After two decades presenting the globally renowned Ballarat International Foto Biennale, we are evolving into a permanent home for photography in Australia. The National Centre for Photography will establish a world-class cultural institution that celebrates the power and diversity of the photographic image.

Housed in the historic Union Bank building in Ballarat’s core arts precinct, the Centre hosts four gallery spaces, including a dedicated First Nations exhibition space. Residency programs, learning spaces, and facilities for emerging hybrid and digital practices all combine within a hub for innovation, dialogue, and community connection.

Commencing in 2021, Stage 1 Development for the Centre is supported by the Victorian Government's Tourism Infrastructure Program, as an identified flagship project boosting the regional tourism economy.

Throughout construction, our site is revealing more than just foundations. Through demolition, excavation, and restoration, layers of the building’s past are coming to light—from hidden architectural details to everyday objects lost or left behind.

We’re capturing this moment of change as it happens. These discoveries—alongside original plans and early photographs—tell the story of the site before its next chapter begins, and will continue to inform how we shape what comes next.

Project developed in partnership with:
Project Manager: Ontoit
Contractor: Searle Bros Building Contractors
Architect & Designer: Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA)
Quantity Surveyor: Slattery Australia
Building Surveyor: Sampson Wong & Associates

The restoration of the heritage-listed Union Bank will be completed in Stage 2 Development for the National Centre for Photography. Located in the heart of Ballarat, the building will be transformed, with an Australian First Nations Gallery, Digital Gallery, and Media Lab among multiple amenities. Exhibitions, public engagement, and education programs will be brought together for the community, visitors, and creative practitioners.

The new Centre officially opens its doors to the public. The ground floor comes to life with exhibitions, events, and public programs—marking the first step in a broader transformation of this historic site.

While the ground floor begins its new role, work continues behind the scenes. Fundraising for Stage 2—restoration and activation of the upper levels—is now underway. This next phase will complete the vision: a fully realised centre for photography, housed within one of Ballarat’s most iconic buildings.

Looking ahead, the completed National Centre for Photography will stand as a permanent home for photography in all its forms—contemporary and historic, local and international. With all levels open and activated, the Centre will offer year-round exhibitions, commissions, education, and public programs.

This is more than a restoration—it’s an investment in a cultural future. A place where image, history, and dialogue meet. A place built to reflect, to question, and to inspire.

Stay tuned for our inaugural program, and join us as we build a new cultural landmark in Australian photography.

Sign up for our newsletter to take part in the journey as the National Centre for Photography takes shape.