What is the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery?
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery (HBRG) is a professional regional gallery located on Butchulla Country in the heart of Hervey Bay's civic precinct. Far more than a local curiosity, HBRG runs a curated programme weaving national touring exhibitions together with its own internally developed shows — many of which explore hyper-local themes with a universal resonance for contemporary audiences. Whether you are a first-time visitor to the Fraser Coast or a long-time local, the gallery offers a genuine point of cultural connection.
A Gallery Built for Its Community — and the Nation
HBRG welcomed its first visitors in May 1997, operating as part of the then-Hervey Bay City Council's Cultural Services complex in Pialba, where it quickly achieved an Exhibition Venue Category A rating from the Regional Gallery Association of Queensland and met international museum and gallery standards. The gallery eventually outgrew that original home, and in December 2012 it relocated to a purpose-built, architecturally designed Fraser Coast Cultural Centre. The current venue incorporates two dedicated exhibition spaces alongside a foyer, retail shop, a dedicated children's workshop room, a Theatrette multimedia room, and the Fraser Coast Discovery Sphere — an interpretive environmental and cultural display.
The HBRG Collection — Nationally Significant, Locally Grounded
HBRG is custodian of both the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery Collection and the Fraser Coast Regional Council Civic Collection. The permanent collection is a growing body of nationally significant Australian art, featuring works by Sidney Nolan, Charles Blackman, Fiona Foley, Michael Cook, Anna Louise Richardson, Joe Furlonger, Maureen Hansen, and many others. The collection is managed in line with museum conservation practices outlined in the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries, and works are preserved as long-term cultural assets. Individuals or organisations wishing to contribute to this legacy may do so through the Cultural Gifts Program (CGP) — contact the gallery directly to discuss how a donation might be considered for the collection.
National Touring Exhibitions Come to the Fraser Coast
One of the most exciting aspects of HBRG's programme is its collaboration with major national institutions. In a recent landmark partnership, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia presented National Interests: Australian Art in the 20th Century — an exhibition pairing works from the HBRG Collection with significant pieces from Australia's national collection. Featuring artworks made between 1936 and 1997, it explored Australian Modernism and the search for a distinctive national identity in a rapidly changing cultural landscape. Exhibitions like this, supported through the Australian Government's Sharing the National Collection program, mean visitors can experience world-class art without travelling to a capital city.
The Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize
Among the gallery's signature initiatives is the biennial Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize — a prestigious award that draws artists from across Australia. The inaugural prize in 2023 was won by a two-metre charcoal drawing of a wedge-tailed eagle, while the 2025 prize was awarded to Sunshine Coast artist Amanda Bennetts for her video artwork Carve Crevice from Grace, earning her $25,000. The Girra prize underscores HBRG's commitment to supporting contemporary Australian art practice at a national level, while anchoring that conversation firmly in the Fraser Coast.
Regional Spotlight — A Platform for Wide Bay-Burnett Artists
For emerging and established regional artists alike, HBRG's Regional Spotlight initiative provides a meaningful exhibition opportunity. Since 2024, the programme has presented group exhibitions curated from an open call, showcasing the breadth of creative practice across the Wide Bay-Burnett area — spanning painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and more. The initiative also offers professional development and public programming, opening new creative pathways for participating artists. Submissions are open to artists working in any medium and at any stage of their career.
Beyond the Gallery Walls — The Art Walk, Garden and Shop
A visit to HBRG extends well beyond the exhibition spaces themselves. Outdoors, the HBRG Art Walk invites you to engage with art in the open air, while a thoughtfully designed Butchulla Seasonal Garden pays quiet, considered tribute to the Country on which the gallery stands — acknowledging the Butchulla people, the Traditional Owners of this land. A curated retail shop on-site offers a range of art-related items, making it a thoughtful stop for those looking to take a piece of the Fraser Coast home with them.
Planning Your Visit
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery is located at 166 Old Maryborough Rd, Pialba — well placed for a cultural half-day that pairs beautifully with Hervey Bay's waterfront esplanade and the broader civic precinct. The gallery's programme rotates regularly, so it rewards repeat visits. Free children's art activities — such as the Scribbly-Doodah Kids sessions held in the gallery foyer — make it a genuinely family-friendly destination. Check the gallery's own website for current exhibitions, upcoming events and opening hours before you go.