Laughing Waters Walk, 7 Sep 2013 This Society excursion was a follow up to the Laughing Waters Story told to us by Jane Woollard at our Annual General Meeting in March 2013. It involved a walk commencing from the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads along Laughing Waters Road to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route - a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way we visited the two artist in residence properties, River Bend and Birrarung, to view the houses on them that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community. We also able to walk around the derelict ruin which was once home to Gordon and Sue Ford, Boomerang House. An unexpected afternoon tea was offered to us by the artists in residence at Birrarung House and we had a brief opportunity to view inside the house. Birrarung is situated near the end of Laughing Waters Road. It was built in 1974 by Graeme Rose for Gordon Ford who he had asked to build him a small ‘bach’. Builder Peter Jarvis who did his apprenticeship with Alistair Knox for a couple of years recalled there were no drawings. It evolved as more funds became available. Graeme would source second-hand building materials around which he would shape the house. The fireplace was built with chicken wire over which it was rendered with faro cement. A brick floored glass studio, added later, faces a wall of boulders pressed into a manmade cliff, a large pond the link between the rock wall and glass studio. A waterfall, fed by river water, no longer functions. The property became part of the Laughing Waters Artist in Residency Program with the first artist taking up residency in 2001. For a more in-depth description of the property and biographies of the various artists in residence commencing from 2001 through to 2015, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.2013-09-07, activities, artists in residence, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, jim connor collection, laughing waters road, birrarung house

Laughing Waters Walk, 7 Sep 2013 This Society excursion was a follow up to the Laughing Waters Story told to us by Jane Woollard at our Annual General Meeting in March 2013. It involved a walk commencing from the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads along Laughing Waters Road to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route - a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way we visited the two artist in residence properties, River Bend and Birrarung, to view the houses on them that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community. We also able to walk around the derelict ruin which was once home to Gordon and Sue Ford, Boomerang House. An unexpected afternoon tea was offered to us by the artists in residence at Birrarung House and we had a brief opportunity to view inside the house. Birrarung is situated near the end of Laughing Waters Road. It was built in 1974 by Graeme Rose for Gordon Ford who he had asked to build him a small ‘bach’. Builder Peter Jarvis who did his apprenticeship with Alistair Knox for a couple of years recalled there were no drawings. It evolved as more funds became available. Graeme would source second-hand building materials around which he would shape the house. The fireplace was built with chicken wire over which it was rendered with faro cement. A brick floored glass studio, added later, faces a wall of boulders pressed into a manmade cliff, a large pond the link between the rock wall and glass studio. A waterfall, fed by river water, no longer functions. The property became part of the Laughing Waters Artist in Residency Program with the first artist taking up residency in 2001. For a more in-depth description of the property and biographies of the various artists in residence commencing from 2001 through to 2015, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.2013-09-07, activities, artists in residence, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, laughing waters road, birrarung house, fay bridge collection

April Meeting (Newsletter No. 227, Apr. 2016) At this meeting we are pleased to have as our guest speaker Jane Woollard, who has just published a book titled ‘Laughing Waters Road: Art, Landscape and Memory in Eltham.’ Jane was the local history officer at the Shire of Nillumbik so has a detailed knowledge of the history of our area. She has an extensive background as a writer, theatre director and teacher. As well as directing over 50 productions Jane has been a tutor and guest director at the Victorian College of the Arts and La Trobe University and was Artistic Director of the Union House Theatre at the University of Melbourne. Since 2001 more than eighty artists have been in residence at Laughing Waters in Birrarung House and Riverbend. In her book Jane has woven together their experiences and art making, together with Wurundjeri, European and family histories to create an evocative account of a very special place in Eltham.AGM 0:21:48 duration Digital MP3 File 29.9 MB Jane Woollard 0:47:13 duration Digital MP3 File 66 MB audio recording, birrarung house, eltham district historical society, jane woollard, laughing waters, riverbend, shire of nillumbik, society meeting, wurundjeri

