New Hamilton Gallery

Published on 15 September 2025

Southern Grampians Shire Council has taken another major step toward delivering the New Hamilton Gallery, one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the Shire, endorsing the progression of the project to the detailed design stage.

Following the successful completion of the concept designs, Council has awarded the detailed design contract to internationally renowned architectural firm Angelo Candalepas and Associates (ACA).

ACA was awarded the concept design contract in September 2024 through a competitive tender process which included 28 submissions from some of Australia's most highly regarded architects.

ACA has worked closely with the Southern Grampians community over a four-month period through a co-design process and will now bring those ideas and aspirations to life through detailed design stage.

A closed tender process was undertaken for the detailed design stage, with only one tenderer evaluated. This was due to several factors, including the reluctance of other architectural firms to proceed with detailed design if they were not involved in the concept phase. Engaging a new architect at this stage often leads to reworking the concept design, resulting in increased costs and potential delays.

An independent Probity Consultant was engaged to oversee the process and ensure it met the highest standards of fairness, accountability, and transparency and to assure that the project is being completed with the maximum benefit to our community. The state government agency, Office of Victoria Government Architects, who are the largest procurer of architectural services across the state, contributed their time and expertise with two senior principal advisors sitting on the evaluation panel.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin praised the decision to move forward with ACA, calling it the best possible outcome for the project.

“ACA have already demonstrated their ability to combine world-class design with a deep respect for our community’s vision,” Mr Heslin said.

“This next stage ensures we keep that momentum going, whilst positioning us strongly to secure further investment from our government and philanthropic partners. ACA are a world-renowned firm, designing buildings of national and international cultural significance such as the new National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. I am very pleased that we have been able to retain such a celebrated and decorated architect.”

The contract for Stage 2: Detailed Design, is valued at $3.35 million, with the vast majority of funding coming from sources external to Council. This includes $2.9 million from the Federal Government’s Regional Partnerships and Precincts Program grant and a generous philanthropic donation of $400,000.

A saving of $382,150 was made from the concept design stage and a carry forward of $55,451 will be contributed by Council to the detailed design stage. Council has a capped commitment of up to $10 million towards construction, conditional on additional funding support from State and Federal governments and philanthropic partners. The total construction cost of the gallery is currently estimated at $48.9 million.

Council also acknowledged the recent bequest from the late Venise Alstergren, a celebrated artist and ardent supporter of Hamilton Gallery. Her gift of funding and artworks to the gallery is both a tribute to her love of the arts and a reminder of the philanthropic support building around the project.

Independent reviews confirmed that the current gallery building would not be suitable to deliver the conditions needed to house and display major artworks, with structural, environmental and spatial limitations making a purpose-built facility the only viable option.

“This is about building a gallery that can stand proudly on the national stage, attract major exhibitions, and showcase our outstanding collection for generations to come. Artwork from the Hamilton Gallery collection has been exhibited in every major Gallery across Australia including recently the National Gallery of Australia and Hobart’s MONA. Other galleries and other communities are benefitting from our collection, and I’d like to see our community reap the rewards from the collection our Gallery has built,” Cr Heslin concluded.

The New Hamilton Gallery is one of the most exciting and significant cultural projects ever undertaken in the Southern Grampians and is expected to deliver long-term economic, social and cultural benefits for the region.

To view the concept plans, please visit the website. To stay up to date with all things Council, consider signing up to our newsletter.

Published on 21 July 2025

Southern Grampians Shire Council has officially endorsed the concept designs for the New Hamilton Gallery at its July Ordinary Council Meeting, marking a major milestone in this transformative cultural project.

The endorsed designs are the result of an extensive community consultation process, which saw over 146 submissions received during the public exhibition period. Feedback strongly reflected three key priorities for the project: community connection, tourism growth, and green spaces.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the endorsement signals a significant step forward for the long-anticipated project.

“To have a project of this scale endorsed by Councillors and embraced by the community shows a real commitment to bringing this long-held vision to life,” Cr Heslin said.

Community engagement has been central to shaping the designs, with multiple stages of public input taking place including early sessions during the tender development phase in May 2023, co-design workshops commencing in December 2024, and the final public display in June 2025.

