Located at Federation Square in Melbourne, Victoria, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is a dedicated art gallery housing the Australian section of the National Gallery of Victoria's collection. As the legacy of businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Potter, this impressive gallery displays piece from one of the oldest and most well-known collections in the country, spanning over 20,000 Australian artworks. You will discover an extensive variety of mediums here, including paintings, sculpture, prints, photography, fashion, and textiles.
Visiting offers you an unmatched opportunity to see iconic masterworks up close, such as Frederick McCubbin's The pioneer (1904) and Tom Roberts' Shearing the Rams (1890). The displays feature celebrated artists like Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Albert Tucker, Arthur Streeton, John Perceval, Margaret Preston, Bill Henson, Howard Arkley, and Fred Williams, as well as Indigenous art by William Barak and Emily Kngwarreye. Beyond the artwork, you can appreciate the award-winning building design by Lab Architecture Studio and Bates Smart.
Every detail—from the gallery interiors, temporary wall layouts, custom graphic typeface, and multimedia housings to the gallery shop and Level 3 cafe—was comprehensively designed to create a cohesive, world-class cultural environment.
What to see at Ian Potter Centre
- Houses over 20,000 Australian artworks including paintings, sculpture, photography, and textiles
- Features iconic historical masterworks by Frederick McCubbin and Tom Roberts
- Showcases Indigenous art by prominent creators William Barak and Emily Kngwarreye
- Displays works from legendary Australian artists like Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd
- Award-winning interior architecture designed by Lab Architecture Studio and Bates Smart
Visiting tips
Visit the Level 3 cafe or the gallery shop to experience the custom-designed public spaces created specifically for the building.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Ian Potter Centre is easy to reach on Melbourne’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Melbourne Museum and Melbourne Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Melbourne travel guide.
See the full Melbourne travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.