Hill End Artists in Residence

For over 70 years the historic gold mining town of Hill End has been the site of significant artistic creativity and inspiration for some of Australia’s best known artists including Jean Bellette, Russell Drysdale, Margaret Olley, John Olsen, Ben Quilty, Jeffrey Smart and Brett Whiteley. Hill End is now one of Australia's most celebrated residency programs with over 350 artists from across Australia and the world continuing a tradition of creative response to Hill End going back to the 1940s.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery has played a significant role since 1994 in supporting Hill End as an artistic hub through its past management of the Hill End Artists in Residence Program (Hill End AiR).

Current Closure

The Hill End AiR closed in 2022 to allow the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) to undertake a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the renewal of leases for historic residency cottages, Haefligers and Murrays. The EOI is being undertaken in line with NSW Government policy requiring an open market process for lease negotiations. Evaluation of EOIs will be guided by the statutory Plan of Management for the Hill End Historic Site.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery will not be continuing the management of the Hill End Artists in Residence program.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery will continue to support the cultural life of the village through partnerships including exhibitions and other activities.