Laurence Ledger making a speech on the front deck at the opening of Benalla’s new art gallery on April 18, 1975. Photo courtesy of Sue Clark
Benalla Art Gallery will mark its 50th year in its iconic lakeside building with a community celebration.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The organisation itself was established in 1968 with considerable community backing and significant donors, which enabled the appointment of noted architects Philip Sargeant and Colin Munro to design the purpose-built Benalla Art Gallery.
Perched between the banks of Lake Benalla and the Benalla Botanical Gardens, the new gallery opened in its picturesque setting in 1975, and has since provided the foundation of Benalla’s artistic and creative culture.
Benalla Art Gallery welcomes the community to join together and celebrate this milestone, while looking forward to the next 50 years as the gallery prepares to embark on its stage-one redevelopment, designed by Williams Boag Architects.
View over Lake Benalla from the Monash Bridge of the new Benalla Art Gallery building in 1975. Photo courtesy of Sue Clark
Benalla Mayor Bernie Hearn said the gallery had been a special part of our community for 50 years.
“It’s a place where people come together to enjoy art, learn and be inspired,” Cr Hearn said.
“This celebration is a chance to say thank you to everyone who has supported the gallery over the years, and to look forward to an exciting future.
“I encourage everyone to come along and be part of this important milestone.”
Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash said the event was a way to honour the past and acknowledge, and pay tribute, to the gallery’s supporters, while looking forward to its next exciting chapter.
“With the gallery temporarily closing from September 29 to enable the stage-one redevelopment, we’re confident the gallery will continue to bring many more years of enjoyment to residents and visitors,” Mr Nash said.
The celebration will feature music, a community drawing activity, and a postcard time capsule for attendees to share their favourite memory from the gallery’s first 50 years.
Benalla Art Gallery’s 50th Anniversary Celebration will take place from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, September 25.
Attendees will need to RSVP by contacting the gallery on 5760 2619 or emailing gallery@benalla.vic.gov.au.
6°C