The Society celebrated the unveiling of a new and much anticipated sculpture titled “Marion’s Nature” at Castlecrag village shops on Sunday 15 February 2026.

Created by acclaimed Australian artist Sandra PItkin as a tribute to Marion Mahony Griffin, the work honours Marion’s unique architectural vision, her deep love of the Australian bush, and her vital role in shaping and nurturing the spirit of Castlecrag. Through her finely detailed, nature-inspired practice, Sandra has created a sculpture that beautifully echoes Marion’s own creative vision — a fitting and lasting tribute.

The steel and copper sculpture represents the local bushland, together with precise geometric elements that characterise Marion’s work. It is wonderful to have a sculpture in Castlecrag that specifically honours Marion’s contribution to the formation of this suburb, and her role in establishing this unique community. We thank the many generous donors who supported the creation of this civic artwork.

At the unveiling ceremony, in her address guest speaker Catherine Lassen, architect, senior lecturer and the 2023 Marion Mahony Griffin Prize Winner, highlighted Mahony’s significant contributions to architecture and her deep connection to the Australian landscape.

The unveiling ceremony, which featured a performance by the Glenaeon School Choir singing from their Australian repertoire, celebrated Mahony’s legacy as a pioneer in “organic” design and her role in the creation of Canberra, as well as her community and environmental work in Castlecrag. The event was organised jointly by the Griffin Society and Willoughby City Council, with a formal acceptance by Mayor Tanya Taylor.

The Society’s Patron John McInerney AM praised artist Sandra Pitkin for her amazing and beautiful work, and he sincerely thanked the many donors for their kind support making the sculpture possible. They are: Castlecrag Progress Association, Glenaeon Rudolph Steiner School, Anne Armstrong, Mark Armstrong, Annelise Beljaars, Colin Burman, Matilde Busana, Jocelyn Chey, Mark and Kate Crew, Andrew Davis, Josephine de Monchaux, Anne Dennington, Dean Duckworth, Barry Duncan, Dorothy Fraser, Peter Freeman, Elizabeth Friend, Peter Graves, Louise Grinham, Bronwyn Guthrie, Tania Hilder, Kimberley Holden, Timothy Horton, Paul and Lynne Hutton, John Kabos, Adrienne Kabos, Kristin Kool-Clarke, Glenda Korporaal, Howard Lea, Trevor Lee, Kerry Lee, Mary Lightfoot, Kate McCann, Kerry McKillop, Glennis Mowday, Marie Nicholls, Brett Odgers, Annette Pitman, Peter Prentice, Wendy Radcliffe, Anna Rubbo, Linda Russell, Eric Sierins, Ian Smith, Andrew Stewart, David and Shirley Taylor, Michael Thomson, Akky van Ogtrop, Anne Watson, Terry Wiesner, six anonymous donors.

The 150th anniversary of Walter Burley Griffin’s birth will be celebrated with many events:

 

Sunday 3 May 2026, 10.00am onwards
Celebrating Castlecrag: Walter Burley Griffin’s 150th birthday – open houses

Immerse yourself in Castlecrag’s unique heritage!
Open houses: Visit four Griffin designed homes and enjoy this rare opportunity to appreciate their interiors, design features and gardens. Built in the 1920s and early 30s, these houses created by the Griffins are a highlight of Castlecrag, a suburb unlike any other in Sydney.

Also enjoy the gardens of the Cheong and Grant houses, and the Griffin reserves and walkways on the self-guided walk from GSDA No.1 Dwelling, the Johnson and Moon houses down to the Duncan house. Wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat and bring water.

Purchase your ticket to obtain access to the 4 houses and 2 gardens
www.trybooking.com/DJMKC
Members of the Walter Burley Griffin Society receive 20% discount. Join the Society to receive your discount code
www.trybooking.com/DJMLB
Adult: $75 Family: $185
Member: $60 Member family: $148

The open houses event is supported by a
Willoughby City Council Community Program Grant.

