A grand entrance and sleek, modern, light-filled spaces will welcome visitors to the refreshed Newcastle Art Gallery when it reopens its doors in 2025.
The long-awaited $40 million refurbishment is expected to draw art lovers from afar, showcasing some of the region’s finest creatives.
Newcastle’s own artist John Olsen will once again take pride and place at the Laman Street art hub, with his renowned The Sea Sun of 5 Bells [1964] hanging proudly on the gallery’s soaring ceiling.
Where are we at?
After extensive site preparation and mine grouting works, the ground floor slabs for the new Gallery spaces and cafe are now complete.
The ground floor and basement columns are progressing alongside the installation of the shear walls, which will provide the structural support needed for the new building.
The structure surrounding two new passenger lifts and a goods hoist are being formed up and poured on site.
Sparkles, the 33 metre tall hammerhead tower crane named by five-year-old Mabel Read as part of a community competition, has been lifting and moving hundreds of tonnes of reinforcing mesh and structural steel during construction.
Breakdown of costs
The Newcastle Art Gallery expansion project, originally estimated to cost $36.5 million, has since been placed closer to $40 million.
The project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package.
A further $12 million has been raised by the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation, made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years.
A further $1 million is currently being sought through the Foundation’s public fundraising campaign.
Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation recently presented Newcastle City Council with another cheque, this time for $4.55 million.
“It is the largest payment by the Foundation to date and brings our total contribution to 50 percent of our $13 million funding target, in line with the construction milestone,” says chair Suzie Galwey.
“This cheque represents many years of philanthropic giving, community passion, advocacy and fundraising for a world class gallery for Newcastle and the Hunter.
“It’s wonderful to celebrate this milestone payment as we get our first look at what we can expect inside this flagship cultural asset.
“The Foundation thanks its members and donors for their generosity and unwavering support for this project over many years.
“We believe these images will inspire additional excitement and community support as the Foundation works towards its ambitious $13 million philanthropic goal.”
Newcastle Art Gallery is the custodian of more than 7,000 works of art valued at $126 million.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes reiterated the tourism potential of the site once complete.
“The Newcastle Art Gallery will deliver a significant cultural tourism opportunity for NSW, providing greater access to one of Australia’s most significant public collections of art and a wider range of prominent local, national and international exhibitions,” Cr Nelmes said.
The project has meant an additional 1,600 square metres of exhibition space has been added to Newcastle Art Gallery, as well as a multi-purpose and educational space.
“By extending the building’s footprint east along Darby Street and Queen Street, we’re able to more than double the size of the Gallery with new exhibition space, a suite of modern facilities, and for the first time in the Gallery’s history, a permanent cafe that will complement and enhance the experience for visitors from near and far to this landmark cultural facility,” added Cr Nelmes.
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