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Gallery and Regional Library
Brown Street HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire
Gray St Commercial Precinct Hamilton

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Southern Grampians Shire
26674 Sth Gramps Page 025
26674 Sth Gramps Page 025
26674 Sth Gramps Page 025
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Statement of Significance

SIGNIFICANCE: »Part of the Municipal complex, the building has significance for its cultural associations as well as for its architecture.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Art Gallery

Brown Street

This public building has regional significance as an illustration of the leading role played by Hamilton in recent years in the cultural life of the region. In recognition of the increasing importance of this aspect of Western District life, Hamilton Council had a major involvemnt in the construction of the combined regional art gallery and library in Brown Street, which opened in late 1961. ([1]) It was designed by the Melbourne architect, Douglas D Alexandra, B. Arch., and a lecturer in design in the University of Melbourne's Architecture School, a second floor was added to the gallery in 1973. ([2])

Hamilton Council's involvement in the Fine Arts began in 1957 when H B Shaw, a Kiama grazier, died and bequeathed his collection of works of art to the Council and 6,000 pounds towards the cost of a building to house it. The Foresters Hall next to the Town Hall was demolished to make way for the new building, which was jointly funded by the Shires of Dundas, Glenelg and Wannon. The gallery won the patronage of the wealthier grazier interests in the Western District and it now boasts an unusually rich collection for a provincial gallery. ([3])

The building is significantly intact and in excellent condition. It is a major component in the Gray Street Commercial area and particularly the municipal precinct.

[1] Garden, D, Hamilton, pp 231, 243.

[2] Who's Who of Hamilton and districts, unpaginated. Includes `A Tribute To The Architect'. Alexandra graduated in 1949 and it was noted he was born in Shepparton and had a particular interest in civic architecture. The journal's cover showed a model of `the proposed new art gallery and library titled `A Cultural Dream Come True!'

[3] Ibid.

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