Hopewood House in Bowral: A Dream for Art Enthusiasts

Hopewood House’s fairytale-esque scenes and art collections are much to admire – yet if we had to pick just one highlight it would undoubtedly be its artworks.

Hopewood Estate boasts four cottages, gardens and pavilion. Few private art collections could match its scale; however, Tim Storrier (an Australian artist renowned for his paintings of Australia’s Outback) and wife Janet are up to the challenge of maintaining this 136-year-old Victorian estate as custodians of Hopewood.

Tim’s art now fills most of the halls, though you’ll also find originals from John Olsen and sculptures by English artist Nigel Boonham as well as pieces created by friends of the Storrier family.

Tim and Janet live in a stunning gallery-style residence, while four cottages and studios that can be rented as vacation or wedding party rentals are equally beautiful. Each is named for one of Tim’s works – Mandalay, Serendipity Wayfarer Arcadia- and are filled with original pieces as well as prints that will leave you breathless.

Tim’s own work is created at the pavilion studio. While not striving to replicate scenes from the surrounding Southern Highlands landscape (some appear closer to his birthplace of Wellington NSW), he finds the serenity and solitude of this estate ideal for painting.

Janet raves: “Tim is in his studio every single day doing what he loves – he truly is one of the luckiest men I know!”

Tim Storrier original paintings start at $25,000 and can be found through Artloft, Australian Galleries and Philip Bacon Galleries. By appointment only, visitors may view his studio gallery located within the pavilion.

Hopewood Editions sells Storrier limited edition prints and sculptures starting from $700 if your savings have already been used on buying a new home.

If these walls could speak, we might learn so much more! While the art is indeed captivating, our home offers us many other surprises too.

Established by pastoralist Ben Osborne and Lucy Throsby in 1884, it eventually came under the control of Lebbeus Hordern of the Hordern family legacy; which has left its mark all across Sydney.

Each of the Hordern brothers owned grand townhouses – Retford, Milton and Hopewood – as well as country homes in the Southern Highlands; Lebbeus particularly liked Hopewood House for weekend visits.

Janet and Tim purchased their home in 2012 after first setting eyes upon it six years prior. Though living in Bathurst at the time, one look at this property (Janet specifically was drawn in by its gardens) made them want it – and quickly become interested.

“I drove about three and a half hours from Bathurst,” she recalls, and then shared her discovery with Tim. When he saw it for himself, he fell instantly in love. Six years later, we bought it.”

Hopewood House under the Storriers’ influence has witnessed an exciting surge of art and magic since their arrival. But they aren’t the first owners of Hopewood to leave behind an incredible narrative story.

Lebbeus Hordern would throw extravagant parties on his grounds – which at that time covered over 700 acres – arriving by private plane. He took great pride in maintaining it, employing a German gardener as caretaker.

This gardener planted some of the majestic trees still standing today – including 100-year-old Japanese Maples, Magnolia Soulangeana flowers, Pin Oaks, Conifers, and an intriguing canopy of knotted gum trees – forming an engaging mix of exotics and natives.