The latest exhibition at the WAS Gallery delves into the history of 37 Latrobe St, the previous owners of the property and their connection to the gallery as it is today.
Named "Who Lived Here", the exhibition is part of WAS Gallery's fifth anniversary year and will remain on display until Saturday May 24.
The multi-media exhibition tells the story of 37 Latrobe St Warragul - which began as farmhouse built by the Ryan family in the 1930s - and Murdie Rd, Warragul - a farm property where the Ryan family ran cattle.
Hugh Ryan came into ownership of the house on Latrobe St and the property on Murdie Rd after the death of his parents.
His tenants in the Murdie Rd cottage, artists Anne Lorraine and Gary McPhedran soon became Hugh's very close friends.
When Hugh died, he left the Murdie Rd property to Anne, which helped kickstart the project of preserving 37 Latrobe St and transforming it into an art space and gallery.
Now, 37 Latrobe St is a home for artists and creativity, and Hugh's character lives on within the building's walls.
The "Who Lived Here" exhibition tells this story in more detail, and includes furnishings and domestic items from the house, a series of photos from the 1920s to the 2010s of the family who lived at Latrobe St, a collection of paintings created by Anne Lorraine at Murdie Rd in the 80s and 90s, and a series of oil paintings by local artist Alene Bonser which celebrates the heritage roses planted by the original owners that are still growing at WAS.
To learn the full story of WAS Gallery and its history, visit the "Who Lived Here" exhibition.
The gallery is open between 10am and 4pm, Wednesday to Saturday. For more information, visit wasgallery.com.au