"Laughing Waters has been a source of inspiration for many artists and designers, and was a natural extension of the dynamic art and lifestyle movement that began in the 1930s at Montsalvat. It was also an important site in the development of the Melbourne art scene in the 1960s and '70s, especially the earth building movement known as the Eltham Style. Since 2001 more than eighty artists have been in residence at Laughing Waters in Birrarung House and Riverbend. Their experiences and art making are woven together with Wurundjeri, European and family histories to create an evocative account of a special place in a bushy outer suburb of Melbourne." -- back cover. Eltham District Historical Society is acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section of this book.264 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ISBN 9780994486707laughing waters, eltham, yarra river, artists, killeavey, mud bricks

Laughing Waters Walk, 7 Sep 2013 This Society excursion was a follow up to the Laughing Waters Story told to us by Jane Woollard at our Annual General Meeting in March 2013. It involved a walk commencing from the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads along Laughing Waters Road to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route - a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way we visited the two artist in residence properties, River Bend and Birrarung, to view the houses on them that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community. We also able to walk around the derelict ruin which was once home to Gordon and Sue Ford, Boomerang House. An unexpected afternoon tea was offered to us by the artists in residence at Birrarung House and we had a brief opportunity to view inside the house. River Bend was designed and built by Alistair Knox for Rosemary and Bill Cuming in 1968. It sits in a deep cutting on a steep slope above the Yarra River and features floor to ceiling windows and glass doors set into mission brown timber frames and walls of reclaimed bricks in pinkish hue. Rosemary laid the brick paving around the house, a copy of the shell paving found in the ancient French town of Colmar, where the family had lived for a period. The kitchen was equipped with a 1960s stove as well as a cast iron wood stove reclaimed from Rosemary's sister's home in Armadale. Max and Tini Huygens, migrants from Holland, purchased the property in 1975 and named it Tilwinda from an Aboriginal word meaning 'hole in a rock'. In late 1981 Tini died after a short illness, but Max continued to live at Tilwinda until he moved to a retirement village in 2000 and the property was sold to Parks Victoria. Renamed River Bend, the property became part of the Laughing Waters Artist in Residency Program in 2008. Nillumbik Shire Council upgraded the property in 2012 with solar panels, a heat pump for hot water and double glazing to improve the comfort of the artists in residence and make the house more energy efficient. For a more in-depth description of the property and biographies of the various artists in residence commencing from 2008 to 2015, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.2013-09-07, activities, artists in residence, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, jim connor collection, laughing waters road, river bend house

Laughing Waters Walk, 7 Sep 2013 This Society excursion was a follow up to the Laughing Waters Story told to us by Jane Woollard at our Annual General Meeting in March 2013. It involved a walk commencing from the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads along Laughing Waters Road to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route - a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way we visited the two artist in residence properties, River Bend and Birrarung, to view the houses on them that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community. We also able to walk around the derelict ruin which was once home to Gordon and Sue Ford, Boomerang House. An unexpected afternoon tea was offered to us by the artists in residence at Birrarung House and we had a brief opportunity to view inside the house. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.2013-09-07, activities, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, jim connor collection, laughing waters road, boomerang house, gordon ford

Laughing Waters Walk, 7 Sep 2013 This Society excursion was a follow up to the Laughing Waters Story told to us by Jane Woollard at our Annual General Meeting in March 2013. It involved a walk commencing from the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads along Laughing Waters Road to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route - a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way we visited the two artist in residence properties, River Bend and Birrarung, to view the houses on them that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community. We also able to walk around the derelict ruin which was once home to Gordon and Sue Ford, Boomerang House. An unexpected afternoon tea was offered to us by the artists in residence at Birrarung House and we had a brief opportunity to view inside the house. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.2013-09-07, activities, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, jim connor collection, laughing waters road, boomerang house, gordon ford, gordon's shack, love shack

