The Building
Media Kit
National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
Key information
The National Gallery has developed these online media kits for media usage only.
By downloading these images you are agreeing to the following:
Images are used exclusively by media, and only for purposes of publicity of the National Gallery of Australia, falling under the special exemptions of Fair dealing for purpose of reporting news or Fair dealing for purpose of criticism or review, as set out in the Copyright Act 1968; images must be accompanied by the provided caption; reproduction of images must respect the artist’s moral rights i.e., no cropping or overprinting on images.
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Designed to be ‘an expression of the national character’, the iconic National Gallery of Australia building is a bold combination of the sculptural and the functional.
In 1967, Prime Minister Harold Holt announced that a new gallery would be built in Canberra to house the national collection. Edward Madigan Torzillo and Partners was chosen to design the building, with esteemed architect Col Madigan to lead the team.
After much deliberation, the site on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin, a part of the newly-formed Parliamentary Triangle was chosen. Construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1981, before being officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.
The striking Brutalist edifice features sweeping bush-hammered concrete surfaces surrounded by gardens. From the outset, the challenge in designing the gallery was the need to balance public display with conservation, as well as accommodating staff and facilities for educational programs. The result is a layout based on a spiral progression of galleries spread across three floors and the entrance level. The soaring cathedral-like rooms on the first floor give way to more intimate galleries, complete with parquetry floors, on the upper levels.
Construction began on the first major extension to the existing building in 2007. Designed by Andrew Andersons AM of PTW Architects, the extension – which included improved accessibility alongside new additions such as Gandel Hall – was opened in 2010. Importantly, the eleven new galleries dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art are the first in Australia designed specifically for this purpose. The six hundred works of art on display, from a collection of over 7,500, reflect the richness and diversity of Indigenous artistic practice across the country.
The National Gallery of Australia acknowledges its proud role as custodian of a significant heritage-listed public building and gardens and is committed to enhancing the building to remove barriers to access, meeting the needs of all visitors.
DOWNLOAD IMAGES
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Photographer: Rory Gardiner © National Gallery of Australia, 2023
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Historic image of the National Gallery level 1 taken by Max Dupain prior to opening in 1982. National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Papers of the Australian National Gallery Building Archive National Gallery of Australia Research Library’s Archive Collection, MS 91, [box 8, folder 1] © Max Dupain/ Copyright Agency, 2022
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Historic image of the National Gallery taken by Max Dupain prior to opening in 1982. National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Papers of the Australian National Gallery Building Archive National Gallery of Australia Research Library’s Archive Collection, MS 91, [box 8, folder 1] © Max Dupain/ Copyright Agency, 2022
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Historic image of the National Gallery taken by Max Dupain prior to opening in 1982. National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Papers of the Australian National Gallery Building Archive National Gallery of Australia Research Library’s Archive Collection, MS 91, [box 8, folder 1] © Max Dupain/ Copyright Agency, 2022
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Historic image of the National Gallery taken by Max Dupain prior to opening in 1982. National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Papers of the Australian National Gallery Building Archive National Gallery of Australia Research Library’s Archive Collection, MS 91, [box 8, folder 1] © Max Dupain/ Copyright Agency, 2022
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Historic image of the National Gallery taken by Max Dupain prior to opening in 1982. National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Papers of the Australian National Gallery Building Archive National Gallery of Australia Research Library’s Archive Collection, MS 91, [box 8, folder 1] © Max Dupain/ Copyright Agency, 2022
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Historic image of the National Gallery taken by Max Dupain prior to opening in 1982. National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Papers of the Australian National Gallery Building Archive National Gallery of Australia Research Library’s Archive Collection, MS 91, [box 8, folder 1] © Max Dupain/ Copyright Agency, 2022
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