Your Gift Can Help Bring Writers and Readers Together
For more than three decades, Varuna the National Writers’ House has nurtured Australia’s literary culture, offering time, space and inspiration to generations of writers whose stories have shaped our national imagination.
Now, we’re building a new space in the gardens of Varuna — a contemporary home for readers and writers to come together all year round. A place to host conversations, workshops and events, bringing the creative spirit of the ‘big yellow house’ to the wider literary community.
We need your help!
Thanks to government support and the generosity of our community, including a significant donation from our Patron, David Hammon, we’ve already raised over $1 million. We’re nearly there but still have $55,000 to go! With your help, we can complete construction and open the doors to this space for writers, readers and our community.
Thank you to our donors so far . . .
We are so grateful to everyone who has donated to our building campaign so far. We have now raised over $29,700, with additional pledges underway.
We would like to acknowledge in particular the generosity of the Blignault family, our patron David Hammon, the community giving program of Bendigo Bank, The Bridge Awards, and donors Pip Williams, Chris Hammer, Jodie How, LaNiece Dillon and Lynne Cook.
We are also very grateful for donations from Alexandra Creece, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Belinda Bower, Beverly Goldfarb, Bridget Carty, Caroline Tingate, Catherine Cooney, Charlotte Clutterbuck, David White, Debra Kandelaars, Dina Davis, Dolla Merrillees, Elizabeth Evatt, Fiona Wright, Gillian Telford, Ha To, Henry Chase Richards, Jane Carrick, Jennifer Scott, Jessica White, Joan Crawley, John Shand, Kathleen Santleben, Kathryn Liebmann, Kerry Littrich, Lindsay Holliday, Lynette Ainsworth, Margaret Morgan, Margery Green, Meredith Curnow, Merridy Staiger, Morna Seres, Evelyn Roberts, Neil McLachlan, Nicole Abadee, Nimity James, Patti Miller, Peter Poulos, Philippa McGuinness, Richard Gilzean, Sharlene Allsopp, Sharon Dames, Sharryn Ryan, Stephen Hunter, Susan Francis, Susan Hayes, Susan Lenehan, Teresa Savage, Therese Kendall, Trevor Tucker, Veechi Stuart, Vesna Leto and Viktoria Rendes.
What your money can do
Your gift, whether it be $5 or $5,000, will contribute to transforming Varuna and our writing community.
YOUR GIFT OF $250
Your gift of $250 will enable a year-round program of writing workshops and professional development programs for writers.
YOUR GIFT OF $500
Your gift of $500 will make Varuna a more inclusive space. The original heritage building does not have accessible toilets, but our new community building will!
YOUR GIFT OF $1,000
Your gift of $1,000 will help us complete a space where Varuna and the Blue Mountains Writers Festival can host a year-round calendar of literary events, rather than just 3 days a year! The names of all donors gifting $1,000 or more will be acknowledged on a plaque at the new building.
YOUR CUSTOM DONATION
Your custom gift, whether it be $5 or $50,000, will make all the difference to completing this building and creating a new literary hub in the Blue Mountains.
The Eleanor Dark Foundation is a registered charity, and your donation is tax deductible.
If you are interested in visiting Varuna the National Writers’ House to view the work in progress, or if you’d like to talk to our Executive Director Veechi Stuart, you’d be really welcome. Please get in touch.