S. H. Ervin Gallery

S. H. Ervin Gallery is an art gallery in the National Trust Centre on Observatory Hill, near The Rocks and the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its programme pairs historical and contemporary Australian art, with Aboriginal bark paintings and exhibitions by established and emerging artists. Look for shows such as the Portia Geach Art Prize, which focuses on women artists. The sandstone building and hilltop setting also give you a reason to pause outside and take in the surrounding views.

A gallery on Observatory Hill

The gallery occupies the National Trust Centre, an 1856 sandstone building on Observatory Hill in Sydney. It sits near The Rocks and close to the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The hilltop location gives the visit a setting beyond the exhibition rooms, with views across the surrounding area.

The gallery presents historical and contemporary Australian art. Its exhibitions bring different artists and periods together, with particular attention to the work of women artists. The programme changes, so the exhibition on view is central to what you will see on any particular visit.

Australian art and changing exhibitions

Aboriginal bark paintings are among the works visitors can encounter here. Exhibitions have also included the Portia Geach Art Prize and presentations of artists such as Mary Tonkin, Euan McLeod, Kathleen O’Connor, Margo Lewers and Jean Bellette.

The gallery has presented work by Melbourne Modern artists Ethel Spowers and Eveline Syme, known for their linocuts and woodcuts from the 1930s and 1940s. Check the current programme before setting out, especially if you have a particular artist or exhibition in mind. The schedule changes through the year, with new shows appearing every few months.