Program
Overview
Located in Caulfield North, Victoria, Australia, Conservatory Residency is the only residency in the world to take place in a conservatory setting.
Standing on the lands of the Boon Wurrung/Bunurong and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, this ornate nineteenth century British conservatory has a fascinating history. It was once the actual greenhouse of the nearby Labassa estate, a lavish private residence built in 1889 that was converted into flats in the 1920s, acted as post-war housing for European immigrants in the 1950s, and was then taken over by artists and musicians in the 1960s and 1970s. Labassa is now part of the National Trust of Victoria portfolio of significant architectural sites, and is frequently used for filming tv shows and even Hollywood movies. Learn more about Labassa’s interesting history in this documentary here.
Over time the Labassa estate was sub-divided and the conservatory was boarded up and converted into a residential home. Current owner and Founder & Director of Conservatory Residency, Léna Pangalo, has painstakingly returned the Conservatory to its former glory. It now acts as a communal living, kitchen and dining area for her and her husband.
Conservatory Residency provides an escape from the “everyday” to immerse oneself in the architecture, gardens and surroundings that share layers of history reflective of Australia’s unique national identity. The program is designed to foster deep thinking, reflection, evaluation and innovation across all relevant disciplines. Set on a residential property, Conservatory Residency offers three-week residencies for local, national and international professionals and artists to live and work on site in a private live/work studio with full access to the communal conservatory. Recipients also gain supervised access to Labassa, as well as other nearby National Trust sites of architectural and historical significance, Como and Rippon Lea.
How to Apply-
Applicants MUST meet the following criteria before applying:
A proven record of professional activity over at least three years
Applicants can only submit one application in any given round
Alumni can re-apply three years following their prior residency
International applicants must have good English language skills for the experience to be mutually beneficial.
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In 2026/2027 residencies will take place during the following three week periods:
9 - 30 November 2026 (INVITATIONAL)
1 - 22 March 2027
7 - 28 June 2027
2 - 23 August 2027
18 October - 8 November 2027 (INVITATIONAL)
Applications will open at 9am AEDT on Monday 9 November 2026 and close on Friday 11 December at 5pm AEDT.
Placements will be finalised by the end of 2026 and announced in February 2027.
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Recipients will receive grants to be used towards travel expenses, production and living costs. Local Victorian artists will receive AUD$3,000; inter-state artists will receive AUD$4,000; and International AUD$6,000 respectively.
Accommodation within a private live/work studio is provided free of charge.
Access to the grounds and mansion at Labassa.
Free access to Labassa Open Days (third Sunday of each month).
Free access to the gardens of National Trust sites Como (South Yarra) and Rippon Lea (Elsternwick) during public opening hours.
1 x free Guided Tour of Como mansion (subject to availability).
1 x free Guided Tour of Rippon Lea mansion (subject to availability).
Small event at the end of each residency held on site at Conservatory Residency eg. talk, open studio etc.
Inclusion in annual exhibition and in-conversation held at Labassa with other participants and Alumni each year.
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Through the online application form, applicants must demonstrate the following Selection Criteria:
Quality of work and at least three years relevant professional experience.
Ability to engage in a meaningful way with Conservatory Residency and our community.
Clarity of purpose and a compelling rationale linking the applicant’s practice with Conservatory Residency.
Capacity to share ongoing outcomes or findings on completion of the residency.
Generosity, curiosity and adaptability.
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Conservatory Residency offers an annual open-call for applications as well as some invitational placements to ensure diversity, equity, access and inclusion.
Applications must be submitted online using this form by 5pm AEDT on 11 December 2026: www.conservatoryresidency.smartygrants.com.au
The application form can be previewed so you can see exactly what you are required to answer and upload prior to submission.
Please note the application form will close automatically at the specified deadline. No exceptions will be permitted, so we recommend you submit well in advance of the deadline.
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Applications will be shortlisted by Conservatory Residency and online interviews conducted with candidates.
Given the unique access to Labassa and other National Trust of Victoria sites, Conservatory Residency will notify the National Trust of Victoria of preferred candidates to ensure alignment with their heritage-listed properties and gardens.
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Residencies are for three-weeks during set periods each year (see dates above). Applicants must ensure availability during these dates.
In order to receive their grant payment, recipients must provide an invoice.
All participants must provide Conservatory Residency with a scanned copy of their passport; visa (if required); travel, medical and public liability insurance as required before arrival.
Residents are provided up to 14 hours access to the grounds and mansion at Labassa. Visitation will need to be booked in advance and will include an induction and supervised visits between the hours of 9am - 3pm Monday to Thursday.
All recipients must submit a residency report including financial acquittal to Conservatory Residency within two months of the end of their residency (online form will be provided).
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Where is the residency program located? The residency is located in Caulfield North, Victoria, Australia in very close proximity to Labassa. To respect the privacy of the property’s owners, the exact address will only be provided to successful recipients.
