Australia's oldest and most visited art museum occupies a building on St Kilda Road designed by Roy Grounds and opened in 1968. The building's distinctive bluestone exterior and the famous waterwall entrance are Melbourne landmarks in their own right. The NGV International holds the international collection, strong in European Old Masters, Asian art, and twentieth-century work. Australian art lives at the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square, the NGV's second venue.
The permanent collection is free, and the blockbuster temporary exhibitions — which often come from major European and American museums — are among the most popular cultural events in the country. The café and restaurant in the Great Hall are good options for lunch. The museum is open daily and gets busy at weekends; weekday mornings are calmer.