Family Through Art:
Painting at Fairfax House
The Ginahgulla house, also known as the Fairfax House is a beautiful two-story Gothic-style house, built in 1858 by my great grandfather John Fairfax and designed by the renowned architect Edmund Blacket. Situated in Bellevue Hill, Sydney, Fairfax House has witnessed generations of stories. After being purchased by The Scots College in 1945, it transitioned into a boarding house for students, a role it still fulfills today. The house's vibrant past and present make it a special place for me to paint.
Growing up in the United States, I visited my biological father in Australia starting at age six. I vividly remember a stewardess on a Qantas flight asking, “Aren’t you scared to be flying alone at only six?” To which I confidently replied, “No way! I’m on an adventure!” Even as a child, I was drawn to the thrill of exploration, and Australia always felt like a second home. Though I spent most of my childhood in the U.S., the thought of Australia was never far from my mind.
My biological dad often spoke about the Fairfax family, a lineage that spans six generations and is renowned in Australia for its pioneering role as the first newspaper publishing. While a quick Google search could provide all the details about their media empire, what I longed for as a child wasn’t recognition from the influential entrepreneurs, but the connection and sense of belonging that any young boy seeks with his family. Sadly, I only saw my extended Fairfax family a handful of times, and that feeling of belonging remained elusive.
Now that I’m older and many of my family members have passed on, I sometimes feel the weight of missed opportunities. However, I've discovered an uplifting way to tell my own version of the story through my paintings allowing me to revisit lost time and create new, beautiful memories that will outlast my lifetime, and for that, I am truly grateful.
Painting at the Fairfax House, I wasn't just there to capture the architecture, I was there reconnect with my family history that I've been distant from over the years. Through my plein air painting, I aimed to create a visual story that honors the Fairfax House, my family's legacy, and also a legacy of my own.
Fairfax House, Oil on Linen, 18” x 24”
