“Butterland” in Newstead. Once a butter factory, then a candle factory, now the home of artisan couple Greg Hatton & Katie Marx. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
The entrance to ‘Butterland’ – this ENORMOUS building is now home to creatives Greg Hatton & Katie Marx. The couple had the ‘Butterland’ sign made and based it on the design of the butter’s original paper wrapping. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
The couple’s back garden & veggie patch – oh, and they have their very own miniature skyline! With the help of a mate, Greg repaired the tower’s mortar – crikes! They also use the big furnace as a Pizza Oven! Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Greg Hatton & Katie Marx. Katie’s climbing up onto Greg’s iconic hard-carved timber seats. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Three years ago, when Greg Hatton was looking to buy a place in the country, he entered his search criteria into an online real estate site, hit the refresh button and lo-and-behold the Newstead Butter Factory popped up. A sum of money later and he was the owner of a butter (and more recently candle-making) factory! Whilst there’s still lots of work to do to turn this GIGANTIC historic treasure (it was built in 1904) into a HOME – there’s no doubt that Greg’s the man for the job!
Greg is a kind of modern-day Jack of All Trades. His impressive SELF-TAUGHT skill set includes Design, Landscaping, Stonemasonry, Carpentry, Fossicking & Foraging. From sustainably sourced & reclaimed timber finds and riverside Willow, Greg handmakes furniture, lighting, fences & sculptures as well as designing and building stonewall landscaping. His work portfolio ranges from crafting timber coffee silos for St Ali to laying the stone for a private billabong on the Mornington Peninsula. Greg says he lets the materials ‘tell him’ what they want to become, rather than forcing a form on them. In fact, you might even say that Greg’s materials are shaping his life; Greg decided to move to the country to be closer to where he could source timbers and reduce his work’s footprint.
Greg lives at ‘Butterland’ (the affectionate moniker has stuck) with his partner Katie Marx, their daughter Hazel (the couple are also expecting Bub No. 2) and Kevin their very old ‘bitser’ dog. Katie is a TALENTED freelance florist (Katie Marx Flowers) in her own right whose work, like Greg’s, has been based in Melbourne (up until now at least) but she hopes to be able to do more and more of it at ‘Butterland’. The couple hires parts of their enormous space for photo shoots, weddings & events and have plans to open a showroom studio and retail space. If you fancy a hands-on visit to ‘Butterland’, Greg is running two ‘Blessed Are The Chair Makers’ willow chair-making courses in the next couple of months (8 September & 13 October – you can book via this email).
As someone who can’t resist a play on words, I was kinda hoping to use an expression like ‘Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth’ somewhere in this story. But, it just doesn’t apply; Greg & Katie are too warm & welcoming and Greg, in particular, is way too cheeky, free-spirited, inquiring & inspired. In fact, they exude the kind of free-spirited happiness that easily fills the many & vast rooms of their uncommonly large home & makes you want to hang out with them and see where the adventure takes you. This lovely couple really do know on which side their bread is BUTTERED ;) Enjoy! x
Just one of the many rooms at ‘Butterland’. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Timber awaiting Greg’s creativity outside his workshop. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Outside Greg’s workshop at ‘Butterland’. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
‘Smooth Sticky Ball’, willow & wire, Greg Hatton. This one is hanging from the beam in one of the many rooms in Butterland. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Some of Greg’s AMAZING creations. You can view his work here. Photos – supplied.
Greg converted an old existing concrete tank into a swimming pool. They plan to use the old boiler to heat it! How WONDERFUL. Some of Greg’s handmade reclaimed materials outdoor furniture. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
The oversized timber peg was a gift to Greg from his brother. Let’s hope his next gift isn’t a matching Hills Hoist! ;) Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
At left, the big old furnace – now used as a pizza oven! At right, one of Greg’s ‘Willow Armchairs’ made of basket willow & nails! Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Some of Greg’s WONDERFUL chairs sit on their newly built deck. Photo/Production/Danielle White/The Countryphiles.
