<> The famed landscape designer Alistair Knox, who was drawn to the community after the Second World War, experimented and developed his ideas of building design that harmonized with the surrounding landscape on the property.<> Other well known artists to have been part of the community include the painter Clifton Pugh, conservationist John Busst and sculptor Helen Lempriere. Helen is best remembered today for the Helen Lempriere National Sculptor Award that is displayed annually at Werribee Mansion. However her own elegant clay works came be founded throughout the grounds and gardens of Montsalvat.<> Another to make Montslvat his home was the writer and Bulletin newspaper editor, Mervyn Skipper. Father-in-law to Justus Jorgensen, he wrote a series of children¡¦s stories in the 1930¡¦s that incorporated lessons and themes of environmental conservation. It is the title of one of these stories, ¡§The Meeting Pool¡¨ that Monsalvat¡¦s courtyard restaurant takes its name.<> In the late 1950¡¦s the community opened to the public, allowing visitors to experience the grounds and view the art being created by the residents. Then in the late 60¡¦s, this was formalized into organized exhibitions and showings.<> The community has evolved from this first simple student built cottage to include a collection of galleries, studios, a vineyard, even a chapel. The property is still an active artists community, with currently over a dozen craftsmen and artists in resident. Amongst these are textile artist Sue Thomas, jeweler Simon Baigent and guitar maker Chris Wynne. Chris has an active and bustling studio at Montsalvat where he guides and instructs his students to create their own unique guitars. The works of these artists can be viewed in the communities ¡§Residents gallery¡¨.<> Alongside Settled alongside the Barn Gallery, aptly named spacious gallery that regularly houses art exhibits as well as playing host to an eclectic range of concerts, performances and readings throughout the year.<> In keeping with its early history of providing good food amongst this tranquil setting and inspiring art, the ¡§Meeting Pool¡¨ restaurant is an ideal location for coffee and cake or a leisurely lunch in the shady bluestone paved courtyard. Chief David Ballenger and his staff couple dishes such as exotic mushroom risotto, duck breast salad and shiraz poached figs with a wide selection of wines from the neighboring Yarra Valley. Don¡¦t mind the friendly family of peacocks that wonder amongst the restaurant diners ¡V they are as beautiful and charming as Montsalvat itself.<>

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