Coffee, Art and a Glimpse into Coochie’s Past

There is a peaceful little stop tucked away at the northern end of this weekend’s Coochiemudlo Island Art Trail, and it would be very easy to miss if nobody told you about it.

Gindabara will be opening its grounds to Art Trail visitors on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, offering somewhere to pause, enjoy a tea or coffee and discover a property with deep connections to Coochie’s farming, community and artistic history.

And yes, there may be scones. Or biscuits. Either way, refreshments will be involved.

A well-earned pause along the trail

With 31 artists appearing across 15 studios and venues, there will be plenty to see during the two-day Art Trail & Open Studio, facilitated by the Coochiemudlo Artisan Collective.

But by the time visitors reach the northern end of the island, a quiet seat and a decent coffee may be looking every bit as appealing as the next masterpiece.

That is where Gindabara comes in

Visitors are invited to wander through the leafy grounds, enjoy a little sunshine and stop for coffee with something to eat. There are few refreshment options at this end of the island, making Gindabara a very handy place to rest, regroup and recharge before continuing along the trail.

Let's face it, nobody should be expected to appreciate an entire island’s worth of art without adequate caffeination.

The family behind the name

Gindabara’s story reaches back to Coochie’s mid-20th-century farming era and the Pullen family, who settled and farmed in the northeastern and interior part of the island.

Around 1950, the family established an orange orchard, which continued operating until approximately 1957. Alongside farming families such as the Mortons, the Pullens formed part of Coochie’s post-war agricultural story, before large-scale residential subdivisions began changing the island in the late 1950s.

Their place in the island’s history is still reflected in the name Pullen Street.

The original domestic dwelling and homestead structures associated with the family’s farming property became known as Pullen Hall and Pullen Cottage.

Today, the cottage and neighbouring hall provide a tangible connection to a Coochie that existed before the island was divided into the residential streets and blocks we recognise now.

Before the Community Hall, there was Pullen Hall

Pullen Hall was more than just a building. Before Coochie had its modern civic facilities, it served as an early meeting place and social hub where islanders could gather.

It also played a small but important part in Coochie’s artistic history.

When artist Charles “Bob” Barnett founded the Coochie Art Group in 1972, its enthusiastic members initially met and painted at Pullen Hall.

The following year, Eliott Hall was constructed by volunteer local labour and officially opened in September 1973. The art group subsequently moved its activities there. Eliott Hall was later extended by Redland Shire Council and is now known as the Coochiemudlo Community Hall.

So, while visitors will be following a modern Art Trail and Open Studios this weekend, their coffee stop at Gindabara will bring them to one of the places where organised art on Coochie began more than 50 years ago.

That feels wonderfully full circle

More than a coffee stop

Heritage banners will be on display at Gindabara during the weekend, giving visitors another opportunity to learn about the island’s past.

The property’s one-acre grounds also provide plenty of room to slow down, wander beneath the trees and enjoy a quieter moment away from the bustle of the trail.

Perhaps that is what makes this stop rather special. The Art Trail & Open Studios are naturally about seeing what people create, but Gindabara offers a chance to notice the places where island life has unfolded too.

Farms became homes. A community meeting place became an early home for local artists. More than half a century later, people will once again gather in the grounds because of art.

Some stories have a lovely way of coming back around

Follow the trail to Gindabara

Gindabara is located at 18–20 Mooroondu Street, a short stroll from Morwong Beach.

The Coochiemudlo Island Art Trail and Open Studio event runs from 9am to 3pm on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September. Entry is free, and the Coochie Community Bus will operate free of charge during event hours.

When you reach the northern end of the trail, follow your nose towards the coffee, explore the heritage displays and take ten minutes to simply enjoy where you are.

Then you can head back to the art refreshed, recharged and possibly carrying a few crumbs.