Our Collection

The Latrobe Regional Gallery has an impressive permanent collection of regional and national significance. It is made up of over 1500 works of art in all media, and includes a diverse range of historical and contemporary images of the Gippsland region. The collection includes significant individual works by Jessie Trail, Noel Counihan, Jan Senbergs, Mandy Martin, Kevin Mortensen and the following larger collections:

• CBus Painting Collection
• Alan Aldous Asian Art Collection
• perfume bottle collection 
• Colin Sugget Sculpture Collection and
• a significant number of contemporary works donated from the Bank of Melbourne Regional Art Collection.

CBUS Art Collection

These paintings were acquired by the Building Union Superannuation Fund with a reccommendation from leading Australian art dealer Dr Joseph Brown, who has assisted and advised on the development of many corporate and private collections. The priority for the CBUS Art collection was to acquire paintings for medium to long term investment with the aim of achieving maximum capital return.

Dr Brown recognised the importance of assisting young and emerging artists through support and patronage and was impressed by the CBUS Fund mission to "try to break down the barriers between what members of the community perceive as 'us and them' syndrome and achieve a greater integration between public art galleries and the community."

To maximise viewing opportunities, Dr Brown arranged for the purchased art works to be placed on loan to major regional galleries. As well as Latrobe Regional Gallery, participating galleries include the Geelong Art Gallery, Wollongong City Art Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Broken Hill City Gallery, Bendigo Art Gallery, Horsham Regional Art Gallery and the Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale.

Allan Aldous Asian Art Collection

Born in 1911 and passing away in 2000, Alan Aldous was a well known author and broadcaster in Melbourne from the late 1940's until his early retirement in the early 70's. Aldous was a keen art collector, especially of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, ceramics and netsukes: small, carved items hung from traditional Japanese dress. His collection of artworks was developed over many years and many overseas trips. Latrobe Regional Gallery was very fortunate to receive a bequest from Alan Aldous in the form of Japanese and Chinese ceramics, Chinese scrolls and and a collection of Japanese prints.

Perfume Bottle Collection

Our collection of perfume bottles was donated to Latrobe Regional Gallery by Ingrid McGaughey in 1996. The collection includes work by some of the most respected and renowned glass artists working in Australia today. The enormous variety of styles and techniques utilised is testament to the consideration that artists have given this simple object.

Modern day perfume bottles are expected to give the feel of the fragrance. The bottle is the first point of contact a person will have with a perfume, and often determines if the perfume will be purchased. While the bottles in this exhibition are perfume bottles, because of the calibre of the artists, they are regarded as art rather than for a utilitarian purpose.

Colin Suggett Sculpture Collection

Over the past decade, Latrobe Regional Gallery has been collecting sculptures by local artist, Colin Suggett. We have twenty one works by Suggett, all of these works reflecting a fascination with technology, representing the artist's unique, often humorous responses to the 'trial and error' nature of social and political change in the last quarter of the 20th century.