A home among the trees: The tale of how Wyreena became Croydon's art hub

The face of one of Croydon’s most valuable assets – the arts centre known as “Wyreena” – has changed a number of times over the last 100 years.

Cherry orchard, family home designed by the architects behind one of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings, residence for nuns, and now a community arts centre: the building is a bit of an institution in the area.

But what do we know about this more than 100-year-old piece of history?

📍The site: Covering 1.5 hectares, Wyreena Community Arts Centre is currently owned and operated by Maroondah Council and sits within its Heritage Overlay.

🗝️A home on the hill: Charles and Beryl Catomore bought the land – which had served as a cherry orchard for decades – in 1922 to build a family home for themselves and their three children.

• Philip Burgoyne Hudson and James Hastie Wardrop – best known for designing Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance – designed the double-storey Bungalow style house.

• Dubbed “Hayward”, the house was erected in 1923.

🧱Another abode: In 1929, the Catomores built a second two-storey home on the property for their daughter and her husband.

🤝Changing hands: In 1942, a woman named Elsa Grise bought the main building and re-named it “Wyreena”.

• The local Catholic parish took control of the property in 1953 – naming it “Our Lady of Sacred Heart” – with Wyreena serving as a residence for the nuns and the nearby Silver Birches operating as a business college for girls.

🥊Locals vs developers: Developers snatched up the land and buildings in 1977, with plans to demolish the two old houses, pull out most of the trees and build 30 new townhouses.

• However, local activists and councillors fought back against the plans, with petitions eventually pushing the former Croydon City Council and the State Government to purchase the site for $360,000 for the creation of a community arts centre.

🎨A new era: The council opened the land and buildings as Wyreena Community Arts Centre in March 1978.

• Additions to the buildings over the years have included the Conservatory Cafe and portable buildings to house a community hall and a local radio station – with Radio Eastern FM still broadcasting live from the building.

⏭️What’s next: Due to the age of the facilities and the trees and vegetation on the property, Maroondah Council formally endorsed the Wyreena Masterplan in December 2019.

• The plans proposed a range of works, including a reconstructed Conservatory Cafe and a new lift at the rear of the facility.

• From mid-September to late October, Maroondah Council sought tenders for the redevelopment of the Conservatory Cafe, with the budget estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million.

• The Eastern Melburnian has sought comment from Maroondah Council on the works and broader plans for the centre, as the council considers the tender applications.