“We are confident these designs deliver on our service needs – creating an enduring home for our nationally significant art collection, fostering community connection, increasing green spaces, and supporting a thriving tourism sector,” Cr Heslin said.

Concept designs by Angelo Candalepas and Associates reflect the region’s cultural narrative while balancing long-term operational needs and sustainability goals.

“Even if you’re not an art lover, it’s exciting to think about the opportunities this project will unlock for our region. A new gallery will attract more visitors, boost our local hospitality and accommodation businesses, and generate meaningful economic benefits for the Southern Grampians,” Cr Heslin added.

The $48.92 million project has Council’s contribution capped at $10 million, only to be spent once all other funding is secured. Council has already secured $5 million from the Federal Government’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program to fund design work for the New Hamilton Gallery, CBD streetscape improvements, a community hub, and a new town square.

The next stage is the detailed design phase, which will further refine the endorsed concepts. To manage costs, the architects have proposed options such as staged delivery, design alterations, material substitutions, and additional private fundraising.

The total project fundraising target is $70 million, comprising:

• $10 million – Southern Grampians Shire Council

• $30 million – Private donors

• $20 million – State Government

• $10 million – Federal Government

For further information on this project and any of our other major projects, visit Engage Southern Grampians

Published on 04 June 2025

After extensive community consultation and engagement, Southern Grampians Shire Council is set to unveil concept designs for the New Hamilton Gallery (NHG) developed by award-winning architectural firm Angelo Candalepas and Associates.

The concept designs will be exhibited from Wednesday 4 June to Friday 20 June 2025, inviting community to share their feedback.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the concept designs have captured community ideas and created a space that will represent our unique region.

“The New Hamilton Gallery reflects the aspirations of our community – it’s a space shaped by our public voice and developed in collaboration with Australia's best architects. It represents an ambitious vision developed by the community for our future.

“This is more than a building – it’s a future destination for culture, connection, and creativity. It is an investment in our town, our community and future generations. During the recent co-design sessions, the community were extremely clear in their expectations of this building.

“In particular, there has been a significant increase in our family audience to the Gallery, two years ago only 3% of our audience were families, now it has increased to 23%. Our demographics are represented by design choices within the concept plans.”

In September 2024, Angelo Candalepas and Associates were awarded the contract to co-design the concept plans for the new Gallery. Council was successful in obtaining a $5m federal government grant through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships program to fund the cost of the designs for the New Hamilton Gallery, CBD Streetscape, Community Hub and new town square. Candalepas and his team are also currently designing the new $1B National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Hamilton Gallery has an internationally significant collection having recently loaned artworks to Mona, the National Gallery of Australia and Art Gallery of South Australia. It has also had a significant reputational boost through major exhibitions such as Emerging From Darkness, which drew crowds from across the country with a record-high of tourists visiting resulting in an increase of visitor spend of over $1m per month.

“This building will be considered the best regional gallery in Australia,” said Director of Hamilton Gallery, Joshua White. “It will not only give the audience and community an experience to be proud of but it is designed to keep operational costs low, enhance revenue and increase visitor spend across the township.”

In June 2024, Council endorsed a $10m contribution within the long-term financial plan to the construction of the building with Council seeking a further $20m from the state government, $10m from the Federal government and $30m from private donors.

Although the preliminary estimated cost plan is slightly above $40m, Councils contribution is capped at $10m. Furthermore, the architects have put forward several ways to manage the budget, such as staging the project, modifying aspects of the design, utilising more cost-effective materials, or increasing private funding.

It is also important to note that this project has always relied on external funding. Therefore, any costs exceeding the $40m allocation will not affect the council’s $10m contribution.

The community is invited to view the design via the Council and Hamilton Gallery website or at the Brown Street Council Office and the Hamilton Gallery.

Feedback can be provided online at here and via hard copy feedback forms.

Published on 18 March 2025

We Heard You – Now it’s Time to Show You

Hamilton Gallery and the Southern Grampians Shire Council are set to host the second round of community co-design sessions for the New Hamilton Gallery (NHG), where architectural draft ideas will be shared and discussed.

Renowned architect Angelo Candalepas and Associates will visit the region from Wednesday 26 March to Friday 28 March 2025 to share initial concepts with residents, local businesses, creatives, youth, First Nations, schools and key stakeholders.

