HISTORY OF THE SWAN HILL 
REGIONAL ART GALLERY

 

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1963, The Paddle steamer Gem moored at Pioneer Settlement Swan Hill.

The Gallery was established in 1966 and was originally located on the second floor of the paddle-steamer ‘Gem’ and operated under the management of the Pioneer Settlement Authority. 

1968, The Swan Hill Gallery of Contemporary Art
located on the second floor of the Gem.

In 1974, Arts Victoria provided funding to the Gallery for the first time, recognising it as one of the 16 regional public art galleries in Victoria. It was soon realized that the available space within the gallery was inadequate to house the growing permanent collection and greatly restricted the opportunity to display many touring exhibitions that were on offer at the time. Without question, Swan Hill needed a new gallery space.

1970, The Royal visit. Royal visit souvenir vehicle pass 

Encouraged by the generous support of patrons and a high level of community interest in the visual arts, the board of Management spear-headed a project to create a purpose-built gallery. The form of the traditional Australian Woolshed provided the inspiration for the design of the new Gallery building. The Foundation Stone, marking the commencement of building construction, was laid by the Chairman of the Victorian Tourism Commission, The Hon. Don Dunstan on the 25th of June 1984.

Designed by architect, Ian A Douglas, the gallery consists of a timber framed structure with infill wall panels of mud brick, a corrugated iron roof and a reinforced concrete raft floor. Natural materials from the local region were utilised in the building process – Murray River red gum (columns and beams): locally hand made mud bricks (walls); timber louvers and window frames. The internal display space covers 270 metres, the walls rising 4 metres in height. The new building was officially opened on the 9th of May , 1987.

Ten years later in 1997, the Gallery again went though a transformation, with the addition of a new entrance and gallery shop, reception and office space. The existing gallery area was re-defined during the renovations to allow three tiers of display. The gallery now features a touring exhibitions gallery. A much needed permanent collection gallery and an attractive Access Gallery. Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery displays around thirty exhibitions each year, has an innovative education programme and numerous special events for the whole community.

1987, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery.

The Gallery was expanded in 1997 when a new reception area and gift shop were built. The building is of mud brick construction - the bricks were made under the Commonwealth Employment Scheme, where young unemployed people were taught a trade- in this instance, mud brick making. The roof was of galvanized iron. 

The building was made to lock up stage and stayed unfinished for twelve months. The City Council gave $75,000 to finish the Building. 

In approximately 1991, the mud bricks were deteriorating and the building was cement rendered.