friends-of-hazelhurst

FRIENDS ON SHOW 2026

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:49:45 GMT

Friday 25 September – Tuesday 13 October 2026

More details coming soon

Photo from FOS 2025

Classic Man

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:12:49 GMT

Text and photo by Robyn Jordan

Classic Man, by Francis Upritchard, was presented by FOH in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of Hazelhurst and the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Friends of Hazelhurst.

Classic Man is crafted from bronze, a timeless material that sculptors have used for thousands of years. The title connects to the art of Classical Greece. However, unlike Greek statues that usually show heroic and beautiful figures, this ‘Classic Man’ is quite ordinary.

The sculpture is a tribute to the bust often used for portraits. But it also has a rough finish, reminiscent of works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

Francis Upritchard is an artist who blends figurative sculpture, craft traditions, and design, all while drawing inspiration from literature and history. She creates work across the globe. In the welcome plaza of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Naala Badu building, you will find Francis Upritchard’s famous work Here Comes Everybody. These towering figures welcome visitors to the premier gallery in NSW. Is Classic Man their little brother? We are happy to have him welcoming visitors to Hazelhurst.

FOH acknowledges the assistance of Victoria Wynne-Jones, Hazelhurst Curator in sourcing this artwork. The work was purchased from Fine Arts Paddington.

2025 Presidents Annual Report

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:31:07 GMT

Annual report 2025

The 2025 Annual Report has now been published.

Gargoyles & Grotesques Walking Tour

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:29:33 GMT

Friends Sydney University walking tour

Our Friends enjoyed a morning of history, story telling and architecture at Sydney University. Followed by a drawing session in the historic grounds.

Friends visit Everglades House and Garden

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:29:30 GMT

Coach trip to Leura

It was a delightful weather day in Leura to visit Everglades House and Garden. The yellow tulips were a special treat and Bruce our guide gave us a very informative tour of the house. Lunch was at Bygone Beauty's Tea house were we had a talk on the history of the tea pot collection served with a light delicious lunch.

Friends Artztalks

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:27:14 GMT

July Artztalk

The Renaissance

Friends on Show 2025 member Exhibition

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:24:17 GMT

Opening celebration of Friends on Show exhibition.

President of the Friends of Hazelhurst Robyn Jordan welcoming artists, supporters and FOH members to the opening celebration of Friends on Show exhibition 2025.

Gallery visit and tour of exhibition New South

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:40:55 GMT

Visit from our Friends at Mosman Gallery

On Thursday 29 ^th August Mosman Art Gallery members joined the Friends of Hazelhurst to an exclusive guided tour of the NEW SOUTH by curator and Hazelhurst Gallery Director Sebastian Goldsmith. Followed by morning tea in the historic Hazelhurst Cottage.

Painting: Artist, Laura Jones.

Photos: @chalkhorsegallery.

Bundeena Artist Studio Visit

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 05:32:25 GMT

The Friends of Hazelhurst winter artist studio visit to Bundeena on the 17 ^th June 2024

A wonderful and rare opportunity for the FOH to visit art studios in Bundeena and engage with six well known and highly regarded artists who are passionate about their work.

The day provided experiences which were inspiring, interesting, informative and sometimes confronting as the artists shared with us,the meaning of their works.

Some of the Friends of Hazelhurst members with artist Bob Marchant.

Friends on Show 2024 report

annetyrrell@bigpond.com (Anne Tyrrell) — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 01:20:01 GMT

Friends on Show 2024 report

The Friends on Show Exhibition was an outstanding success this year.

The Friends of Hazelhurst continue to support local artists and fostering community engagement with the arts is such an important endeavour. The exhibition featured 109 Friends of Hazelhurst artist members, who are local artists.

The exhibition truly resonated with people of all ages, which is a testament to the diverse talent showcased and the hard work put in by everyone involved.

Art Rules Exhibition in the Broadhurst Gallery Hazelhurst Dec 23 - Jan 24

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 02:07:04 GMT

Friends supporting students.

Art Rules 2023

Visual Arts from Southern Sydney local HSC student artworks selected for this exhibition by the Hazelhurst curatorial staff.

Congratulations to Friends of Hazelhurst Encouragement Award winner of $500 Sienna Bhuiyan from Georges River Senior Campus for her art work Yarn to Yarn.

