Varuna, The Writers' House

The Varuna Residential Program supports intensive work, conversation and community for writers at all levels of experience and across a wide range of writing practice.

'[6] The studio, added later, still boasts Eleanor's sprawling desk scored with cigarette burns and a custom built cabinet with a separate drawer for each developing chapter.

[4] The house served as a focus for the local community of writers by playing host to book readings, launches, forums, festival events and curry nights.

She was the second of three children born to the poet, writer and parliamentarian, Dowell Philip O’Reilly and Eleanor McCulloch O'Reilly.

On finishing school and unable to enter university, having failed mathematics, Eleanor learnt typing and took a secretarial job.

In 1922 she married Eric Payten Dark, and in January 1923 the couple moved to Katoomba, where Eleanor wrote eight of her 10 novels, as well as short stories and articles.

[7] Eric Payten Dark (1889–1987), Eleanor's husband, was a general practitioner who wrote books, articles and pamphlets on politics and medicine.

After the deaths of his parents, he did not want to sell Varuna for environmental and personal reasons, and in November 1987 he eagerly responded to a suggestion that it could become a residential writers' centre.