The Gunnery was the biggest and most prolific underground artist run collective in Australian art history. Neither before, nor since has any group or venue risen to the scale of productivity, infamy and success as The Gunnery between 1985-1991.
At its zenith, more than 40 practicing painters, musicians, performers, photographers and filmmakers lived and practiced in what was to become a true artists colony and movement. Monthly public events, rock gigs, film nights, a year-round art gallery and annual arts festival drew in crowds in their thousands.
But the dream of holding on to this stunning ‘castle by the sea’ would soon be under threat and the eviction notice was served. This is one of the great untold stories in Australian art history. A six year battle of mainstream versus underground, of opposing ideals and ideology, of artist versus government; all played out against a backdrop of a city undergoing rapid gentrification and a slowly maturing nation.
Two tribes would battle it out for the building with the victor taking possession and ultimately succeeding in creating a thriving arts centre that runs to this day.