Encounter faces from the past, long-lost landscapes and the mystical Dreaming in the heart of Fed Square. Traditional and contemporary, figurative and abstract, Indigenous and colonial – the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (ngv.vic.gov.au; free) does a great job of representing the visual art of the island continent. The National Gallery of Victoria's impressive Fed Sq offshoot was set up to showcase its extraordinary collection of Australian works. Set over three levels, it's a mix of permanent (free) and temporary (ticketed) exhibitions
Start downstairs in Wurrdha Marra and get lost in the mesmerizing dots and swirls of Australian First Nations art. The name means "Many Mobs" and speaks to the diversity of cultural traditions and forms represented, covering the gamut from bark painting to neon works.
Upstairs, there are galleries devoted to Australian art from the 19th century onwards, with Indigenous artists well represented here too. Melbourne's own Heidelberg School features prominently, notably Tom Roberts' famous Shearing the Rams (1890) and Frederick McCubbin's monumental triptych The Pioneer (1904). Also fascinating are John Brack's scenes of 1950s Melbourne. Other big names to look out for include Arthur Streeton, Margaret Preston, Grace Cossington Smith, Albert Namatjira and Sidney Nolan.
Art enthusiasts should allocate a couple of hours, although you can get a good taste of it in an hour.
