cover image - The Art Gallery Story - 1975 publication

25th Jul – Sep 2025

Bennett Gallery

The iconic building that is home to the Benalla Art Gallery celebrates its 50th birthday this year. The organisation itself was established in 1968 with considerable community backing and significant donors such as Laurie and Erma Ledger. With this support, noted architects Philip Sargeant and Colin Munro were appointed to design the purpose-built Benalla Art Gallery, perched between the banks of Lake Benalla and the Benalla Botanical Gardens. The new Gallery opened in its picturesque setting in 1975, and has since provided the foundation of Benalla’s artistic and creative culture.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, this exhibition partners key events of the Gallery’s history with artworks from the same era showcasing the breadth and diversity of the Benalla Art Gallery Collection. Honouring the past we acknowledge and pay tribute to our supporters, looking forward to our upcoming redevelopment bringing many more years of enjoyment to residents and visitors.

Artists: Adnate, Peter Booth, John Brack, Angela Brennan, Arthur Boyd, Alison Burton, Michael Cook, Fred Cress, Sir William Dargie, Ken Done, Petrina Hicks, George Johnson, Tim Johnson, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Emma Langridge, Gloria Petyarre, Llyod Rees, William Robinson, Gareth Sansom, Charlie Tong, Peter Wegner, Kim Westcott, Caroline Marsh Williams, Philip Wolfhagen

Fred CRESS Kairon ’75
Image above:
cover image from The Art Gallery Story 1975
Image left:
Fred CRESS
Kairon ’75, 1975
synthetic polymer paint on cotton
213.3 x 167.9 [canvas]; 213.9 x 168.5 [frame]Benalla Art Gallery Collection
Gift of Mr Leon Worth, 1992
© Estate of the artist
1992.06