Tell us a little bit about your background – what path led you to where you are now?
After returning from 6 years living in Austria, I found myself looking for a job and not being very excited about those on offer. I thought by creating my own it would offer me freedom and creativity and I could still travel the world and keep my then Austrian girlfriend’s travel bug fed…I was partially right.
Tell us about ‘Greg Hatton the landscaper/furniture maker’. How did your skilled pursuit of AMAZING handmade ware, landscaping and stone work come about?
Thanks for the compliments, it’s really an aesthetically-based thing. And a desire to use my hands; they get pretty itchy if I’m not making something with them…I get quite offended by ugly stuff be that furniture, gardens or houses. I guess I just started pursuing what I liked and tried to learn how to make what I liked and get some ideas out of my head and into the world.
What makes you so passionate about creating things from raw materials such as stone and wood?
I like the raw nature of the material, and the less you do to it the more it looks like nature and the less energy and pollution is created in the process. You pick up some rocks and put them back down but this time they are in the shape of a wall. It cant get much simpler and humans have been doing it for thousands of years. It is much more satisfying than blue board. I think I’m starting to sound like Peter Cundall that’s not a bad thing is it?
Can you give us a little insight into your creative processes?
I really like balance of form, rustic furniture is often too heavy or clunky on the eye, getting the thickness of a leg in balance with the top of a table can be trickier than it seems. I often work backwards from the materials I have on hand to make something I need and then the challenge is to make it with the best aesthetic. Kind of Depression-Era functionality with a touch of self respect. You don’t want to look like you have no money.
Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from?
My friend Kirra Jamison who lives next door; she is an amazing artist. I get inspired by other people doing great work.
How does having a studio in an old butter factory in the country influence/inspire your work? Do you live there? Do you collaborate with others?
It means I have to walk 3 times further than a normal person to find things that don’t get put back where they are supposed to go. So, it means it keeps me fit and the light is great and materials are at my doorstep and people are friendly in the country.
What does a typical day in the life of Greg Hatton ‘The Creative’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
Get up to small child/old dog whoever makes the most noise first, make cups of tea, put slippers on child get child banana, change child’s pants , light fire, have shower, make coffee/porridge/toast, dress child, have shower, chop wood, check emails, organise peoples, work out task for the day, forget what I’m doing, remember. Make/fix/gather something for lunch … more of the same, dinner, admire the sky, hang out with Hazel, cup of tea, off to bed.
Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?
I’m a city kid, but love the Natural world. I have lived in the country before and will for a while but I don’t want to draw boundaries between the city and country, but I hate traffic and too many people annoy me; does that make me a Countryphile?
What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?
The challenge of getting possums out of the roof.
What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?
See above.
Do you prefer Coffee or Tea?
Tea at 7 coffee at 8:30.
Your favourite country café and why?
Origini in Castlemaine – the best coffee in town and strong Italian accents.
What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?
Goat curry at my place cooked by the great cath hope.
Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?
Tidying up the workshop listening to the Coodabeen Champians standing in the footsteps of my dad.
YOUR country town’s best kept secret?
Roger the sculptor – see Antares Iron Garden
Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?
There is only 2 busses from Newstead to Castlemaine a day, so if you don’t have a car don’t move to the country other than that it’s great.
What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?
Just do it, but create your own job don’t expect to get one.
What can we expect NEXT from you/your business in the future?
Thinking about a bit of retail action at the butter factory.
What are you looking FORWARD to and why?
The end of all these questions and my next screaming half baked child to arrive.
What would be your dream project?
Being the masseuse for the swedish women’s volleyball team.
Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?
1. Spanikopita at Melissa’s on Smith Street
2. Beer at The Standard
3. Catch up with Hamish
4. Have a coffee at The Bell Jar
5. Get a proper haircut
Greg Hatton & Katie Marx
‘Butterland’
2-4 Tivey St
Newstead, Victoria
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