The Bundanon properties are located on the land of the
Wodi Wodi people of the
Yuin nation, who speak the
Dharawal language. From the mid-19th century, the Shoalhaven River supported many farm properties and provided a mechanism for European occupants to bring their produce to the coast for sale. European occupation was established at Bundanon in 1831 through a grant of made to Richard Henry Browne. The land grant was conditional on the clearing of , which were to be fenced and cultivated within five years. This work was not completed and the property was sold to Kenneth Mackenzie on 19 March 1838. From the available evidence Bundanon Homestead, completed in 1866, was constructed using well-detailed machine-sawn timber in the roof, floors, and ceilings. Bundanon's history as a farm property is still evident in many of the buildings on site, including those that were re-purposed and restored to form the vibrant Artist in Residence complex.
Arthur Boyd at Bundanon In the early 1970s, artist
Arthur Boyd purchased Riversdale on the banks of the
Shoalhaven River near Bundanon and added to the buildings to create a home and studio. Arthur and Yvonne Boyd purchased Bundanon from
Sandra and Tony McGrath and Frank McDonald in the summer of 1979. After building a studio at Bundanon in 1982, Boyd painted a series of large, Shoalhaven images based on the river and bush around Bundanon. He was commissioned to design the tapestry for Great Hall of
New Parliament House and created 16 canvases for the foyer of
Victorian Arts Centre.
Establishment of Bundanon Trust At the memorial service for
Sir Sidney Nolan on 28 January 1993, Prime Minister
Paul Keating announced the
Australian Government's acceptance of Arthur and Yvonne Boyd's gift of Bundanon and the intention to establish the Bundanon Trust. The gift included three properties – Bundanon, Riversdale, Eearie, and Beeweeree) – as well as an extensive collection of artworks. Trustees were established by the Australian Government to oversee the operation of Bundanon Trust. The directors in the early years of the trust's formation benefited from the input of Arthur and Yvonne Boyd and developed an ambitious vision for Bundanon's future. They commissioned internationally-acclaimed architecture, established the Bundanon's world-renowned Artist in Residence program and opened the Bundanon properties to the public. Bundanon has given Australia a cultural and environmental asset. It was born out of Boyd's often stated belief that "you can’t own a landscape", and the wish that others might also draw inspiration from the remarkable place. ==Description==