Benalla Art Gallery hosted an evening to mark its temporary closure, and upcoming expansion, on Thursday, September 25. Photo: Rene Martens / Rensmart Photography.
This article was submitted by Benalla’s Suzie Pearce.
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Laurie and Erma Ledger, Laurie’s cousin Gladys Bennett and Arch Simpson are well-known and recognised for their contribution to the Benalla Art Gallery.
However, Jane Grimwade and Peter Holmes recently presented another insight into the gallery’s history at the final party before closure for renovation and new building works.
Jane outlined the vision that an initial gang of six, of which she was one, had in the early 1960s to create an art gallery of note in Benalla.
She highlighted Pat Gardner’s role in driving the project.
Peter, in his woolly socks, his boots at the door as always since Mrs Gardner reprimanded him for wearing his farm boots into the new gallery with its wooden floor, told how the community supported every initiative to achieve the gallery we know today, which has been much loved and enjoyed for the past 50 years.
Initially, in 1968 a gallery was housed in the Nunn St RSL Hall.
Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash spoke to attendees at its 50th anniversary celebration about upcoming expansion plans. Photo: Rene Martens / Rensmart Photography.
Then, in 1975 the Benalla Art Gallery moved into its distinctively designed lakeside building, which combined many visionary elements.
Having just read the biography of Joan Lindsay by Brenda Niall, I am struck by the vision our Benalla community had to create a gallery, primarily to house artworks post-1967 as its point of difference.
Achieving that goal has been enabled by the collection of contemporary Australian art donated by Laurie Ledger and the important body of works by leading female artists, and later strategic purchases, made through the Bennett bequest.
Subsequently, many other generous donations and purchasing opportunities have helped grow the collection.
Joan Lindsay was taught art by Frederick McCubbin and met her husband, Daryl Lindsay, during this time.
He went on to become the director of the National Gallery of Victoria, first president of the National Trust and member of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board.
He was influential in founding the NGV building, its permanent home on St Kilda Rd, in the 1960s.
Their connection with the development of art in Victoria and Australia was extraordinary.
It was not until 1967 that Joan achieved creative prominence in her own right, following publication of her surreal mystery novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, which was made into a film in 1975 linking art with literature and cinema.
Benalla recognised the impact achieved when Canberra dammed the Molonglo River to create Lake Burley Griffin in the 1960s.
Benalla created its lake with water spout in the 1970s, which transformed the Rose City and provided the perfect setting for the Benalla Art Gallery, complemented by the restoration and enhancement of the historic Botanic Gardens.
It could be asserted that the design of the Benalla Art Gallery was influenced by the Sydney Opera House, which opened in 1973.
Art and vision go hand in hand to create wonderful outcomes, always connected to the characters who give the colour and energy to achieve these visions.
Now it is time to move forward and make even greater opportunities for the gallery, and us, to enjoy art in all its forms.
I cannot wait to see how the revitalised Benalla Art Gallery helps grow our community and rewards its original creative vision.
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