Developing and launching the conceptual designs marks an exciting milestone for the NHG and we are asking the entire community to come together to engage directly with the architect and his team. This provides an important opportunity for feedback to be received and all opinions to be heard.

These co-design sessions are extremely important as the community can directly impact the design of the building.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Acting Mayor Afton Barber encourages everyone to attend.

“This is a unique opportunity for our community to be an integral part of the gallery’s transformation. We are building a cultural landmark, and we want to make sure that it truly reflects the community’s shared vision and heritage.”

Details of the NHG Co-Design Workshops are as follows:

Wednesday 26 March 2025

• Kids and families – 4:00pm – 5:00pm ‘Draw Like an Architect Workshop’ Book Here

• Gallery Stakeholders 5:30 pm – 7:00pm RSVP info@hamiltongallery.org

Thursday 27 March 2025

• Local Businesses 10:00am – 11:30am

• All Audiences 5:30pm – 7:00pm Book Here

Friday 28 March 2025

• First Nations 9:00am – 10:30am

Places are limited to one session per person only.

For more information, please email info@hamiltongallery.org.

Follow Hamilton Gallery on social media, check the Council’s Facebook page or council website Southern Grampians Shire Council

Published on 27 November 2024

Southern Grampians Shire Council invites community members to help shape the design of the New Hamilton Gallery (NHG). Concept design engagement sessions for members of the public will take place on Monday 2 and Tuesday, 3 December 2024.

Internationally renowned architect Angelo Candalepas and Associates has been appointed to undertake stage 1 - concept designs for the New Hamilton Gallery.

Candalepas brings a wealth of expertise and experience and is currently the architect of the National Gallery of Victoria’s new $1.3B contemporary building.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin encouraged community members to come along.

“This is one of the most important stages in developing this nationally significant cultural icon,” said Cr Heslin. “The community will have their voice heard by the project architects and can engage directly with them throughout the sessions and truly make an impact on the design.

“These sessions are not just for those who already use our Gallery, but we also want to hear from those that don’t. What would get you through the doors and making the most out of these facilities? What features of other galleries do you love and what would you like to see introduced here?

“We want you to share your vision and help shape the new Gallery so jump on our website, register for one of our sessions, and leave your mark on the future of the Southern Grampians,” said Cr Heslin.

Registration to attend one of the two community sessions, in person with Angelo Candalepas is now open.

Community co-design workshop details:

Day 1: Monday 2 December 2024, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Hamilton Cinema

Day 2: Tuesday 3 December 2024, 2:00pm – 3:30pm, Hamilton Cinema

Additional sessions have also been scheduled for industry groups by direct invite.

The focus of these sessions is to hear directly from residents and local business owners about their vision for the New Gallery.

“These co-design engagement sessions will provide our communities the chance to have their say on what that space might look like, how the space will feel, and ultimately work with the architects come up with a space for community to enjoy,” concluded Cr Heslin.

Southern Grampians Shire Council CEO Tony Doyle also urged people’s engagement saying, “This is an intergenerational project that will place the cultural reputation of the Southern Grampian region on a national level, and I strongly encourage the community to take this rare opportunity to have your ideas, thoughts and concepts heard.”

Candalepas and his team were awarded the NHG project after a vigorous and competitive tender process. Council received an impressive number of submissions from some of the most highly regarded architectural firms in Australia. After careful evaluation and consideration, Candalepas and Associates were awarded the contract.

This appointment marks an exciting milestone for the NHG with the primary concept designs due for release in March 2025.

Registrations are required due to limited spaces and can be accessed via the link below, the Gallery's social media sites and/or the Council’s Facebook page and website at Engage Southern Grampians.

New Hamilton Gallery | Engage Southern Grampians

Published on 01 November 2024

Southern Grampians Shire Council is set to receive a $5 million funding boost from the Federal Government for the design of Hamilton’s Community and Cultural Precinct.

Consisting of the CBD Streetscape, New Hamilton Gallery, the Community Hub and new town square, the projects will be supported by the Federal Government to build community connection while growing the Southern Grampians tourism and cultural sectors.

Southern Grampians Shire Council CEO Tony Doyle said Council is thrilled following this announcement.

