Bendigo Art Gallery is getting a huge $45 million dollar upgrade

Already known to be one of Australia’s oldest and largest regional art galleries, Bendigo Art Gallery’s reputation is set to soar to even greater heights with a multi-million dollar upgrade now in the works. Over the next few years, the gallery will undergo redevelopment in two stages, with a big reopening in early 2028.

The first stage will deliver what’s being dubbed the People’s Gallery – a reimagined, fully accessible space focused on education, community, and deepening recognition of Traditional Owners. You can expect a dedicated second-floor gallery for blockbuster international exhibitions, a state-of-the-art children’s gallery and learning studio, and a Place of Keeping designed in collaboration with the Dja Dja Wurrung community to house cultural materials. There will also be expanded public areas, better accessibility, and a new theatre space to host performances and talks.

If all goes ahead, a second stage, pending a $15 million federal funding boost, will follow. This would add another 400 square metres of gallery space, focusing on spotlighting Australian artists, and a significant hospitality makeover, including a new restaurant, a revamped sculpture annexe, and a second-storey function terrace overlooking Rosalind Park.

The design is a collaboration between Jackson Clements Burrows and Clare Design, drawing inspiration from the region’s white clay and featuring a façade pattern by a Dja Dja Wurrung artist. While the beloved 19th-century galleries (Bolton, Drury and Abbott Courts) aren’t being redeveloped, they are set to be sensitively restored.

The gallery will close in November 2025, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2026. But art lovers won’t be left in the lurch – an eclectic off-site exhibition program is being planned throughout Bendigo until the grand opening.

This is the largest civic infrastructure project ever untaken by the City of Greater Bendigo – and promises to reshape the region’s cultural landscape for generations to come. To learn more and follow the progress, visit the website here.