Home About us History Our Gallery’s history History of our buildings The Art Gallery’s first dedicated building was constructed in 1879 as part of the Sydney International Exhibition. Situated in the Botanic Garden, ‘The Fine Arts Annexe’, as it was known, consisted of three long galleries designed by architect William Wardell. Image: Official Record of the International Exhibition The dance hall, 1875–79 Fine Arts Annexe, 1880–84 The ‘art barn’, 1885 A temple to art, 1896–1909 Bronze reliefs, 1900–31 The names on the exterior Sydney’s finest marble staircase, 1904 Captain Cook Wing, 1968–72 Australian Bicentennial Wing, 1988 An Asian lantern, 2003 Repurposed storage, 2011