“This funding announcement is a huge endorsement of our aspiration for the Hamilton CBD. It gives our major projects a real boost to turn these ambitious builds into a reality for our community,” said Mr Doyle.

“We are very appreciative to receive the funding, which will go toward project design, and importantly it shows a real belief and a commitment from the Federal Government to invest in the future of the Southern Grampians,” said Mr Doyle.

“As a Council we have been advocating hard over the last couple of years at both a State and Federal level to champion the progression of these intergenerational projects that we know will make a real difference in the growth and sustainability of our region.

“We know the Hamilton Community and Cultural Precinct has the capacity to grow not only our local economy but really cement our place as a must-stop destination on the tourism map.”

The new Community Hub will provide a place for community to improve education and business outcomes and skills; provide a much-needed expanded library, as well as the co-location of government and community health services.

The CBD Streetscape will allow for revitalised streets, build upon laneways and encourage community connection through spaces, culture, and events, welcoming visitors and residents to stay and play in what will be a reinvigorated Hamilton CBD.

The new Gallery will provide opportunity to display more of the extensive 9,000 item collection and will be complemented by civic and community functions. The Gallery will also strengthen connection between culture and life through art that is inclusive. It will be positioned as a national leader in regional galleries to create a place that is exciting, inclusive, and ambitious. Importantly, the new Gallery will also drive visitor growth and build the region’s tourism economy.

“We know our current civic and community facilities do not meet resident needs, with extensive gaps in service.

“Hamilton has one of the highest proportions of disengaged young people in Victoria, with 14.37% of people 20-24 years-old not earning or learning. The new digital hub, with access to online education and training, will offer disengaged young people new opportunities to reconnect with learning in safe and free spaces.

“One in three households across the Southern Grampians contain a single resident, and more than a third of people over 75 live alone. By delivering these projects we will provide our more isolated residents the opportunity to participate in community life, build social connections, in welcoming, safe, and accessible spaces,” Mr Doyle said.

“These projects are really about strengthening the town centre as the place where the community comes together where locals shop, meet and stay. This a once-in-a-generation, city-shaping opportunity to activate those unused central locations, connect community, provide businesses with economic opportunity, and transform our visitor economy.

“I’m really excited for this funding announcement, as it is the continuation of something aspirational and vitally important to the region. Our commitment and hard work will continue to deliver these big three to people of the Southern Grampians,” concluded Mr Doyle.

The funding is part of the Federal Governments Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.

Published on 06 September 2024

Southern Grampians Shire Community members are encouraged to attend an upcoming information session for an update on Council’s three major CBD projects.

Being held on Monday 16 September at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, the session will provide the latest on where Council is at in the planning and design phases of the Hamilton CBD streetscape revitalisation, the Community and Government Hub and the New Hamilton Gallery.

Residents will be able to view preliminary designs for the new Hamilton CBD streetscape in Gray Street as well as learn more around the scope and timing of the project and how the community will be kept informed. This project stems from the Hamilton Structure Plan, prepared for the Council in 2012, and the Hamilton CBD Masterplan in 2020. It aligns closely with Council’s other significant projects the New Hamilton Gallery and the Community and Government Hub Build, creating a comprehensive vision for a vibrant and thriving CBD.

Southern Grampians Shire Mayor Councillor David Robertson welcomed local businesses owners and interested community members to attend.

“Council has been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to bring our major projects to life and we’re excited to be able to share the progress with the community.

“The long-awaited revitalisation of our CBD streets, the Community and Government Hub build which incorporates a new library, digital hub, cinema and office spaces; and the New Hamilton Gallery will completely transform the Hamilton CBD. Once complete, these projects together will create a dynamic and inviting town centre and enhance our streets and public spaces, benefiting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

"Our goal is to strengthen the role of the town centre as a focal point where the community gathers, shops, socialises, and connects," Councillor Robertson added. "By providing improved and inviting spaces, we aim to make the Hamilton CBD the heart of our community, a place people want to visit, stay, and enjoy both for special events and everyday life."

“Council has allocated funding in the 24/25 budget and the Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) towards these three major projects and all three are at varying stages of development. We invite everyone in the community to come along and learn about where we’re up to with the projects and share in the vision for the new Hamilton CBD,” Cr Robertson said.

The information session takes place Monday 16 September at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre from 5:30-7pm. All welcome.