The exhibition Morris & Co | An Adelaide Obsession, running until 29 June, highlights South Australia’s deep admiration for the iconic design firm and its founder, William Morris.
William Morris, a celebrated figure of the arts and crafts movement, was renowned for his opposition to industrial mass production. Instead, Morris & Co. embraced the philosophy of creating quality, handmade designs that valued beauty and function above all. His famous words – “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” – encapsulate the ethos of the movement.
The history
In the 1880s, Adelaide became the largest centre for Morris’s designs outside the UK, a passion largely driven by the influential Barr-Smith family. Ursula Hayward, who built and lived in Carrick Hill with her husband Bill Hayward, inherited much of the Barr-Smith family’s collection, which included a treasure trove of Morris & Co. pieces. The Barr-Smith women were particularly renowned for their love of the Arts & Crafts movement, filling their homes with Morris & Co. furniture, textiles, and wallpapers.
Their passion for Morris & Co. extended far beyond their private residences, influencing the design of Adelaide’s institutions, clubs, and churches – with stained glass windows and other elements showcasing the movement’s beauty. This far-reaching influence was key to fostering Adelaide’s deep appreciation for the Arts & Crafts aesthetic.
Thanks to the Barr-Smith family’s significant collecting efforts, the Art Gallery of South Australia holds the largest collection of Morris & Co. works in the world, after the V&A Museum in London. Morris & Co | An Adelaide Obsession will feature an extensive range of pieces from the AGSA’s collection, alongside works from Carrick Hill’s archives and private collections. These remarkable items will provide a unique glimpse into Adelaide’s rich connection with the Arts & Crafts movement and the lasting legacy of Morris & Co. in South Australia.
Carrick Hill Curator, Dr Ellen Whitton, says: “Through this collection, we not only celebrate exquisite craftsmanship but also highlight women’s powerful role in shaping Adelaide’s artistic heritage.”
“Their passion for Morris & Co. was more than aesthetic—it was a movement,” she adds.
Morris & Co | An Adelaide Obsession is presented by Carrick Hill in collaboration with the Art Gallery of South Australia. Held at Carrick Hill’s House Museum & Wall Gallery, the exhibition is part of South Australia’s History Festival.
