TIMELINE
In the late 19th century, Queensland artists Isaac Walter Jenner and R. Godfrey Rivers successfully lobbied for the creation of a state art gallery, which opened as the Queensland National Art Gallery in 1895. It occupied a series of temporary premises prior to the opening of its permanent home at Brisbane's South Bank in 1982.
The establishment of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) in 1993 forged a focus on artwork of the region, and as an ongoing exhibition series the APT created a case for a second building to display growing contemporary collections. The Gallery of Modern Art opened in 2006, creating a two-campus institution.
1895
29 March | Queensland National Art Gallery opened by the Queensland Governor, Sir Henry Wylie Norman, at temporary premises in old Town Hall on Queen Street. The inaugural display includes 38 pictures, one marble bust, and 70 engravings.
1896
First acquisition: Blandford Fletcher Evicted 1887
1898
First Australian acquisition: Josephine Muntz-Adams's Care c.1893
1905
Gallery relocates to Executive Building (Land Administration Building) in George Street
1915
First full-time curator, James Watt, appointed
1931
Gallery relocates to Exhibition Building Concert Hall at Gregory Terrace
1941
The Trustees' children's creative art class commence, with artist Vida Lahey as the first tutor
1949
Robert Campbell appointed first Director
1951
Robert Haines appointed Director
1953
First children's exhibition, comprising 150 pictures from children's classes
1961
Laurie Thomas appointed Director
1967
James Wieneke appointed Director
1969
South Brisbane site purchased for the development of the permanent Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) building
1973
Robin Gibson and Partners selected to design QAG building
1974
Raoul Mellish appointed Director
Gale force winds during Brisbane floods force closure of Exhibition Building at Gregory Terrace
1975
Gallery moves to temporary premises in M.I.M building, Ann Street
1977
Construction of QAG building begins
1979
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation established, acquiring The Master of Frankfurt Virgin and Child with Saint James the Pilgrim, Saint Catherine and the Donor with Saint Peter c.1496
1981
Training programs begin for volunteer guides in preparation for the opening of QAG in its new permanent home at South Bank.
1982
21 June | Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) opens in its new permanent home, which is awarded the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings.
1987
Doug Hall appointed Director
1993
The First Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art is staged
1995
Queensland Government dedicates the site to the north of the Cultural Centre for future Gallery expansion
1996
Launch of the Gallery's first website
2000
Queensland Government announces the Millennium Arts Project, which includes the design and construction of a second site for the Queensland Art Gallery
2001
First Children's Art Centre digital interactive features in the 'Play' exhibition 28 June
2002
Following an international competition, Queensland Government commissions Sydney-based company Architectus to design the Gallery of Modern Art
2004
Construction commences on the Gallery of Modern Art
2006
1 December | Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) opens, with The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art; a new Robin Gibson-designed entry from Stanley Place opens at QAG
2007
Tony Ellwood appointed Director
2009
Gallery's collection of contemporary Asian and Pacific artworks catalogued online (with the assistance of a Gordon Darling Foundation Grant)
2010
Free visitor WiFi access becomes available across both galleries
2011
Cultural Centre, including QAG and GOMA closes from 12 Jan – 15 Feb due to flooding. No artwork is damaged
All artworks in the Collection catalogued online
20 November | First QAGOMA Blog post
2012
The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art marks the APT's 20th anniversary as the only recurring exhibition of the contemporary art of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
2013
Chris Saines appointed Director
2014
Milestone of more than 10 million visitors to both sites since the opening of GOMA
QAGOMA is the official host for selected events for the G20 World Leaders' Summit
2015
Queensland Art Gallery, along with the other original Robin Gibson-designed buildings of South Bank's Cultural Precinct, listed as a State Heritage Place on the Queensland Heritage Register
Launch of the Gallery's new responsive website
2016
December | QAGOMA celebrates 10 years of the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
2017
Refurbishment of Queensland Art Gallery Collection Store expands its storage space by 30%
The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Galleries at QAG are refurbished for a new reimagined presentation of the Australian Collection.
2018
James Turrell’s architectural light installation Night Life illuminates GOMA from within from sunset to midnight daily.
2019
Celebrates 40 years since the founding of the QAGOMA Foundation (originally Queensland Art Gallery Foundation)
2020
125 years since the establishment of the Queensland National Art Gallery (later the Queensland Art Gallery, later QAGOMA)
