Description of the attraction
The Perk Tucker Art Gallery is located in the heart of Townsville, on the east end of Flinders Street. Today, the gallery displays over 2,000 works representing the art of North Queensland and the surrounding tropical region. Here you can get acquainted with the modern art of Queensland and Papua New Guinea, learn about the art of local Aborigines and Torres Strait residents, and admire the works of popular artists. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the gallery regularly hosts a variety of art master classes, lectures, seminars, performances by artists, and theatrical performances.
Every two years the gallery organizes a unique event - "Ephemera", which is held for 10 days in September. At this time, Townsville's main waterfront, The Strand, is being transformed into an exhibition hall: a variety of sculptures are located along a 2-kilometer surf strip right in the open air.
The building that houses the gallery today was built in 1885 by the United Bank of Australia for its northern branch. The building was originally a one-story building, but in the early 1930s the second floor was completed. In 1980, Townsville City Council acquired the historic building for the first art gallery in the city. And in 1981, the Art Gallery was inaugurated to the public - it was named after Alderman Perk Tucker, who was mayor of Townsville from 1976 to 1980.
