National Gallery of Victoria – the biggest and oldest in Australia public art gallery. Founded in Melbourne in 1861. In December 2003, the gallery was divided into two major collections - the International Gallery of Art and Centre Ian Potter. First located in the building on St. Kilda, built in 1968 on a draft of Roy Grounds in the heart of the city's cultural quarter. And Centre Ian Potter building located at Federation square.

At a time when the gallery was first opened, Victoria only 10 years was an independent colony, but the gold fever has made her the richest region of Australia, and Melbourne is the largest city in the country. Generous gifts from wealthy citizens have allowed the National Gallery to begin to purchase works on both traditional and contemporary artists, including abroad. Today in its holdings of more than 65 thousand works of art.

In 1867, when the Gallery was opened an art school, a former leading Institute of the arts in Australia until 1910. Among its graduates – some famous Australian masters painting.

In the late 19th – early 20th century Australian art flourished, which allowed the Gallery to collect a substantial collection of works by local artists, reflecting the integration of European art in the unique culture of Australia. One of the most famous works of that time – "pioneer" Frederick Maccabia, written in 1904.

Among the works of International Art Gallery to see paintings by Bernini, Palmezzano, Rembrandt, Rubens, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Uccello and Veronese. It also boasts an excellent collection of ancient Greek vases, Egyptian artifacts, European ceramics, etc.

In the center of the Ian Potter opened in 2003, it is possible to get acquainted with the works of Australian artists, including with objects of culture and life of the aborigines of Australia.