"Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia.
At that time the gallery began, Victoria had been an independent colony for just ten years, but in the wake of the gold rush it was easily the richest part of Australia, and Melbourne the largest city. Generous gifts from wealthy citizens, notably industrialist Alfred Felton, made it possible for the National Gallery to begin buying a large collection of overseas works from both old and modern masters."