 

Sunday 3 May 2026
FREE film screenings:
Screenings at 11.15am, 2.15pm and 3.15pm.
Allow 40 minutes to view the films.

Marion Mahony Griffin Hall, Glenaeon Infants School, Castlecrag
Enjoy historic and contemporary short films, inspired by the Griffin story at Castlecrag
Marion Mahony Griffin Hall, Glenaeon School Castlecrag Campus, 121 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag.

We thank Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School for the use of the Marion Mahony Griffin Hall at its Castlecrag Campus for the FREE film screenings.

 

Sunday 3 May 2026, 9.00am
Ferns, Fairies and Features: Castlecrag’s hidden Haven Amphitheatre

A guided site visit and talk by landscape architect James Smallson, at the much celebrated Marion Mahony Griffin bush amphitheatre, located in a quiet glen on the foreshore of Middle Harbour.

Learn how the Griffins created a community surrounded by nature.
Adult: $25
www.trybooking.com/DKCWI

 

The Griffins’ Melbourne guided tour
Saturday 17 October to Monday 19 October 2026
Visit Capitol Theatre, Newman College, and the Langhi Flats at Toorak on Saturday followed by a coach tour on Sunday to Eaglemont Estate (the Griffin designed subdivision) and ‘Pholiota’ (the tiny knitlock house where the Griffins lived from 1922 to 1925).

An optional self-drive tour on Monday to the Griffin subdivision of Ranelagh 1 hour south of Melbourne is planned.

Further information will be on this webpage in July.

Friday 11 July 2025
2pm to 3pm

An illustrated talk presented by the Walter Burley Griffin Society’s Vice President
Michael Thomson as part of the Australian Art Deco Festival – Leeton.

Take a fascinating journey into the design legacy of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, exploring how their distinctive architectural motifs—across the US, Australia, and India—echo themes later embraced by the Art Deco movement. This illustrated talk will highlight the decorative details that defined their work: art glass windows, custom furniture, lighting, and furnishings, with a special focus on Melbourne’s iconic Capitol Theatre.

Presented in the intimate setting of Peddler’s Corner, this event offers rich insight for lovers
of architecture, history, and design. Your ticket includes refreshments (coffee & cake).
Spaces are limited—book early to avoid disappointment. Book at:
https://events.humanitix.com/griffins-and-art-deco

Sunday 4 May 2025
Tour: 10:00am to 11.30am

Discover how Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin created a unique neighbourhood that celebrated the beauty of the Australian bush.

This 1.5 hour guided walk will encounter Griffin architecture, secluded walkways and hidden natural reserves, and also include the garden of one of the Griffin houses. The tour will reveal the international importance of the Griffins’ Castlecrag designed in harmony with the natural world.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water.

Adults $20, Members $15, Family $50.
Tickets are strictly limited and essential for this special event. Book at Trybooking
https://www.trybooking.com/CYUQU

Note: Castlecrag has two cafes: Ganache Patisserie Francaise and Walter Providore. The Incinerator Cafe at Willoughby is 2km away in a building designed by Walter Burley Griffin.

Saturday 4 May 2024

Morning tour: 10am to 12.30pm
Afternoon tour: 2pm to 4.30pm

Take a guided walk in the Griffins’ Castlecrag and visit the interiors of two beautifully restored homes designed by Walter Burley Griffin.

Both houses have fascinating and innovative architectural features.

The Felstead House built in 1924 has a central open courtyard, now an atrium, and is built of knitlock, an interlocking building tile developed by Griffin.

The Duncan House, as seen on ABC TV’s ‘Restoration Australia’ last year, has an unusual design combining sandstone corner piers with French doors and knitlock.

On the guided walk between the two houses discover this unique Middle Harbour peninsula and its distinctive walkway and reserve network where the guiding Griffin principle was for the buildings to be subordinate to the landscape.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the sculpture to honour Marion Mahony Griffin, to be installed at Castlecrag later this year. Designed by artist Sandra Pitkin, the sculpture has been commissioned by the Walter Burley Griffin Society.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water.

