VISUAL ARTS The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery was the first provincial Art Gallery to be established in Australia. It was established in 1884 by a group of interested citizens led by James Oddie. The original premises were rented, but the foundation stone for the present Gallery building was laid in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It is the oldest Art Gallery building in Australia designed and still in use as an Art Gallery. The Gallery is housed in a stately building in one of the most important historic precincts in Australia.