National Gallery of Australia
Parkes Place East, Parkes, Canberra, Australia Capital Authority
The National Gallery of Australia has a stunning permanent collection of art focusing on four areas: Australian art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Asian and Pacific art, and European and American Art. Highlights include works by Australian artists Sidney Nolan, Tom Roberts, and Arthur Streeton.
The permanent collection at the National Gallery of Australia comprises more than 160,000 works of art, including a sculpture collection on display in the sculpture garden between the museum building and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. The museum offers guided tours of the permanent collection free of charge four times daily.
- The National Gallery of Australia is a must-see for art lovers and families.
- Admission to the museum is free, though some special exhibits might charge an entry fee.
- The gallery is wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs and mobile scooters can be rented from the cloakroom; note that the Skyspace installation does not comply with Australian access standards.
- Museum facilities include a parents/carers room, café, study room, and library.
- Food and drink, including bottled water, are not permitted inside the museum galleries.
The National Gallery of Australia is in Canberra’s museum precinct, Parkes Place, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. To get there by public transportation, take an ACTION bus to King Edward Terrace and Parkes Place East. Parking is free on weekends.
The museum is open daily from morning to early evening (closed on Christmas). Check the gallery calendar before your visit to learn about special events or family-friendly activities.
A highlight of the National Gallery of Australia is a Skyspace by American artist James Turrell entitled Within without. This immersive art installation in the gallery’s Australian Garden is meant to change the way you perceive the sky. The experience is best at dawn and dusk as the light transitions between night and day. (There is no exclusive access to the space and no bookings are required; maximum capacity is four people.)
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