Sydney’s Bohemian Underbelly Rumbles on Armchair Traveller

The Historic Houses Trust recently breathed life back into Elizabeth Bay House.

Meagan Fitton, producer and presenter of Armchair Traveller, along with Christopher Finneran, Photographer, attended the Historic Houses Trust’s Masked Artists Ball, where they captured a bohemian revival.

On the evening of Saturday the 26th of February, 2011, Elizabeth Bay House, known for its debotourous past, rehoused the creative and curious. Donned with masks and ready for mahem, they arrived to find a beautiful building which at day poses as a museum, but on this particular evening every room was privy to a private party, whether it was body painting, sketching, burlesque dance or games of the imagination.

The stunning Mrs Bang (Sheridan Harbridge) was MC of the evening, giving a splash of Australia’s colonial past with her cockney accent. She charged the crowd with ‘tit’-ilating songs.

Roving artists entertained with dance and poetry, while ‘purrrrfectly’ painted,’ ‘Mr Bondi’ pranced about.

And if the event itself wasn’t enough proof that Historic Houses Trust likes to break the stuffy museum mold, Curator Scott Hill, donned fez and stepped out onto the balcony of Elizabeth Bay House to call in the bohems. In a true moment of Bohemianism, as he waived to passers by he turned to find that he was being ‘mooned’, by none other than burlesque artist and nude model Sarina del Fuego as she displayed her derrière through the window.

It was an eclectic crowd, with not everyone calling themselves an artist – but ultimately all rejoiced as the green fairy took flight – some were looking for a little ‘more’ than naughty songs and dance as they planned for an after party elsewhere.

All the juicy details broadcast on Armchair Traveller with Meagan Fitton on Wednesday from 11.30am til noon – Wednesday March 2nd, 2011.