This old footbidge is situated close to the shack that Gordon Ford built on the Yarra at Laughing Waters Road. Bernie Bragg also used to live there for a period of time. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.fay bridge collection, bernie's hut, birrarung, footbridge, gordon ford, gordon's shack, laughing waters road, love shack, yarra river

Laughing Waters is the name for a stretch of the Yarra Valley Parklands consisting of river flats and hilly riparian bushland. With Birrarung (Yarra River) flowing through, Laughing Waters has been an important gathering place for thousands of years. For the Wurundjeri, ‘Garambi Baan’ (the name for Laughing Waters in Woi wurrung) is an important site for growing and harvesting food. Significantly, Wurundjeri iuk (eel) traps remain at Garambi Baan to this day. The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People take their name from the Woi wurrung language word ‘wurun’ meaning the Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) which is common along ‘Birrarung’ (Yarra River), and ‘djeri’, the grub which is found in or near the tree. Wurundjeri are the ‘Manna Gum People’ and their Ancestors have lived on this land for millennia. The site on the Yarra River near the former Morrison property Killeavey was given a language name in 2015 at the instigation of Wurundjeri Elder, Dave Wandin. Garambi Baan means “laughing waters” in the traditional language, Woi wurrung. The site at Warrandyte was rediscovered by Campbell Beardsell OAM in 2007 and is one of only a few known remaining iuk (eel) traps on Country once found the length of the Birrarung (Yarra) and the Maribyrnong. Original Indigenous aquacultural infrastructure was dismantled, taken away from sites and used to build houses, fords and roads by Europeans. The difficult and restricted access to this site is thought to be one of the reasons for its survival. The iuk trap is located within lands managed by Parks Victoria. The Narrap team in partnership with Parks Victoria and Acacia Land Management have been improving the native vegetation with a program of woody weed removal, exclusion fencing and revegetation. Importantly, the team have restored the trap’s infrastructure and have demonstrated its effectiveness.” References: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation - Laughing Waters. (2023, September 3). Retrieved from https://inplace.org.au/laughing-waters/ GARAMBI BAAN LAUGHING WATERS RESIDENCY CENTRE 2020 2024 Strategic Plan, Nillumbik Shire Council (2023, September 3). Retrieved from https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/minutes-and-agendas/2020/09-sep/15-sep-cm/ocm.177-20-attachment-1-laughing-waters-arts-program_1.pdffay bridge collection, eel trap, laughing waters, yarra river, wurundjeri woi wurrung, garambi baan, 2023-09-06

Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.jim connor collection, laughing waters road, boomerang house, gordon ford

Laughing Waters is the name for a stretch of the Yarra Valley Parklands consisting of river flats and hilly riparian bushland. With Birrarung (Yarra River) flowing through, Laughing Waters has been an important gathering place for thousands of years. For the Wurundjeri, ‘Garambi Baan’ (the name for Laughing Waters in Woi wurrung) is an important site for growing and harvesting food. Significantly, Wurundjeri iuk (eel) traps remain at Garambi Baan to this day. The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People take their name from the Woi wurrung language word ‘wurun’ meaning the Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) which is common along ‘Birrarung’ (Yarra River), and ‘djeri’, the grub which is found in or near the tree. Wurundjeri are the ‘Manna Gum People’ and their Ancestors have lived on this land for millennia. The site on the Yarra River near the former Morrison property Killeavey was given a language name in 2015 at the instigation of Wurundjeri Elder, Dave Wandin. Garambi Baan means “laughing waters” in the traditional language, Woi wurrung. The site at Warrandyte was rediscovered by Campbell Beardsell OAM in 2007 and is one of only a few known remaining iuk (eel) traps on Country once found the length of the Birrarung (Yarra) and the Maribyrnong. Original Indigenous aquacultural infrastructure was dismantled, taken away from sites and used to build houses, fords and roads by Europeans. The difficult and restricted access to this site is thought to be one of the reasons for its survival. The iuk trap is located within lands managed by Parks Victoria. The Narrap team in partnership with Parks Victoria and Acacia Land Management have been improving the native vegetation with a program of woody weed removal, exclusion fencing and revegetation. Importantly, the team have restored the trap’s infrastructure and have demonstrated its effectiveness.” References: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation - Laughing Waters. (2023, September 3). Retrieved from https://inplace.org.au/laughing-waters/ GARAMBI BAAN LAUGHING WATERS RESIDENCY CENTRE 2020 2024 Strategic Plan, Nillumbik Shire Council (2023, September 3). Retrieved from https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/minutes-and-agendas/2020/09-sep/15-sep-cm/ocm.177-20-attachment-1-laughing-waters-arts-program_1.pdffay bridge collection, 2015-05-16, eel trap, laughing waters, yarra river, wurundjeri woi wurrung, garambi baan