Adults $80, Members $65

Tickets are strictly limited and essential for this special event. Book at Trybooking
https://www.trybooking.com/CPKCI

Note: Nearby on the same day, the Castlecrag Progress Association will be screening a short film The Paradise Plan which explores connections between Canberra and Castlecrag told through the gigante puppets of Walter and Marion. See National Trust Heritage Festival event The Paradise Plan, Castlecrag to book free tickets. The screenings will be at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 4.45pm.

Castlecrag has two cafes: Ganache Patisserie Francaise and Walter Providore. The Incinerator Cafe at Willoughby is 2km away in a building designed by Walter Burley Griffin.

Sunday 13 August 2023
Time 10.30am to 11.30am

We are delighted to announce that Professor Anthony Burke, the presenter of “Restoration Australia” will give a talk on his discovery of Castlecrag and the Duncan House, and how he sees the Griffins’ work relate to Australian architecture, and behind the scenes stories of the filming of the Duncan House. 

Anthony Burke is Professor of Architecture and Course Director for the Master of Architecture in the Faculty of Design Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney. He has been host and presenter of the ABC TV’s “Restoration Australia” since 2019.

Tickets are strictly limited and essential for this special event at the Marion Mahony Griffin Hall, Glenaeon Infants School, Castlecrag.

Adults $40, Members $30

Book at Trybooking

https://www.trybooking.com/1088873

Also on Sunday 13 August 2023

Special viewing of the Duncan House’s interiors and garden.

Designed by Walter Burley Griffin and built in 1934 with a unique combination of knitlock and sandstone corner piers this minimalist house was testament to the Griffin’s design philosophy of subordinating buildings in the landscape. As documented on ABC TV’s “Restoration Australia”, the Duncan House has been sensitively restored and the large 1990s addition transformed to be more sympathetic to the original Griffin house. Shoes will need to be removed before entering the house.

Landscape architect James Smallson will lead the 20 minute walk down to the Duncan House through a couple of reserves in this model suburb developed by the Griffins in 1921. Please wear sensible walking shoes suited to walking on uneven steps and dirt walkway.

Choose one of two guided walks to the Duncan House and then a special viewing of its interiors and garden.
1st tour time: 11.45am to 1.15pm
2nd tour time: 1.45pm to 3.15pm

Adults $50, Members $40

Tickets are strictly limited and essential for this special event. Book at Trybooking
https://www.trybooking.com/1088947

Note: People wishing to do both the talk at the hall in the morning, and one of these open house tours may wish to have lunch at Castlecrag café Walter Providore or at The Incinerator café, Small Street, Willoughby.

Guest speaker Emily Catt, exhibition curator at the National Archives of Australia (NAA) will give a talk titled Well and wiry: the life and work of Marion Mahony Griffin.

Emily Catt curated the exhibition Marion: the other Griffin at the NAA in February to May 2022. In her talk she will explore some of the stories she was able to tell in the exhibition and some she couldn’t.  In addition she will be talking about bringing Marion’s story to life in an exhibition format.  “Well and wiry” was a description Marion used to describe herself in her grand memoir “The Magic of America” (circa 1942).

The lecture will be held in both Canberra and Sydney with Emily kindly giving the talk in both cities.

SYDNEY
Date: Sunday 20 November 2022
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Marion Mahony Griffin Hall, Glenaeon Infants School, 121 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag.
Bookings essential
General admission      $20
Members                     $15
Students / Concession  $5
https://www.trybooking.com/CDTDD

_______________________________

CANBERRA
Date: Saturday 26 November 2022.
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: National Archives of Australia function room, Kings Avenue, Parkes.
Bookings essential
General admission      $20
Members                     $15
Students / Concession  $5
https://www.trybooking.com/CDTDR

We encourage audience members to wear masks.