An exclusive look inside Te-Nikau, a tropical house in Olympus Crescent , Arcadia, Magnetic Island , with a fascinating tale to tell , using the photos and memories of Vandhana , who lived in it for a time after moving up from Melbourne.
The above photograph shows the front of the dwelling , Vandhana on the right , near the entrance door. A glimpse of the garden in bygone days follows.
Built in the l940s, the house was originally a corrugated iron shed on a lime/ concrete base.
It was transformed into a liveable home by a retired sea captain.
In 1974 , the house was bought by Mavis Garman -Vik , who had lived with artists at The Rocks, Sydney, in her fifties, looking for a " new chapter " in her life, as was Vandhana .
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Mavis put her artistic stamp on the house, filling it with cane furniture, numerous artefacts, painted the inner walls burnt orange and dark blue ,contrasting with the white .
The large casement windows opened out onto garden and bush, each window with a light green glass panel angle across it, so that when all were open, it gave the impression of waves on the sea.
Mavis designed and dyed cotton sarongs which she sold at nearby Alma Bay. She also belonged to a Townsville writers' group.
Vandhana moved into the house after Mavis died , residing there from 1997 to 2004 and said it was like living in a gallery.It was only natural that Vandhana made it the venue for her My Island Home Exhibition in 2004 ,
The display included paintings by Anita Luchich ,one below , Journey's End .
A calendar was produced in conjunction with the 2004 exhibition ,dedicated to the art ,soul and memory of Anita Luchich .
The same unique illustrations used in that were included in one for 2022 as part of Vandhana's recent photographic restrospective.
It sells for $25 and will be available at the Magnetic Island Community Care Xmas Market on November 16 .