Gordon Ford built this shack on the Yarra at Laughing Waters Road. Bernie Bragg used to live there for a period of time. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.fay bridge collection, 2016-04, bernie's hut, birrarung, gordon ford, gordon's shack, laughing waters road, love shack, yarra river

Gordon Ford built this shack on the Yarra at Laughing Waters Road. Bernie Bragg used to live there for a period of time. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.fay bridge collection, 2016-07-22, bernie's hut, birrarung, gordon ford, gordon's shack, laughing waters, laughing waters road, love shack, yarra river

A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on1 October 2001.Photocopy, 4 pages1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

A huge warrior of a gum tree still stands sentinel at the wrought iron gates. In the distance some pencil pines. Survivors too of the disastrous bushfires which in the past have swept the district. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

The simple brass plaque mounted on granite tells when the cemetery was established. 1851. See story of Judith Furphy. Other names observed were the plaque to Judith Furphy. The first burial and whose family name is recorded in our language, " A Furphy' . A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

We wanted to see how the construction of a rotunda at the cemetery was progressing and were surprised and pleased to see it finished. A new green plastic water tank was atop a stand not far away. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

Another of a good friend and neighbour, Jean Stewart. Lloyd's wife and the mother of Mardi Crocker whose son Zac played with our G'son Richard last weekend. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

A little further on are the well worn headstones of Stevenson graves. Joseph Stevenson, my Gt, Gt, Grandfather he married Ruth Boyd. Their daughter Isabella married Donald Grant, and their son David being my paternal grandfather who married Louise Gordon my grandmother. The Stevensons being original settlers and Donald Grant an original settler of Diamond Creek. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

A little further on are the well worn headstones of Stevenson graves. Joseph Stevenson, my Gt, Gt, Grandfather he married Ruth Boyd. Their daughter Isabella married Donald Grant, and their son David being my paternal grandfather who married Louise Gordon my grandmother. The Stevensons being original settlers and Donald Grant an original settler of Diamond Creek. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

Wandering on we came to the grave of the Bourchiers who previously owned our property Birrarung, for many years, I had met Jack many times in the ' 30s. Their family's name is retained by Bourchiers Road. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

Our attention was drawn in the distance to a beautiful flowering rosemary bush beside geraniums . To our surprise they were growing on the grave of Billy Roach-Pierson [Robinson] then [Ricketson] we did not know of her remarriage. Her parents lived at the Crest, Panton Hill where they ran the school. [ Steven Crawford Baes son was there for a while.] Kay, Billies mother lived at the Grey House in Diamond Street, Eltham and was our neighbour at Rath, Eltham. A long time family friend of Peter's mother and us. Barrie, Billies brother married Pam Chevallier a relation of the Chevalliers, they were later divorced, then he married Helen Kohn with whom I nursed, she was in Elizabeth Cottee' s [Exon' s ] group at the Alfred. They now live in Queensland. Barrie sadly wheel chair bound. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

The grave of Ewen Cameron MP of Pigeon Bank, who contributed much to the district in the early days and whose grandaughter Vera, an original Fellow of the College of Nursing Australia, [ Later RCNA] Who married Watershed Jackson, They lived at Pigeon Bank before moving to Albury. Another headstone that of Houghton, Ned's daughter Jessie and I were at Tintern junior school together, she is now Jessie Bull. No one knew where Kangaroo Ground was, but us for ages. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

