Bendigo Art Gallery has a strong reputation. It is one of Australia’s largest and oldest regional art galleries. The collections of Bendigo Art Gallery include Australian Art from the 1850s to the present day, a special collection of art from the Bendigo goldfields and 19th century European paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. Each year the gallery presents an exciting program of exhibitions and events.

The gallery was founded in 1887 – the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Originally the gallery was in a site closer to the centre of town before moving to its present premises in the 1880′s. At this time the distinguished Bendigo architect W.C. Valhand supervised the conversion of the former Bendigo Volunteer Rifle’s Orderly Room into a new home for the Gallery. An award-winning architecturally designed café was added to the building in recent times. The structure is modern and is set alongside the historical building.

Bendigo Art Gallery’s collection of 20th century paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings showcase the development of Australian fascinating modern art. Artists such as Walter Withers, Rupert Bunny, Grace Cossington-Smith, Arthur Boyd, Fred Williams, John Olsen and Margaret Preston are amongst the many 20th Century Australian painters and sculptors represented in the collection. Bendigo Art Gallery is committed to collecting and presenting contemporary Australian art.

Significant international and travelling exhibitions are held at the gallery.

The gallery is located at 42 View Street, Bendigo and is open every day (except Christmas) from 10am – 5pm.

Website

www.bendigoartgallery.com.au