National Gallery of Victoria Museum

Australia's oldest and largest public art museum

Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria houses international and Australian art across two buildings, rotating exhibitions and programs that draw art lovers and school groups.

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Address
180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia (NGV International)
+61 3 8620 2222
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au
-37.82246, 144.9689
Hours
Daily 10:00am-5:00pm; open late Wed until 9:00pm
Admission
Free entry to the permanent collection; special exhibitions ticketed (typically AUD 15-40)
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The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia’s oldest and one of its largest public art museums, based in Melbourne and founded in 1861. It operates two principal sites: NGV International on St Kilda Road and the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square.

NGV International houses the international, decorative arts and historical collections and is located opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Ian Potter Centre presents Australian art, including Indigenous and colonial works, and stands on the north bank of the Yarra River at Federation Square.

The NGV’s holdings exceed 70,000 works and it stages a steady programme of temporary exhibitions, major touring shows and public events. Over time the gallery expanded from a single 19th-century collection to a multi-site national cultural institution with renovated buildings and new exhibition facilities.

Both sites are in Melbourne’s central precincts - NGV International on St Kilda Road in the cultural boulevard near the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square adjacent to the CBD and Flinders Street Station - making them easily reachable on foot or public transport.

  • Founding and collection: Founded in 1861, the institution holds a collection of more than 70,000 works spanning international and Australian art.
  • Admission: General collection galleries are free to enter; major travelling exhibitions and special-ticket shows require paid admission.

What to See#

  • NGV International (St Kilda Road): The St Kilda Road building housing the international and historical collections, designed by Sir Roy Grounds and located opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens on the south edge of Melbourne's CBD.
  • Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia: The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square opened to display the Australian art collection and is located on the north bank of the Yarra River in central Melbourne.