WAS Gallery logo in black

About Warragul Art Studios and the WAS Gallery

Warragul Art Studios and the WAS Gallery were launched in November 2019 by the Lorraine family.

The family includes Judy, Hans, Sue and Anne Lorraine with extended family Catherine Truman and Gary McPhedran who have all had long careers practicing their art and crafts.

In 2015 the property at 37 Latrobe Street, Warragul, began its transformation into gallery and studio spaces. The stunning 1930s building has been restored, retaining all its art deco features and modified sympathetically to create character filled gallery spaces.

In February, 2020, the first official exhibition was opened

This was a retrospective of the oils and watercolours of Hans Lorraine (1923-2012). Unfortunately, by March the gallery had to close due to the COVID-19 crisis. It re-opened briefly in the middle of the year but was again closed down due to a second round of restrictions. Consequently, the Hans Lorraine – Artist, Architect and Dunera Boy exhibition remained open until the end of the 2020.

In future each family member will be represented as well as exhibitions by other artists from Gippsland and beyond.

While Hans Lorraine painted, mostly in Sydney:

  • Judy Lorraine has had a 50 year career in ceramics, teaching and public art based mostly in Melbourne and Wedderburn, Victoria
  • Sue Lorraine and Catherine Truman have 40 year careers in jewellery and object making, predominantly in Adelaide
  • Gary McPhedran has worked in ceramics, graphic design, photography and teaching for 40 years
  • and Anne Lorraine has worked as a graphic designer for 35 years, largely in education, as well as a painter and photographer.

Although Hans Lorraine died in 2012 the family retain a large collection of his work, with many pieces for sale.

Judy Lorraine has retired from creating artwork and now lives in Warragul. Sue Lorraine and Catherine Truman, two of the founding members of Gray Street Workshop, continue to run the workshop and create artwork in Thebarton, Adelaide. Gary McPhedran has retired from teaching but works in his ceramic studio at WAS and Anne Lorraine has retired from graphic design and also works in her studio at WAS.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works for 2020 and the WAS Gallery exhibitions. However, plans are underway for the launch of a full schedule of exhibitions in 2021. Amongst which is a major retrospective exhibition of Judy Lorraine’s ceramics in May, 2021, with other family members showing during the year. Having a lovely established garden on a large block, WAS is also planning to develop the grounds as a pleasant place to wander and display sculptural work.

Over time, other artists will be able to exhibit at WAS Gallery with particular priority given to Gippslanders and those connected with the Lorraine family.

View our current and past exhibitions, as well as artwork for sale.