The Donnelly Verandah Residencies

July – August 2025

Donnelly River Village is on Pibelmen Noongar Boodjar.

The Donnelly Verandah Residencies provide an opportunity for artists to immerse themselves in the unique Karri Forest at Donnelly River where imposing old-growth Karri-stands dominate a 1950s mill town. Artists undertake a residency for just over a week allowing them time to develop ideas, grow their art practice or create new work. They stay in one of the 35 cottages in the village with the intention that the forest surroundings will provide a ground for creativity and artistic development.

Western Australian artists Dr Kelsey Ashe, Harry Zed Hughes, Adam Hisham Ismail, Eleisha Pirouet, Nicole Steenhof and Kati Thamo will take part in the ninth annual verandah residencies in July-August 2025. The artists will be at the Donnelly River Village General store at around 4:30pm on Saturday afternoons of their residencies for informal artist talks. Please check back for more information.

Perth-based exhibition: selected works produced by this year’s artists in residence will be held at Earlywork in South Fremantle from 17-30 November 2025

Please check back for updates and more information.

Winter at Donnelly is wood-smoke misty mornings and star-filled winter nights. On ancient land, home to the Pibelmen and Wardandi people for tens of thousands of years, surrounded by state forest, the 1950s mill town’s thirty-five workers cottages, boarding house and workers club each have verandahs that overlook a central stand of magnificent Karri trees. If wintery conditions keep artists to their cottages, these verandahs offer a sheltered outlook to the natural environment. The original steam mill, school, butcher shop and general store add unique architectural notes. Tame kangaroos, emus, possums, kookaburras, magpies, parrots, blue wren and other wildlife wander through the village and visit cottages. If the weather is fine and artists are looking for a change of scene, heading into the surrounding forest along any of the many bush trails offers new aspects at every turn, including a deep forest lake surrounded by majestic trees. We hope the Donnelly environment will provide a place of contemplation and inspiration for the artists-in-residence.

We acknowledge that the Pibelmen people were dispossessed by the arrival of European colonists in the 1800s and that this dispossession led to trauma and loss. We support the many strong Aboriginal people who are leading the journey towards justice and recovery. We at Donnelly hope that we can play a small part in that by, at least, contributing to greater understanding about the rich culture and history of our place. In 2012, Koodah Cornwall of the Noongar nation engaged our community in cultural activities and (with permission from the Manjimup Aboriginal Corporation) welcomed us to this country.

For accommodation bookings contact
Donnelly River Village PHONE: +61 (8) 9772 1244
or visit the website: donnellyriver.com.au