South Australia · Attraction
Heysen - The Cedars
Two generations of Australian art
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The Cedars is the former home and working estate of Sir Hans Heysen, one of Australia's most celebrated landscape painters, and his daughter Nora Heysen, the first woman to win the Archibald Prize. Set on 65 hectares of gum-studded Adelaide Hills countryside, the property preserves the artists' original studios, historic homestead, walled garden, and a remarkable collection of finished works and personal artefacts. Guided tours of the house run daily Tuesday to Sunday.
Hans Heysen moved to The Cedars in 1912 and spent over half a century painting the ancient red gums, ochre paddocks, and misty ranges of the Adelaide Hills from this very property. His studio, preserved exactly as he left it, contains his palette, brushes, easel, and reference materials, offering an intimate window into his creative process. Nora Heysen's separate studio is equally revealing, documenting a pioneering female modernist who worked through portraiture, still life, and wartime reportage.
Visitors can choose between a fully guided tour that includes the homestead interior, or a self-guided experience taking in both studios, the Coach House, the Artist's Walk through native bushland, and the walled kitchen garden dating to the 1890s. A garden-only entry is available for those who simply want to wander the historic grounds. The property is managed by the Heysen Foundation and is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.
Scenic views
