About

Twenty five years ago I wrote a weighty submission to the New South Wales government seeking the privilege to restore Hillview to its traditional glory as a formal Vice Regal retreat. It had been closed for more than 40 years. One of the reasons for my successful bid was my proposal to make Hillview inclusive. The broadest public must experience the beauty of the place. One aspect of that was to stage sculpture exhibitions.

Five years of planning, adaption and conservation, and at last this dilapidated Victorian folly started to sing again. In 2012 I took a leap of faith and ran the first exhibition on a shoe-string budget. It was a success; it has snowballed with biennal exhibitions.

Now it is a Sculpture Park/ Gallery (including paintings). All works are for sale.

We encourage you to consider a purchase, which will assist artists in creating more works in their practise.

When you have a marvellous site, a great concept, and most importantly, a talented and enthusiastic team, you can create wonders.

Hillview is a place of abundance. It probably always has been from its geological beginnings. Rich soil, abundant rainfall, and crisp clean air with distant views all round. All the elements to create a good life. The culture that grows from these fundamentals is rich. Therefore, in recent years, with the seed of sculpture firmly rooted at Hillview, it flourished. Here we now are, with the new Hillview. These are good days...

Our Gallery exemplify the concept of Juxtor position - the old and the new. This is why we chose to make the rooms more than white walls and pedestals. The art is exhibited in spaces that are also populated with the significant and original furniture collection.

The faces behind Hillview Sculpture

Damien Miller

Director and Site Curator

Affectionately known as ‘Mr Hillview’, Damien has spent 25 years caring for Hillview and enthusiastically restoring and maintaining the historic property. Damien had the original vision to bring sculpture to Hillview and he is firmly committed to the belief that Hillview Sculpture Park and Gallery will be of immense cultural and economic benefit to the people of the Southern Highlands, New South Wales and beyond.

Ron Roberton-Swann

Honorary Curator

Born in Sydney Ron Roberton-Swann studied sculpture in London at Saint Martins School of Art. Ron Roberton-Swanns was also later awarded with the Order of Australia in 2002 and has become the head of Sculpture at the National Art School of Australia.

Ayako Saito

Honorary Curator

Born in Tokyo, Ayako Saito later moved to Australia and has been here since 2002. She studied sculpture at the Australian National University where she later received a Master’s Degree in sculpture and her impressive sculptures are usually made in plaster and cast in bronze.

Volunteers

Over the last decade we have had hundreds of international volunteers giving their time freely to help create and maintain the park and gallery. Please see a recent observation by a volunteer:

"Being a sculptor myself, my decision to visit the Hillview Sculpture Park for a cultural exchange while traveling Australia was instinctual. The moment I arrived, I was greeted by an exquisite collection of modern sculptures that seamlessly harmonize with the breathtaking surroundings.

Every day spent here has been an unparalleled source of inspiration, igniting my artistic spirit and reaffirming the profound impact that art can have on our connection with nature and diverse cultures.

Strolling through the park, I am spellbound by the boundless creativity and meticulous craftsmanship displayed in each sculpture. The diversity of artistic expressions is nothing short of awe-inspiring, ranging from monumental steel structures that seem to defy gravity to intricate stone carvings that exude delicate beauty. However, it is not only the tangible forms that captivate me; it is the backgrounds and experiences brought by the Hillview landscape that weaves a rich tapestry of perspectives and stories throughout the park. The Hillview Sculpture Park and Gallery acts as a vibrant cultural crossroads, inviting visitors to embrace the diverse heritage and narratives that shape contemporary Australian art."

-Simon Rymenants MA (Fine Arts) LUCA school of arts Belgium