Ngununggula gallery a new jewel in NSW’s southern highlands

Retford Park, near Bowral, in the New South Wales southern highlands, features many fine buildings, from a Victorian mansion built by the Hordern family and later occupied by publisher James Fairfax, to a jewel-like glass pavilion designed by architect Guilford Bell to complement the swimming pool.

Bequeathed to the National Trust, the property’s landscaped grounds and period buildings are a major drawcard for tourists visiting the area.

Australian artist Ben Quilty inside the Ngununggula gallery.Credit: James Brickwood

One of the lesser-known buildings that was falling into decay was an original brick dairy and adjacent veterinary hospital. That was until well-known Australian artist Ben Quilty approached the NSW Government with architect Brian Zulaikha, then a director of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG) and who now heads Studio Zawa, with a plan to convert them into regional gallery to exhibit the works of contemporary artists.

Now called Ngununggula, meaning “belonging” in the traditional language of the Gundungurra people, the buildings have been transformed into a gallery, café and pavilion comprised of an entrance, reception area, amenities and staff offices. The latter is located in the building’s pitched steel roof.

Framed by a garden designed by landscape architect Jane Irwin, they now form a new-look suite of buildings that add to the beauty of Retford Park.

“The [dairy] building came with ‘great bones’, including generous ceiling heights [3.5 metres],” says Zulaikha. One of the rooms was originally used as a shed to milk the cows. Other parts of the dairy have been transformed into five galleries.

An archival image of the old dairy at Retford Park, which have been transformed into Ngununggula gallery.

“We had to preserve the original fabric, including the floors and walls,” says Zulaikha, who worked closely with colleague, architect Colebee Wright, and TZG’s heritage consultant, Julie Mackenzie, on the project.

A new “floating” concrete floor, separated by plastic from the original, features brass strips, while new walls lining the gallery spaces (about 600 square metres) stand apart from the original walls, maintaining heritage guidelines.

While the original buildings have been preserved, with the vet hospital now functioning as a café, there have been a number of fine inclusions.

A steel awning over one of the entrances has been laser cut with the word Ngununggula, with light piercing through each letter to cast the name of the gallery on a timber door. Other areas, such as a new translucent glass wall in the entrance, depict the history of the property. The new addition also includes a classroom for lectures.

The new facade of Ngununggula gallery.Credit:

For Zulaikha and his team, the greatest challenge was to provide the required air conditioning and heating that would be suitable to display the work of leading international and contemporary Australian artists.

From the outset, the program was guided by a sustainable approach by reusing materials and fixtures in the original buildings. “You don’t want to make services, such as air conditioning, obvious,” says Zulaikha, referring to the concealed wall panels.

Given the size of Retford Park and the location of the dairy and veterinary hospital, part of the program for TZG was to create a new road and car park.

Like the township of Bowral itself, with its vintage market, boutiques and cafés, Ngununggula gallery has become an even greater reason for tourists to explore the southern highlands, especially those looking for fine art.

Stephen Crafti is a specialist in contemporary design, including architecture, furniture, fashion and decorative arts.

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