We walked northwards to a new building, yes the toilets you wouldn't know it by the design. The new trustees are working miracles very fitting for a cemetery. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

Sauntering along the freshly mown grassy pathways, we noticed Bill Pellings Grave, marked with a Bronze plaque with pink artificial roses beside the inscription. Marion Erswell who with her husband Ambrose lived in Eltham at Willandra, their poultry farm where the Judge Book Village is now . She had taught Bill at school and said he was one of her brightest students at Dandenong. Bill later became Chairman of Kraft Foods. We were reminded of our wanderings in the cemetery at Worthing, England, where we discovered Pelling graves when hunting for Henty ones. A brief collection of reminiscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on 1 October 2001.Colour photograph print1983 bushfire, air vice marshall wackett, ambrose erswell, barry roach-pierson, bill pelling, billy roach-pierson, birrarung, bourchiers road, ca 13, crichton, david grant, diamond street, diana bassett-smith, donald grant, donaldson road, dorrie bourchier, duff, early settlers, elizabeth cottee, ewan cameron mp, grey house, helen kohn, isabella grant (nee stevenson), jack bourchier, james balfour, james wilson, jean stewart, jessie bull (nee haughton), jimmy cook, jocelyn, joseph stevenson, judge book village, judith furphy, kangaroo ground cemetery, kay roach-pierson, keith jocelyn, kraft foods, lacey, lloyd stuart, louise grant (nee gordon), mardi crocker, marion erswell, ned haughton, nursery, pam chevallier, passiona, peter bassett-smith, pigeon bank, rath, ricketson, robinson, ruth boyd, steven crawford baes, tintagell, tosch, vera jackson, wackett trainer, watershed jackson, willandra poultry farm, zac crocker

Penelope Aitken lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. She makes paintings and installations about relationships: between people, between things and between people and things. Recurring subjects include friendship, genealogy, romantic liaisons, and cross-cultural exchange as well as gardening, craft and landscape design. 'I am interested in the social, psychological and aesthetic motives behind organisation, belonging and displacement and I often make work that investigates such arrangements.' She has held regular solo exhibitions since 1995 and has been represented in group exhibitions since 1989. These have included shows in public and commercial galleries, artist run spaces, outdoor projects and festivals in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Tokyo and Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. Aitken has previously worked at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and at Asialink at the University of Melbourne. From 2006 - 2009 she was a board member of the Melbourne artist run gallery, West Space and she has also curated and coordinated numerous exhibitions and written and edited catalogues, articles and essays. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education (Visual Arts) both from The University of Melbourne and completed her Masters of Fine Art at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2004. In 1997 Aitken was selected to be a studio artist for two years at Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne and in 2000 she undertook an Australia Council Studio at the Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan. More recently she spent two months in 2007 at the Laughing Waters Residency, Birrarung, in Eltham, Victoria. There she began her current interest in the rocks used in the landscape designs of Gordon Ford. Paintings of Ford's rocks made since 2007 as well as glacial erratics, meteors, and other natural and displaced rocks were exhibited in March 2011 at the Light Factory Gallery in Eltham in a show called My History of here, and Second Nature, one work from this exhibition, was awarded first prize at Eltham Masterworks 2011. Other work made about rocks in nature and culture include: the project, A dark archive, as well as in two installations: You seem so settled for one that doesn't belong held at West Space in 2009 and Gathering these things to remind me of home shown in 2010 at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Queensland. In July and August 2007 Aitken undertook an arts recidency at Birrarung, a house and garden designed by Gordon Ford and managed as the Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program by the Shire of Nillumbik Victoria. The rocks depicted in the painting 'Mapping Mass & Void 10' are all taken from the garden at Birrarung. Aitken has made reference to those rocks and the way in which Ford thought of the rocks as individuals that need to be handled and placed with consideration to show off their best aspects.oil and acrylic on linen ek prac 2015