After bushfires came within a kilometre of destroying one of the nation's most important collections of a single artist's work, plans to build a more secure gallery were expedited.
The result is the stunning new fire-and-flood-resistant Bundanon gallery near Nowra on the NSW South Coast, which will house the $46 million collection of renowned artist Arthur Boyd.
While planning for the site had been underway since 2015, the build became even more important when the Black Summer fires almost destroyed the collection.
Bundanon Trust chief executive Rachel Kent said staff managed to have the work trucked out, just in time.
"Fortunately, the art collection was removed to safety in Sydney."
Architect Kerstin Thompson said the gallery buildings were now as disaster-proof as buildings could be.
The new buildings include a trestle bridge, which will allow floodwater to flow freely away from the property towards the Shoalhaven River, as well as an underground gallery museum.
"There are two important principles that drive the whole project.
"One is about fire resistance, and the gallery is founded on that idea, and the second part is about resilience and about being able to go with the flow with things like flood."
The new gallery is built into the ground, and can hardly be seen on the surface.
The $33 million facility, jointly funded by the state and federal governments, is designed to keep the artworks safe and thermally stable, as well as provide a fire shelter for staff at the site.
Realising the Boyds' vision for artists
The work of Arthur Boyd is internationally loved, from flamboyant costume designs, to Shoalhaven-inspired landscapes painted at the Bundanon property.
The new museum will showcase not just Boyd's work, but the work of modern artists who spend time in residence at Bundanon or are inspired by his work.
Head of curatorial and learning Sophie O'Brien said this was exactly what Arthur, who died in 1999, and his wife, artist Yvonne who died in 2013, intended for the site.
"The vision of Bundanon from Arthur and Yvonne Boyd was always to have a place to show the work of new artists," Ms O'Brien said.
Ms Kent said the pandemic presented challenges in being able to officially open the gallery, but she expected that, ultimately, international visitors and locals alike would want to visit Bundanon.
"I imagine it will draw people from right across the region, immediate family and community, as well as NSW, eventually Australia and, of course, an international audience as well," she said.
Ms Thompson said she hoped the new buildings and facilities would ensure people continued to be inspired by the landscape and enjoy the work of Arthur Boyd for generations to come.
Bundanon will open to the public from this weekend.
