How new NGV Contemporary gallery will transform arts precinct
Melbourne’s renowned arts precinct is set for a massive $1.5bn expansion, including Australia’s largest contemporary art gallery.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australia’s biggest contemporary gallery will be built at Melbourne’s famous arts precinct as part of a $1.5bn revitalisation to entice tourists and create jobs.
The new NGV Contemporary will pave the way for 18,000sq m of open space to host live entertainment and public art.
The massive spend, which Treasurer Tim Pallas said would enable work to begin within two years, includes almost $500m for the new gallery at 77 Southbank Boulevard.
A competition will be run to find an Australian architectural team to design the new city landmark.
Premier Daniel Andrews said this was just the first stage of the masterplan for the precinct that includes a sweeping expansion of the Arts Centre.
“The Melbourne Arts Precinct is a generational project that will bring people to our state and support jobs now and for decades to come,” Mr Andrews said.
Plans for the NGV Contemporary were first revealed by the Herald Sun in 2018, with the government and arts chiefs searching for a site comparable to famous landmarks such as MoMA in New York City and the Guggenheim in Spain.
Before the pandemic hit, the cultural tourism industry was worth about $2.5bn a year, and supported hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The new gallery will create 5000 jobs during construction, an extra 200 ongoing jobs, and provide the opportunity for new restaurants, bars, and live music venues.
The government bought the former Carlton & United Breweries building behind the Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria in order to create the new space.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said $220m would also be spent through this year’s budget supporting the screen industry as well as smaller galleries in suburbs and country areas to boost businesses and aid recovery.
“As we recover from this pandemic, it makes sense that we play to our strengths,” Mr Pearson said.
“Our creative industries are the heart and soul of Victoria — and a major driver of our economy and jobs.”
The government hopes the precinct will attract an extra three million visitors a year.
Beaconsfield teacher who sexually preyed on nine boys dodges jail
A former Beaconsfield Primary School grade 6 teacher who sexually assaulted and groomed young boys over more than a decade has escaped jail in a sentence slammed by his ex-teaching colleagues as “a joke”.
Accused ‘Pam the Bird’ graffiti attacker unmasked
The alleged culprit behind the infamous Pam the Bird graffiti tags on Melbourne landmarks — including the Flinders Street Station clock — has been unmasked as a 21-year-old from Yarraville.