We learnt a lot about Heysen, his art, setting up a studio and their lovely old house. The whole setup is gorgeous and the guides very knowledgeable and nice. A must see if you have any interest in art or artists.
The home of Hans Heysen and Nora Heysen, Artists studio set in a beautiful garden and park like country setting with wonderful gum trees Very interesting exhibitions and buildings beautifully preserved. A hidden gem and my most recommended out of state visitor must see. Charming, understated . Close to the tourist town of Hahndorf which has wineries and great cafes even if you are not interested in "touristy towns".
The Cedars is the home of Hans Heysen (1877-1968), a German born artist. We visited earlier this year and were very impressed with not only the authentic preservation of his home and surrounds, but with the numerous art works that we saw. This is a quintessentially Australian experience! The range, quality and quantity of the artworks is astounding. These are found throughout the home and Heysen's studio and include works by Han's famous artist daughter Nora. Our knowledgable and passionate volunteer guide showed us through the studio, gardens and home - it felt as if Hans himself had just ducked out for a cup of tea as the place is just as his family would have lived in it - very authentic! This is a true Australian treasure and must not be missed!
Visiting here was just great, his life and works were lovely, the house was left just as it was. It was really nice to hear that the family still has get togethers/reunions at the house, i don't blame them because it does feel like home! The studio was filled with great works. $10 for the full tour, but worth it :)
A great place to come on a hot day, browsing the actual home that Hans Heysen lived in, plus his garden studio. Nice to see where he actually produce those famous paintings, and a nice house to look round for its own sake (not large, but interesting). I particularly liked the enclosed verandah with the louvred windows - would be sooo nice to sit here and read a book, and you can just feel the Heysen family having lovely Sunday lunches here.
It's not often that you get to see where such a famous artist actually lived and did his work. His own studio and the landscape he painted nearby was just so very interesting. Recommended for those art lovers and history buffs in this world.
I've lived in South Australia most of my life and have just discovered this gem, only 20 minutes drive from my home! Artist, Hans Heysen, who introduced Australians to the gum tree, lived and worked in this idyllic location with his family for much of his life. The place is beautifully preserved and maintained, largely by enthusiastic volunteers. Go on a tour ($10 pp) and see Heysen's studio and home and a zillion pieces of art. Hear great stories (thanks, Julie!) and imagine the life of a successful artist with a great manager and advocate (his wife, Sally). The grounds are huge and the walks well organised. Well worth at least a half a day. There's no food available on site, but Hahndorf village is just a couple of kms away and there's plenty to choose from there. Go in the morning, leave for lunch and return - your entrance fee will give you access for the afternoon, too. Glad I live in Adelaide - I'll get to return often and really see this lovely place.
Lovely gardens , combined with the Heysens history. Wonderful knowledgeable volunteer in The Cedars gift shop. The Artist's walk and viewing of the studio was really interesting.
For anyone with a mild interest in Australian art, a visit to the Cedars is a must! Hans Heysen's studio looks like he's just stepped out the door, and Nora's studio is a fascinating tho' very small collection of her artistic history. The display of more original artworks would make this venue significantly better value. The garden around the house is really lovely: it seems like the original designs and plantings have been maintained. The garden is a typical of the country gardens of mid/early 1900s - I loved it!
Inside knowledge of the Heysen family, and the house is preserved as it was. As well as seeing the studio of our famous artist, the tour thus provides you with insight into family life in the early twentieth century. It was a very interesting side trip , given I was in the area. I also liked the introduction to Nora Heysen, of whose work I was unaware