Links & Resources

The Boyd family's home, Open Country, in Wahroongaa Crescent in Murrumbeena was, between the 1910s and 1950s, a place of intense creativity. Artists, with differing skills, abilities and interests were drawn to this community, or found themselves by circumstance, a part of it. The following websites feature the lives and art of some of these artists. They are Merric and Doris Boyd, owners of Open Country, their daughter, Lucy Boyd Beck and her husband, Hatton Beck, close and long-time family friend, Friedl Gardner, and Jean Langley, another family friend who came to know the Boyds in the later years at Murrumbeena. 

Merric Boyd, who, as well as being debatably Australia's most important potter, produced original and unique drawings, especially in the latter part of his life. 

Doris Boyd, whose art interests included poetry, ceramic decoration and painting in oil paint and in watercolours. 

Lucy Boyd Beck, who painted in glazes and watercolours to produce unique artworks. 

Hatton Beck, an expert in ceramic chemistry, a sculptor and a painter of landscapes. 

Friedl Gardner, a painter of native wildflowers who also produced remarkable collages, and artworks that combined collage and watercolours. 

Jean Langley, a gifted writer who also produced a diverse body of artwork including landscape and botanical paintings, and drawings.