The National Gallery of Victoria operates across two magnificent buildings in Melbourne‘s heart. Founded in 1861, it’s Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum, holding over 76,000 works — the largest collection of any Australian gallery. Both sites offer free entry to permanent collections, making world-class art accessible to everyone.
The two locations
NGV International at 180 St Kilda Road showcases European, Asian, American, and Oceanic art in a striking 1960s building designed by Roy Grounds. The Great Hall’s stained glass ceiling is fabulous — water cascades down the entrance wall into a moat, creating a dramatic arrival. The gallery opens daily 10am to 5pm with free entry to permanent collections, though special exhibitions require tickets.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia stands in Federation Square at the corner of Flinders and Russell Streets. It’s the world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art, displaying Indigenous and non-Indigenous works from colonial times to contemporary practice across over 20 galleries. Daily opening is 10am to 5pm with free entry. Both sites close only on Christmas Day and open from 1pm on ANZAC Day.
Getting there
NGV International is on St Kilda Road, about 6 minutes’ walk south from Flinders Street Station or a short tram journey on routes 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, or 72. Trams stop directly outside. The Arts Precinct car park beneath the gallery charges from $17 a day with no discounts for gallery visitors. Wilson Parking nearby offers similarly expensive, but hourly, rates.
NGV Australia in Federation Square is immediately opposite Flinders Street Station — Melbourne’s busiest railway hub. Almost every city tram passes through the intersection. The square is within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone, making public transport the sensible option. The Fed Square car park on Russell Street Extension charges similar rates to other city parking.
What to see at NGV International
The permanent collection spans centuries and continents. Ancient art includes Egyptian, Greek, and Roman works. The European collection features Renaissance masters through to Impressionists and modern movements — Rembrandt, Monet, Turner, Picasso, and more. The Asian collection displays Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Indian art including sculpture, ceramics, and textiles. Decorative arts galleries showcase fashion, furniture, and design objects.
Major ticketed exhibitions rotate throughout the year. Recent blockbusters have included French Impressionists, Keith Haring, and Pharaohs of Egypt.
What to see at NGV Australia
The collection tells the story of Australian art from pre-colonial times to today. Indigenous galleries display thousands of years of First Nations creativity — bark paintings, sculptures, contemporary works addressing identity and Country. Colonial and Federation-era galleries show how European artistic traditions adapted to Australian conditions and subjects.
Twentieth-century Australian art includes major works by Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Grace Cossington Smith, Fred Williams, and Brett Whiteley. Contemporary galleries feature living Australian artists working across all media. The Joseph Brown Collection represents one of the most generous gifts ever made to an Australian public gallery, donated in 2004.
Temporary exhibitions explore specific artists, movements, or themes. The NGV regularly commissions new works and hosts fashion exhibitions featuring Australian designers.
If you’re an overseas visitor limited by time, I’d strongly suggest prioritising the NGV Australia. It offers a collection and outlook you won’t see elsewhere in the world.
Practical details
Both sites offer free guided tours, although schedules are a little random, so check on the NGV site. Audio guides and the NGV app provide self-paced alternatives.
Photography for personal use is permitted in most areas without flash or tripods, though some exhibitions prohibit photography entirely — watch for signage. Backpacks, large bags, and umbrellas must be cloaked before entering galleries, with free cloaking services available.
Both buildings are wheelchair accessible with lifts, ramps, and accessible toilets throughout. Baby change facilities are available, and the galleries welcome families with pram-friendly spaces. Dogs aren’t permitted except assistance dogs on leads.
The NGV Café at Federation Square serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea with Allpress coffee. NGV International has a café and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Grollo Equiset Garden. Both have design stores selling art books, prints, jewellery, homewares, and Australian-designed products.
Five great things to do while you’re in Melbourne
- 🏙️ Get to know the city’s history and culture on a laneways walking tour.
- 🍷 Take a Yarra Valley day tour with indulgent wine-tasting.
- 🚴 Cover far more of Melbourne’s highlights on an electric bike tour.
- 🛶 Kayak along the Yarra River at sunset.
- 🍽️ Discover Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene on a top-rated food tour.
Ticketed exhibitions
Major exhibitions require separate tickets, typically $20-35 for adults with concessions available. Pre-booking online is essential for popular shows — some sessions sell out days ahead. NGV members get free or discounted entry depending on membership level. Tickets often allow same-day re-entry, and some include access to both buildings when exhibitions run simultaneously.
Membership and support
NGV membership starts at $120 annually, providing unlimited free entry to ticketed exhibitions, access to members’ lounges at both sites, exclusive previews, and discounts at cafés and shops. For frequent visitors or those planning to see multiple blockbuster exhibitions, membership quickly pays for itself.
Nearby attractions
Federation Square surrounds NGV Australia. ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) is Australia’s museum of screen culture, exploring film, television, videogames, and digital art. Free entry to permanent displays, with ticketed exhibitions. The Koorie Heritage Trust celebrates southeastern Aboriginal culture through artifacts, oral history, art, and design.
Flinders Street Station, directly opposite Federation Square, is Melbourne’s most photographed building — a grand Edwardian railway terminus opened in 1910. St Paul’s Cathedral next door offers Gothic Revival architecture and peaceful reflection. Hosier Lane, a five-minute walk away, is Melbourne’s most famous street art location where vibrant murals constantly evolve.
The Yarra River runs behind Federation Square. Southbank Promenade offers riverside dining, bars, and the Arts Centre Melbourne complex. Walk west along the river to Crown Casino or east toward the Royal Botanic Gardens — one of the world’s finest examples of Victorian-era landscaping.
Near NGV International, the Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria’s most significant war memorial set in parkland. The Royal Botanic Gardens spread across 38 hectares just minutes away, featuring themed gardens, lakes, and over 8,500 plant species.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia’s largest stadium, sits about 2km east — home to AFL football and cricket with fascinating tours available. Queen Victoria Market, 1.5km north of Federation Square, is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest open-air market with 600 traders selling produce, clothing, and souvenirs — best visited early morning.
Making the most of your visit
Allow two hours minimum for each building, longer if seeing ticketed exhibitions. Most visitors find the permanent collections sufficiently substantial that rushing through both sites in one day diminishes the experience. Consider visiting one building per trip, or split your day with lunch between locations.
Weekday mornings are quietest. Weekend afternoons and school holidays bring crowds, particularly to blockbuster exhibitions. Friday evenings at NGV International often feature extended hours with music, talks, and bars — the galleries take on a different atmosphere after dark.
The NGV regularly hosts talks, workshops, film screenings, and performances. The NGV Art School offers classes in everything from drawing to digital art. Check the events calendar when planning — these programs add depth to standard gallery visits.
Free entry to permanent collections represents exceptional value. Even visitors with limited time or interest in art can wander through for 30 minutes to experience significant works and impressive architecture. For those genuinely interested in art, the NGV’s collections rival major international galleries while remaining freely accessible to all
More Melbourne travel
Other Melbourne travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Planning a visit to Melbourne’s Immigration Museum.
- A guide to visiting Luna Park Melbourne.
- Melbourne Zoo visitor guide.
- Guide to Birrarung Marr – central Melbourne’s riverside park.
- 9 surprisingly old attractions in big cities.
