Home Stories: Sarah Balzer

Posted on 22 November, 2019

This week, Ashley Feraude visits an old colleague at her home in Hackett that’s filled with art, plants and even more art.

The last time I ran into Sarah was at Sydney Airport—I was returning from meetings in the city while Sarah was on the last stretch home from China. She was slightly dazed and confused and hauling around a large carry on, but still up for a good conversation.

I wanted to ask her then if I could do a Home Story on her, but the final boarding call (and the evil eye from one of the boarding crew) interrupted us. Fast-forward a few months, and I was very glad to see that a friend had suggested Sarah’s home for this series.

This time, Sarah looked refreshed and cheerful—her carry on replaced by her baby Lotte—and she welcomed Cass and I into her bright home in Hackett with a cup of tea.

Sarah and I used to work together at National Gallery of Australia (NGA) before she headed over to her current role at the National Museum of Australia. I reminded her of her departing words before she left the NGA—”I’ll return one day, Ashley, as the Director and then you can work in Marketing for me”.

She specifically told me not to put this in the story, but you see I have to, because it’s a perfect representation of Sarah’s personal drive and good humour. And my stories are all about you getting an insight into people.

Sarah and her partner Simon bought the house after deciding on Hackett about three years ago. The choice of suburb was cemented when Sarah noticed all the wooden tepees made by children in the nature reserve, a practice she vividly remembers from her childhood.

“I used to say that Downer was too much of a downer, Watson was for people named Watson, but I could hack living in Hackett,” says Sarah. Well, now she more than hacks it—she loves it.

The wide streets, great neighbours and—most importantly—the strong bush element close to the ridge are the parts she loves the most. Being a completely non-pretentious person Sarah refers— tongue-in-cheek—to this section of the suburb as Hackett Heights. It made me ponder: is there such a thing as Downer Heights, or would that just cancel itself out?

Sarah and Simon haven’t done much to the place aside from the usual touch ups—and nor do they have to. The home is really airy and spacious, aided by huge, original windows in each room.

It has that kind of nonchalant and effortless feel about it—the way really cool people look when they get out of bed. I attribute this ‘cool factor’ to three things—the vintage furniture, the mass of art on the walls and, of course, the family in it…including Scruffy the dog.

And, what makes Scruffy cool? Well, during our visit I could see him through the lounge window walking himself up and down the footpath. Clearly too cool for a leash.

Sarah originally received a lot of the furniture from her late Papa and, to continue that look and feel, she and Simon have not purchased any new furniture, instead opting for vintage or recycled pieces.

“Having family objects in the home is my way of introducing Lotte to her history,” explains Sarah, adding that Lotte’s clothes are bought via Instagram auctions. What started as a way to celebrate the past and save a bit of coin turned into an aesthetic direction and has now become Sarah and Simon’s way of personally supporting sustainability and responsible consumerism.

“We got an unexpected tax return a few years ago and pretty much went crazy spending it on art, until we ran out of walls to hang it on,” says Sarah.

She explains that they picked what they liked without any other parameters to their decision making. The result is that they love everything they have, despite the stylistic differences. It helps bring every room to life with a different mood or style.

“We change the hang around now and then to make sure we don’t get accustomed to the pieces,” says Sarah. “They are all important to us and they deserve our attention.”

With those words, I realise that the line Sarah said to me all those years ago had more truth to it then she realises. She has returned as a Director—Director of the Sarah Balzer Galley.

As a result, Cass and I—and now you, good reader—have been lucky enough to visit it for free. In some weird way, I guess I just did the marketing for her too…