Melbourne Stories: The Women of Beleura with Martin Green

Beleura is a grand, Italianate-style villa located in Mornington, Victoria. It was built in 1865 on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung/Bunurong people for James Butchart, a stock and station agent who created a thriving and prosperous business during the Victorian Gold Rush. The story of Beleura House and Garden is a richly layered. Now state listed, Beleura was home to successive generations of distinguished Australians over 160 years. Beleura is exceptional not only for its fine architecture and gardens but for the intimate and personal life it reveals of its last owner, the gentleman and composer, John Tallis.

For a different viewpoint on Beleura’s story, this lecture introduces the stories of five women who have had a connection with Beleura over time. Learn about 1840s aboriginal woman Eliza; Amelia, Lady Tallis glamorous hostess, charity fundraiser, mother and wife of a theatre entrepreneur; artist Christian Waller in the 1930s; ceramicist Klytie Pate; and contemporary jazz pianist Andrea Keller.

The Johnston Collection was the direct inspiration for Beleura as a house museum, and there are many connections and intersections between both properties. In the early nineties, Anthony Knight was Director of The Johnston Collection and a Director on the Board of the National Trust. He spent a good deal of time exploring various ideas with John Tallis about his wish for Beleura to be opened to the public, and they discussed their shared experiences of various grand homes and European properties.

Martin Green is General Manager of Beleura House and Garden. Martin Green has worked in heritage tourism and the museum sector for 24 years. For over twelve years he was the Education, Collections and Interpretations manager at the National Trust working at Rippon Lea, the Old Melbourne Gaol, and the Polly Woodside Tall Ship. He has worked on a variety of costume exhibitions including the Miss Fisher Murder Mystery costume series. Previously he worked for ABC TV as a Producer in education and the arts as well as for ACMI and their Digital Story series.

Your ticket includes tea or Market Lane coffee served before the presentation, and time to browse our exclusive range of books, gifts, and homewares at TJC Emporium.

This event is presented on-site at The Johnston Collection. Please see your ticket for details. NOTE: Tickets for this event do not include access to our house museum, Fairhall. Guided tours of the current exhibition can be booked separately.

This event is supported by The Colin Holden Charitable Trust.

Image: Amelia Tallis (nee Young), Collection of Beleura House and Garden.