Creative Cuts - Imbil’s pop-up gallery history

Mary Valley visitors and residents alike are loving the new pop-up Art on Yabba Gallery in Imbil’s main street.

The gallery’s next show is Eclectic Treasures, features works from a collection of local artists, including Kym Barrett, Joolie Gibbs, Glenis Gray, Pat Cale, Pam Hopkins, Lizzie Last, Lyn  Nothdurft, Nonie Metzler and Jennie Hawkes Wright. It opens on Saturday October 5 at 3pm, at the gallery’s new address of 102 Yabba Road, Imbil and runs until November 10.

The new premises for the gallery take up several rooms in what used to be the Imbil Bankhouse, now the oldest remaining commercial building in Imbil. It was constructed in 1915 as a combined bank and house, with the bank in the left half and the banker’s residence on the right. 

Originally a branch of The Royal Bank, it became a Bank of Queensland in 1917, an ES & A Bank in the early 1920s, merging later to become ANZ branch. The bank was finally decommissioned in 1972 and it became a private residence. 

In 2000 Kevin Cassidy and Val Scott bought the Bankhouse and converted it into a popular gallery and cafe that was a regular point of call for visitors from the Sunshine Coast.  

In 2011 the Bankhouse was bought by artist and curator Christina Allen who continued its usage as a gallery/cafe, under the name Gallery Frit. Christina attracted exhibitions by named artists in the region.

In 2014 the Bankhouse was bought by the Imbil Friendly Grocer and used as a rental property until recently.

Throughout its 108 years the Bankhouse has served as a place for the functioning of community and business together. The opening of the Art on Yabba gallery represents a temporary return to its recent heritage as local art group Mary Valley Artslink plans a permanent venue for the gallery. 

Mary Valley Artslink have obtained a licence agreement with Gympie Regional Council to investigate the possibility of building a permanent gallery in Imbil. 

In the meantime, visit the Art on Yabba pop-up gallery on Thursdays-to-Sundays, 10am-2pm, and follow the gallery on socials!