Regional Victoria’s goldmining history is shining at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery thanks to a new display of beautiful colonial and contemporary gold jewellery from the National Gallery of Australia’s collection.
The latest loan under the Sharing the National Collection initiative sees 12 pieces on display at the Maryborough gallery for two years until June 2026.
They include three contemporary works in gold and silver by Victorian jewellery designer Rowena Gough, a Maryborough local whose works are collected by major galleries across the country.
An intricate mid-19th century Australian goldfields brooch crafted by Godfrey and Abraham will also be on show, alongside several sparkling pieces of a similar vintage from unknown artists.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said he was excited to see local galleries using pieces from the national collection to tell their own stories and histories.
“The national collection belongs to all Australians. Loans like this show how works held by the National Gallery have significance well beyond Canberra.
“Bringing works out of storage and into local galleries to be appreciated by new audiences and communities is what Sharing the National Collection is all about.”
National Gallery Director Nick Mitzevich said, “The Sharing the National Collection initiative has allowed direct collaboration with regional venues to curate works of art from the collection for loan that will have an impact on their region.
“The partnership between the National Gallery and Central Goldfields Art Gallery shares colonial and contemporary works of art with the Central Victorian community that deeply resonate with their gold mining history.”
