National Gallery of Australia

Table of Contents

Introduction

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra is Australia’s premier national art museum. Located in the city’s Parliamentary Triangle on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the Gallery sits on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. As the largest public art institution in the country, it welcomes visitors from across Australia and around the world into its striking heritage‑listed building.

About the Museum

The National Gallery of Australia opened its doors in 1982 after being established by the Australian Government in 1967. Its iconic building was designed by architect Colin Madigan, featuring a bold Brutalist aesthetic with triangular motifs, concrete structure and expansive exhibition halls overlooking the sculpture gardens and lake.

The Gallery’s national collection includes over 155,000 works of art created by more than 15,000 artists. It houses the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, alongside outstanding holdings in Australian art, modern and contemporary international art, and significant works from Asia and the Pacific.

Exhibitions rotate throughout the year. Featured exhibitions have included Masami Teraoka and Japanese Ukiyo‑e prints, alongside the long‑running “Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia” drawn from the national collection and the Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art. In 2025 the Gallery is hosting “Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie,” a major exhibition drawn from the renowned modern art collection of Berggruen, on display until 21 September 2025.

Visitors can explore three levels of galleries: large open spaces for Indigenous and international works on the principal floor, Asian art on the lower floor, and focused displays of Australian art on the upper level—enabling an immersive journey through multiple regions and periods.

The Gallery also features a Sculpture Garden and Australian Garden grounds on the lakeside. Garden highlights include nearly thirty sculptural works such as James Turrell’s Skyspace installation and Fujiko Nakaya’s immersive fog sculpture, surrounded by native Australian plantings.

On‑site amenities include an art‑inspired book and gift store, a street café for coffee and snacks, and a Dining Room during major exhibition periods. There are also cloakrooms and locker facilities for visitor convenience. The Gallery is fully wheelchair accessible and offers access programs, tours, workshops and inclusive resources for visitors with disability or special access needs.

Young visitors and families are well catered for through “NGA Play,” a children’s creative space that changes themes with major exhibitions, interactive family days, and educational trails in the Sculpture Garden. School and family programs are designed to engage all ages in art, creativity and learning.

Visitors may also access the Research Library and Archives by appointment. This specialist collection documents art history in Australia and beyond, with rare materials, manuscripts and audio‑visual recordings supporting scholarship and public learning.

Admission to the National Gallery of Australia and the Sculpture Garden is free; some special exhibitions may require a paid ticket. The Gallery is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, except Christmas Day.

Interesting Facts

The Gallery’s collection numbers over 155,000 works, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Its heritage‑listed Brutalist building was designed by Colin Madigan and is noted for its triangular design and lakeside setting.
The Aboriginal Memorial, a sculptural installation of two hundred decorated hollow log coffins by artists from Central Arnhem Land, is a profound work permanently on display in a central gallery space.
The Gallery features James Turrell’s Skyspace within its Sculpture Garden—an immersive light work set among native Australian planting.
In 2025, the Gallery is hosting “Cézanne to Giacometti,” a major exhibition from Museum Berggruen in Berlin, running until 21 September.
The Gallery operates “NGA Play,” a family creative zone that evolves with each major exhibition, plus monthly “Super Sunday” family days and educational trails through the gardens.
Visitors can use an onsite Research Library and Archives by appointment, which houses over one million items across artists’ files, historical exhibitions and oral history recordings.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +6126 240 6411

Website: nga.gov.au/

Facebook: facebook.com/NationalGalleryofAustralia

Conclusion

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra offers visitors a world‑class art experience that is both expansive and deeply engaging. From its outstanding architectural presence on Lake Burley Griffin to its extraordinary collection of more than 155,000 works, the Gallery invites visitors to explore the richness of Australian, Indigenous and international art. Whether you are drawn to the power of First Peoples art, the sweeping movements of modern and contemporary works, or the immersive experience of the Sculpture Garden, there is much to discover.

With free general admission, accessible facilities, family‑friendly creative zones and a rich calendar of special exhibitions and public programs, the Gallery makes art accessible and inspiring for everyone. A visit here promises to be memorable, enlightening and uplifting. Be sure to add the National Gallery of Australia to your travel plans when in Canberra—you will leave with your curiosity sparked and your appreciation of visual culture enriched.