Uncovering the past

Here is Viken, who along with his lovely partner Kerry, own and operate the Hat Hill Gallery in Blackheath. Recently Viken has been working on the outside of the little corner building, uncovering signage from the shop's previous incarnations. This work was inspired by a photo, in the centre here, that was sent to them from previous shop owners who now live in England.

Armed with this photo, Viken is thinking of approaching council for permission to restore the lovely deep verandahs around the gallery.

The building, built in the 1920's at the corner of Wentworth Street and Hat Hill Road in Blackheath, was initially an office where the local newspaper, the Blackheath Beacon, was compiled and printed. With the paper's demise, a general store occupied the site for many years. It is the signage from this period, courtesy of it's lead paint that Viken is uncovering. More recently, the building was an activity centre for boarding house residents before major internal repairs in 2001 transformed the space into an art gallery and residence.