What type of organisation is Conservatory Residency? It is a private residency program founded and directed by Léna Pangalo.
When was Conservatory Residency Founded? 2026.
How long can I stay? Conservatory Residency offers 5 - 6 x residencies per year of three-weeks duration each during set date periods.
What languages are spoken by the hosts? The working language is English however Founder & Director Léna Pangalo also speaks fluent French and Greek. It is expected that all participants will have good English language skills in order for the experience to be mutually beneficial.
How many people can stay there at one time? There is only one live/work studio that is separated from the host’s private living quarters (see site plan below). It is quite small and has a double bed that could squeeze a collaborative artist couple in but is best suited to individuals. Please note that collaborative applicant couples are encouraged to contact Conservatory Residency before applying. Also note that the grant amount provided remains the same for collaborative couples as for individuals. Collaborative applicants should nominate one primary contact and submit one application only.
Can I bring my family? Unfortunately the residency is not suited to families due to its scale, but if Victorians apply there is negotiated flexibility for carers. Please just reach out to us to discuss before applying.
Is the residency wheelchair accessible? Unfortunately due to architectural limitations of the heritage-listed buildings, the residency program is not accessible for wheelchair users. If you are based in Victoria and interested in doing the residency but use a wheelchair, please get in touch and we can see how we might accommodate an alternative approach.
What about other disabilities? Please get in touch to discuss your requirements. We will try to offer flexible approaches for Victorian participants but unfortunately the site does not have additional accommodation for carers.
Do you allow service dogs? Yes service dogs are welcome at Conservatory Residency. It is the full responsibility of participants requiring service dogs to look after their dogs, clean up after them and ensure no damage to the property.
Do I have the entire property to myself? There is a live/work studio that is separated from the host’s private living quarters. The live/work studio has a separate bedroom, bathroom and studio space. The studio is equipped with a bar fridge and kettle for comfort. Participants will share the communal kitchen, living and dining space inside the Conservatory with the hosts, and are welcome to use the conservatory as an additional work space. The hosts are very respectful of allowing participants to have their own time and privacy, but also welcome some engagement through a shared meal or conversation.
What facilities are available to me? Private live/work studio with bar fridge and kettle, easel, desk, printer, basic stationary; shared communal kitchen (fully-equipped)/living dining; swimming pool (use to be negotiated with host); gardens; conversation pit.
What is the application process? The application process is outlined on this web page. We conduct one open-call for applications each year, as well as some invitational residencies to ensure diversity, equity, access and inclusion.
Do I have to pay? No. Each residency provides free accommodation and a generous residency grant provided by the host of AUD$3,000 for local Victorian recipients; AUD$4,000 for inter-state recipients; and AUD$6,000 for internationals. The grant is to be used for travel expenses, production costs and daily living expenses.
Are there any expectations of participants? Being only three weeks, the residency is designed to enable participants to think, reflect, evaluate and innovate. There will be a small event on site at Conservatory Residency at the end of each residency to showcase the participant’s experience eg. talk, reading, open studio etc. At the end of each year a larger event will take place at Labassa with annual participants and Alumni to exhibit their works in progress or outcomes and have a public in-conversation. Participants are encouraged to keep updating Conservatory Residency on their findings and outcomes, and attribute their successes to the program. We also encourage participants to become active Alumni members. We ask that participants engage with the host to some extent and uphold the Values of Conservatory Residency.
Who selects participants? Selection of participants is made by Conservatory Residency. We also seek feedback on our final decision from National Trust of Victoria in regards alignments with their heritage-listed sites. All shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online interview.
What do I get? In addition to free accommodation and the grant (see above), participants are provided with unique access to Labassa and other National Trust sites. Please see ‘Offering’ tab above for further details.
What disciplines does the residency support? Conservatory Residency is open to all relevant disciplines and sectors - from artists to architects, historians, gardeners and costume designers. We want to support curious people who are interested in the site, its layers of history and connection to Labassa, and the way it reflects Australian national identity. The live/work studio space is restrictive in scale, but residents are not expected to create finished works or research in a three-week period. Participants can also use the Conservatory as additional work space, as well as work on site at Labassa (see below).
Can I also work on site at Labassa? Yes. Each participant will have up to 14 hours supervised access at Labassa. This could be taken in big blocks or spread out. Participants will be inducted before their first visit to Labassa but they are welcome to document Labassa through film or photography; must use drop sheets to protect floors and walls; no hot work or flames within the property; no use of products that produce chemical residue; no touching walls; no wearing stiletto heels.
Can you tell me about the surrounding area? The residency is located in a private residential property in suburban Melbourne. There are shops within walking distance and ample public transport options to neighbouring Balaclava, St Kilda and the Melbourne CBD.
