Greenhills Art Centre
From Railway Hotel to Art Centre
Built in 1906, the building that is now Greenhills Art Centre began life as the Railway Hotel. This grand two-storey Federation building was built by Mary Ann McMullen, one of Western Australia’s early female publicans, directly opposite the Greenhills railway station.
At the time, Greenhills was a thriving town of more than 2,000 people and the end of the railway line towards Kalgoorlie. The Railway Hotel was the third hotel to be built in the town and, over the following decades, welcomed generations of travellers and locals.
From 1906 to 1946 the Railway Hotel had fourteen licensees. In 1954 it became the Sedgemore Hotel and continued operating as a hotel until 1989, when its liquor licence was sold separately. The building then spent time as a private residence and was also used as a school dormitory and campsite.
By 1996 the old hotel had fallen into disrepair and was facing possible demolition. It was purchased by John and Ashley, known locally as “the boys”, who undertook extensive renovations, furnished the building with antiques and restored its liquor licence. It became the Greenhills Tavern and later the Greenhills Inn.
The property changed hands several more times over the years and, by 2014, was once again in need of considerable care. Further renovations followed under subsequent owners, helping preserve this remarkable building for its next chapter.
In 2024, Greg and Johanna Larkin purchased the property without a liquor licence and began its transformation into Greenhills Art Centre — a place where artists can stay, create, learn and spend time together.
The Centre Today
Today, Greenhills Art Centre is a place created for artists and creative people to step away from everyday life and immerse themselves in what they love.
Set in the Western Australian Wheatbelt, just 15 minutes from York and around 90 minutes from Perth, the Centre combines the character of its historic building with the space and facilities needed for serious creative work.
At the heart of Greenhills is our large, air-conditioned studio, open to guests throughout their stay.
Individually styled guest bedrooms, shared living spaces, wide verandahs and quiet corners throughout the house provide plenty of room to work, rest or spend time with others.
Greenhills hosts residential art retreats, workshops and independent artist residencies from April to November.
Guests share meals around the table, work alongside other creative people and have the freedom to settle into a slower rhythm for a few days or several weeks.
It is this combination of creativity, hospitality and time away that we hope makes Greenhills more than simply somewhere to attend a workshop — it is a place to feel at home while you create.
Bedrooms
Greenhills offers individually styled guest bedrooms, each retaining the character and charm of this historic building.
With a mix of private and twin accommodation, most guests can enjoy their own room and settle into Greenhills for the duration of their retreat.
Rooms are comfortable, welcoming and designed to feel more like staying in a country home than conventional accommodation.
For guests who prefer to arrange their own accommodation nearby or stay in their caravan, Independent Stay options are also available on selected retreats.
A Place to Create
At the heart of Greenhills is our spacious, air-conditioned studio — a dedicated creative space available to guests throughout their stay.
With generous work areas, easels, tables, individual workstations and a printmaking press, the studio can accommodate a wide range of creative practices.
Guests staying for retreats and residencies have the freedom to return to the studio outside scheduled teaching hours, allowing plenty of time to continue working, experiment with ideas or simply enjoy creating at their own pace.
A Place to Play
Creativity isn’t the only reason to gather at Greenhills. Our games room offers a relaxed place to unwind, with a pool table and darts, or simply sit and enjoy the company of fellow guests at the end of the day.
The Lounge
With comfortable seating and the character of the original building, the lounge is a place to slow down between studio sessions, enjoy a cup of tea, read, chat or simply relax.
It is one of the many shared spaces around Greenhills where conversations and friendships naturally develop during a retreat.
The Dining Room
Shared meals are an important part of life at Greenhills.
Each day, guests come together around the table to enjoy home-cooked meals, talk about the day and get to know the people they are creating alongside.
For us, these moments are every bit as much a part of the Greenhills experience as the time spent in the studio.
Experience Greenhills
Whether you come to Greenhills for a guided art retreat or to spend time developing your own work during an artist residency, we want your stay to feel like more than simply time in the studio.
Greenhills is about having the space to create, sharing good food and conversation, meeting like-minded people and stepping away from the demands of everyday life for a while.
We hope you leave with new skills and ideas, but also with new friendships, wonderful memories and a desire to return.