Rockhampton Museum of Art

The Rockhampton Museum of Art is one of those regional gallery surprises that Australia does reasonably well — a collection that punches above its weight given the size of the city. The museum holds a strong collection of Australian art from the 19th century through to the contemporary, with particular strengths in Queensland art and works connected to the region.

The building is modern and well-designed, offering good viewing conditions. Admission is free. The gallery is at the eastern end of the Quay Street heritage precinct, making it easy to combine with a walk along the riverfront. Allow at least an hour; the collection warrants it.

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The museum holds the Kershaw Collection — works donated over decades by James Kershaw, who was director of the museum for many years. Kershaw's taste was eclectic and often ahead of his time: the collection includes significant Australian modernists who were not fashionable when he acquired their work. His persistence in building the collection despite limited resources is the reason a regional city in Queensland has art worth visiting.

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