The Benalla Art Gallery, an iconic cultural landmark nestled within the beautiful Benalla Botanic Gardens and Lake Benalla, is poised to undergo significant upgrades and enhancements. This redevelopment will ensure the Gallery continues to inspire and connect the community while reinforcing its role as a key regional arts destination.
Funded by Victorian and Australian government grants from the Regional Cultural Infrastructure Program and the Growing Regions Program, the project will deliver state-of-the-art facilities while preserving the heritage-listed Munro and Sargeant building. Work is scheduled to begin in mid-2025, with the Gallery expected to temporarily close for a period to allow for construction.
Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn said the redevelopment represents a significant enhancement to our wonderful Gallery and town.
“The Benalla Art Gallery is one of our most treasured cultural assets, drawing tens of thousands of visitors every year. This redevelopment will not only enhance its capacity to host national exhibitions but also support our local economy and community,” Cr Hearn said.
The project will occur in two stages, which will be delivered in parallel:
Stage 1A, funded by the State Government Regional Cultural Infrastructure Program, includes the construction of modern art storage facilities, upgrades to staff areas, relocation and improvements to the café, and enhancements to the Gallery lobby and display areas.
Stage 1B, supported by the Federal Government Growing Regions Program, will focus on modernising climate control systems, renovating existing Gallery spaces, and integrating environmentally sustainable design features.
The redevelopment has been thoughtfully designed to preserve the rich history and natural surroundings of the historical building. Key upgrades include the separation of the restaurant and gallery, and upgrade of climate control systems to meet Triple A sector standards.
Benalla Art Gallery Director Eric Nash commented on the importance of the works, saying, “This redevelopment not only respects the Gallery’s heritage but allows us to deliver an improved experience to visitors and expand our capacity to host national and international exhibitions.
It’s a milestone achievement, underpinned by a rigorous Feasbility Study and Business Case completed in 2020. This critical project will address major issues that could be expected of a building of this age, and enable the Gallery to achieve its stated Mission to “deliver transformational social, cultural and economic benefit” for our community”
Council has engaged extensively with key stakeholders during the project’s planning phase to ensure the designs meet heritage requirements and community needs.
Temporary Closure Information
To enable these vital upgrades, the Benalla Art Gallery will be closed from mid-2025 to mid-2026. Council understands the inconvenience this may cause and appreciates the community’s patience as it works to deliver these much-needed improvements.
For more information about the Benalla Art Gallery redevelopment and to view the design plans, visit benalla.vic.gov.au/council/current-projects
This redevelopment has been made possible thanks to $3,000,000 funding for Stage 1A through the Regional Cultural Infrastructure Projects by the Victorian Government (Creative Victoria, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry, and Regions) and $2,965,000 for Stage 1B through the Growing Regions Program by the Australian Government (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts), with both stages managed by Regional Development Victoria.