Located in the National Trust Centre on Observatory Hill in Sydney, Australia, the S. H. Ervin Art Gallery is one of the city’s most prominent and reputed art institutions. The gallery is housed in a building formally used by the Fort Street Girls School even though the building was initially designed by Henry Robertson for the purpose of providing an additional classroom for the Fort Street School. Subsequently, an avid philanthropist and an art enthusiast, Samuel Henry Ervin helped establish an art gallery dedicated to Australian Art by leaving 49 works from his own private collection which consisted of artists such as George Lambert and Thea Proctor as well as interesting articles such as a wine cooler composed of Irish bog yew and a ceramic horse from the T’ang Dynasty.
The Gallery further benefitted from Alan Renshaw as well, a lawyer who oversaw Ervin’s bequests, who left to the gallery works by post war artists such as Jeffrey Smart and Davind Strachan Justin O’Brien. The collection of the gallery also includes around 250 volumes from the libraries of these two individuals.
The S. H. Ervin Gallery was formally opened in 1978 with its first exhibition displaying the works of Conrad Martens. At present, the Gallery is reputed for exhibiting contributions by Australian women as well as supporting and encouraging artistic research. The gallery is committed to exploring the diversity of both contemporary and historical art of the continent and is currently a renowned centre for the public display of artistic talent. Up to date, it has exhibited the works of leading artists such as Violet Teague, Margo Lewers, William Robinson, Albert Tucker, Clarice Beckett and more and its collection is home to over 400 paintings, sculptures and other creations.
For those who wish to visit, the Gallery is open on weekdays except Monday and public holidays, from 11am to 5pm and admission costs $7 for adults while children under 12 enter free. Concessions for the elders are also given.
The Gallery is must visit for those with a discerning mind and for those very same people, staying at a luxury hotel in Sydney which appreciates those with discerning tastes, such as The Langham Sydney, would only add to their unique experience in the city. This 5 star hotel Sydney is located in the same area as the Gallery and is renowned for its privacy, luxury and gourmet meals that will make your taste buds sing with delight!
