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Nestled in a small clearing with sweeping views to the mountain ranges, there’s an instant connection with nature and a very obvious disconnection from the urban way of life.
The Mill Cabin Artist Residency is a self-directed, week-long program designed to provide artists with uninterrupted time and space to focus on their practice. Each year, one artist from across Australia is selected to spend seven nights at the cabin in September, a period intentionally chosen for its quieter, reflective seasonal quality.
Unlike many structured residencies with formal schedules or workshops, Mill Cabin’s program embraces creative solitude. Artists are encouraged to bring their own materials and supplies — the only on-site provision is an artist’s easel — and are responsible for their own food and travel arrangements. This minimalist approach invites true immersion in both artistic work and the surrounding landscape.
At the end of their stay, residents leave behind a statement about their experience along with a small piece of artwork or sketch, creating a subtle legacy that connects future visitors and residents to the creative history of the place.
Mill Cabin exists lightly on the land. Completely off-grid, it operates within the limits of its environment, using collected rainwater and composting waste to return nutrients back to the earth. This way of living is not a statement but a practice—one that asks for care, restraint, and attention to what is used and what is enough. By working with natural systems rather than against them, Mill Cabin reflects a commitment to sustainability, simplicity, and a more reciprocal relationship with the land.
Mill Cabin draws quiet inspiration from the old stockmen’s huts scattered throughout the high country—humble fixtures of the alpine landscape that speak to endurance, resourcefulness, and a way of life shaped by necessity rather than excess. These huts informed the philosophy of Mill Cabin: that having less can sharpen attention, anchor us in the present, and make space for clarity and contentment. In their simplicity, we’re reminded that comfort doesn’t come from accumulation, but from alignment—with nature, purpose, and the moment at hand.
Mill Cabin is built in quiet conversation with its surroundings. The granite rock that anchors the cabin was hand-picked from the landscape—28-tonne chosen with care—while native hardwood timbers are used throughout, valued for their strength, longevity, and connection to the environment. These materials are not taken lightly, but borrowed with respect. We believe that any mark we leave on the land should be considered, restrained, and minimal, guided by the understanding that we are temporary guests within a much older environment.
Set at 1,340 metres above sea level, Mill Cabin sits quietly within a vast alpine landscape, surrounded by open sky and complete privacy. This elevation brings with it a closeness to remarkable wildlife—animals that move through this place with a rhythm far older than ours. We observe with care, keep our distance, and acknowledge that we are visitors on their patch. Our presence here is guided by respect, restraint, and an understanding that the land and its inhabitants come first.
