The National Gallery of Victoria

by Sarah and Amanda
The temporary Art Gallery of Victoria is located at the Russell Street entrance of the State Library and features over 700 of the most important Australian and International works from the collection in the beautiful and historic surrounds of the nineteenth century gallery.
The National Gallery was founded in 1861 and is the oldest public art gallery in Australia.
The National Art Gallery on Russell is open for people to visit while the National Gallery on St Kilda Road is being redeveloped.
It is due to be finished in 2002 and will cost $136 million.
Click here to watch the video of The National Art Gallery.
The National Gallery of Victoria has made public part of its collection online. Selected for viewing are many works on display at the Russell Street Gallery, as well as approximately 200 Australian Paintings, 200 International Paintings and 180 of William Blake's works on paper.
The International paintings on view include: Picasso's "Weeping Woman", Poussin's "Crossing of the Red Sea" and Tiepolo's "The banquet of Cleopatra".
Famous Australian paintings include "Shearing the Rams" by Tom Collins and "Collins Street 5pm" by John Brack. You can also see a very interesting Aboriginal art collection.
The Education and Programs unit has a range of programs and activities for schools and the public to participate in.

This is the St Kilda Road National Gallery site that is being redeveloped.
There is a big window with water running down it. People liked to touch it.
We hope it will be there when it is rebuilt.

The stained glass ceiling by Leonard French in the St Kilda Road National Gallery.