New Hamilton Gallery

Council endorsed plans in late 2022 to move forward with a new Hamilton Gallery, confirming intentions to build on its current site and progress a CBD. The decision set in motion the long-awaited aspiration for an improved gallery to house the shires significant collection, while the agreement to purchase buildings in the Hamilton CBD forms part of plans to build a new facility to house a new digital hub, library, cinema, and office spaces, which will also serve as a government hub.

The CBD location for the Hamilton Gallery will support the broader Council vision for the activation with the development of a vibrant and connected civic precinct the community can be proud of.

The goal is to position the new Hamilton Gallery as a national leader in regional art galleries to create a place that is truly exciting, inclusive, and ambitious.

The new Gallery will be a place where the collecting and presenting of art is complemented by civic and community functions. The Gallery has the ability to strengthen the connection between culture and life by connecting art to local people in a way that is inclusive, generous and exciting.

The new Hamilton Gallery will foster:

• Local identity
• Civic Life
• Creative Pathways
• The Collection
• Natural Environment
• First Nations Cultures
• Connections

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.

Click here to read the media release in full.

Council invites Southern Grampians community members and business owners to help shape the new Hamilton Gallery at the upcoming community workshops.

Co-design architect Angelo from Angelo Candalepas and Associates will be on hand to hear your thoughts about how the Gallery can best service community, business and tourism.

If you're interested in leaving your mark on the new Gallery, register your interest in attending a workshop today.

5:00pm - 7:00pm Monday 2 December 2024, Hamilton Cinema

2:00pm - 3:00pm Tuesday 3 December 2024, Hamilton Cinema

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.

Check out the release in full here.

Council appointed architect Angelo Candalepas and Associates to undertake stage one (Co-Design and Concept) of the New Hamilton Gallery Design Process at the Special Council meeting held in September.

For more information regarding this appointment, you can view the Council papers from the meeting here.

A countrywide and global search has commenced to obtain architects to design the New Hamilton Gallery (NHG). Southern Grampians Shire Council recently released the tender to engage architects to undertake conceptual design of the NHG.

It is a defining moment in the history of the town, community and region, with the endorsement of the NHG design tender pack being presented and approved at July’s ordinary Council meeting.

The tender alongside the allocation in the recent Council budget to fund the design, will usher in a new enlightenment era of culture and tourism for the community.

Like all exceptional and significant projects such as the creation of Lake Hamilton in 1977 and the inception of the Gallery in 1961, the community has driven and played an important role to advocate and see this project to fruition.

Mayor Cr Robertson commented, “This is a wonderful example of how the public, Council and Councillors have collaborated to see the long-term visions of the community become a reality. We are taking action to grow and highlight our position as a unique and important place within Australia.”

“The New Hamilton Gallery will grow our visitor economy and have a significant economic impact on the region and will complement our agricultural history. It will amplify our culture and the great things our region has achieved and has to offer.”

You can read the release in full here.