In 1972 Roberta and her husband Jack Howland moved to Berrima and in the following year founded The Barn Gallery specialising in antiques and fine arts. It was Berrima’s largest gallery and attracted many clients. After her husband’s sudden death in 1978, Roberta decided to continue the business by herself and to focus more on the presentation of quality Australian art. She extended The Barn Gallery and organised 17 major exhibitions between 1983 and 1989.
The first exhibition was of Pro Hart’s works. One account in the local press describes the event as follows:
The beautiful Barn Gallery at Berrima is presenting one of the most exciting exhibitions ever to come to this district. [Southern Highlands News, Friday June 3, 1983.]
Exhibitions at The Barn were major events for residents of the Southern Highlands. The quality of the exhibitions also attracted people from Sydney and elsewhere to Berrima, which was increasingly seen as a tourism destination. Roberta invited experts in the appropriate fields to open the exhibitions and introduced them to Berrima and district. In turn, the local residents were treated to explanations of a wide range of art by interesting and informed speakers.
The response to exhibitions at The Barn Gallery was so enthusiastic that Roberta decided a different space was needed to continue her work. She sold The Barn Gallery in 1989 to finance the creation of a new, purpose-built gallery.
For some photos of the Barn Gallery, please see below:
