The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

We loved the Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday exhibition. It’s filled with a bunch of designers using both innovative and everyday materials to create products that are better for people and the planet. Some of the ideas are genuinely clever, some are beautifully simple, and all of them make you think about how design can solve real problems. If you get the chance, go and take a look — it’s well worth it and it’s free. I could easily go back and spend even more time there.

This was my one museum stop during our time In Melbourne and it didn’t disappoint. I loved the collection of Australian art (both indigenous and western) and a surprise giggling for me was the small design centre (tucked behind the gift shop on the ground floor) that had a variety of design sustainability initiatives.

Highly recommend! So many great works to see! I spent the whole afternoon inside and really enjoyed it. The whole building has 3 floors, be sure to leave at least 3-4 hours when you visit!

Ian Potter Centre, Melbourne: The world’s-first art gallery dedicated to Australian art – through all genres, from classical to modern art. Housed in the impressive NGV Australia at Fed Square – first marvel at the dapper architecture then move inwards to appreciate the art pieces. Interspersed with appreciation of the stylish concrete interior design and the of the tall white spire atop The Melbourne Arts Centre. #eatstylishtravelstylish

Amazing displays of art from Australian indigenous and non-indigenous people. We loved every aspect of this gallery. Not to mention that it was free.

I stumbled upon this gallery whilst waiting for a friend. Wonderful indigenous art on display, free admission. I highly recommend this gallery.

I had a great time exploring various Bark painting artworks, which are recognized as a unique genre of art. The pieces were very intuitive, making it perfect to enjoy the exhibition while having meaningful conversations with my child. As part of the special (ticketed) exhibition, we also got to see the beautiful dresses designed by Martin Grant. It was a wonderful opportunity to explain the roles of a fashion designer and a model to my child in an easy and engaging way.

The exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre was genuinely interesting, featuring a strong selection of valuable artworks. Although the collection is relatively small and not always organised in clear chronological or geographical order, it is still worth visiting and left a good impression. Unfortunately, our experience was significantly let down by the behaviour of a staff member, likely a security guard, who stopped us while we were quietly viewing the ground-level display. He insisted I return to the entrance and leave my small designer backpack at the cloakroom. When I asked why, I was told that “all gigantic bags that do not fit the frame must be left.” My bag is very small, serving as a purse, and clearly not “gigantic.” I politely asked to test the bag in the frame to verify the claim, but was denied without explanation. The staff member simply said, “You must leave your bag or you cannot enter,” and did not allow any discussion. To avoid creating a scene, I complied and left my bag at the cloakroom. After the visit, I returned and tested the bag in the frame myself while the staff member was elsewhere and only a cloak officer was there. As expected, it fit perfectly, even alongside a pack of disposable bags already inside the frame. I found this extremely disappointing. While I fully respect policies that protect artworks and support reasonable bag checks, these rules should be applied with fairness and common sense. The manner in which I was treated felt unnecessarily authoritarian, as if the individual was more interested in exercising power than ensuring safety. Sadly, this brief but unpleasant encounter tainted what could have been a wonderful gallery visit. I hope management reviews staff training and policies to prevent future visitors from having a similarly negative experience.