University of Queensland Art Museum

The University of Queensland Art Museum is located in the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre on the St Lucia campus and displays contemporary and historical works across several interconnected gallery spaces. The layout allows visitors to move through different collections in a logical and accessible way.

The art collection began in the 1940s through a financial bequest from John Darnell and held its first public exhibition in 1945 within a geology laboratory. This modest start led to the development of a significant cultural institution for the region.

The collection focuses on Australian artists from colonial times to the present, alongside a significant assembly of Chinese antiquities. You can see how local artistic voices have developed across different periods when you walk through the galleries.

The museum is accessible during weekday afternoon hours and Saturday mornings with no admission fee required. The campus is easily reached by public transport, and visitors should allow adequate time to explore the multiple gallery spaces at their own pace.

The institution pioneered visitor engagement practices in Australian museums, developing dedicated programs that connected people with artistic creation and process. This approach influenced how museums across the country approached their educational role.