How COG Marketing Transformed Friends of Hazelhurst’s Digital Presence

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:45:02 GMT

Case Study: How COG Marketing Transformed Friends of Hazelhurst’s Digital Presence

Friends of Hazelhurst is a not-for-profit community organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre in the Sutherland Shire. Established in 1995, the organisation brings together art lovers, creatives, and community members to celebrate culture, creativity, and social connection within a historically significant setting.

The Hazelhurst site was gifted to the people of the Sutherland Shire by respected local business figures Ben and Hazel Broadhurst and officially passed into public ownership in 1994 following Hazel’s passing. With strong community advocacy, support from Sutherland Shire Council, and backing from influential Australian artists including Gary Shead, George Gittoes, and Bob Marchant, the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre opened in 2000 as a state-of-the-art cultural facility.

As Friends of Hazelhurst evolved into a dynamic arts and social group open to everyone, the organisation recognised the need for a modern digital presence that accurately reflected its purpose, heritage, and contribution to the local arts community. To achieve this, they partnered with COG Marketing, who delivered the strategy and solutions to transform their online presence.

The Challenge

Before partnering with COG Marketing, Friends of Hazelhurst faced several challenges with its digital presence:

The website did not clearly communicate the organisation’s history, purpose, or ongoing role in supporting Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre.
Important information such as membership details, organisational updates, and news was not easily accessible.
The online brand did not fully reflect the professionalism, creativity, and cultural significance of the organisation.
Digital engagement with potential members and supporters was limited.
Website management required a more reliable and future-ready solution.

Friends of Hazelhurst required an integrated solution to modernise its digital presence, strengthen community engagement, and clearly communicate its mission.

The Solution: COG Marketing’s All-In-One Services

Friends of Hazelhurst partnered with COG Marketing for a complete digital transformation. Acting as their key marketing and digital partner, COG Marketing managed every aspect of their online and brand strategy, including:

Website Design and Development

COG Marketing developed a modern, user-friendly website that clearly showcases Friends of Hazelhurst’s purpose, history, and community role. The website was structured to improve navigation and accessibility, making it easy for visitors to explore the organisation’s background, understand its mission, and stay informed through news and updates.

The site is fully mobile-responsive and optimised for performance, ensuring a seamless experience across all devices.

Branding and Graphic Design

COG Marketing refined Friends of Hazelhurst’s visual identity to create a cohesive and professional brand across all digital channels. This included aligning colours, typography, and imagery with the artistic nature and cultural significance of Hazelhurst. The refreshed branding strengthened credibility and ensured consistency across every touchpoint.

Digital Marketing Strategy

Friends of Hazelhurst’s online presence was strengthened through a targeted digital marketing strategy designed to increase visibility, engagement, and community awareness. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) improvements helped ensure the organisation could be easily found by people searching for local arts organisations, galleries, exhibitions, and cultural events in the Sutherland Shire.

Business Strategy

COG Marketing worked closely with Friends of Hazelhurst to align their digital presence with organisational objectives. This included long-term planning, audience profiling, and ensuring the website supports future initiatives, events, and community engagement.

Website Hosting

COG Marketing provided secure, high-performance website hosting solutions. This ensured the Friends of Hazelhurst website remains fast, reliable, and easy to manage, allowing the organisation to focus on arts advocacy and community involvement without technical distractions.

Printing and Promotional Products

COG Marketing extended Friends of Hazelhurst’s brand offline by producing high-quality printed materials and promotional products , including brochures, flyers, event collateral, and membership materials. These items reinforced the organisation’s visual identity, supported community outreach, and complemented the digital presence, creating a consistent and professional brand experience across both online and offline touchpoints.

Results and Future Plans

Since partnering with COG Marketing , Friends of Hazelhurst has experienced improved online engagement, clearer communication with members, and a digital presence that accurately reflects its cultural significance and community-focused mission. The updated website now serves as a strong platform for sharing news, promoting involvement, and supporting the ongoing success of the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre.

Friends of Hazelhurst continues to work with COG Marketing as their trusted marketing partner, ensuring branding, digital presence, and strategic direction evolve alongside the organisation’s future goals. Together, they remain focused on supporting arts, culture, and community engagement across the Sutherland Shire.