Mudgee Arts Precinct

The Mudgee Regional Arts and Cultural Centre serves as the cultural hub for North-Western New South Wales. The new building results from the long-awaited refurbishment and expansion of the former Cudgegong Shire facility, providing office spaces, workshops, and seminar areas across its two levels. The gallery annexe includes exhibition space for visiting collections, a tourism office, and a sculpture garden. The new addition improves access to the arts and promotes local food, wine, and tourism markets.

In the corner of the site, the Victorian-era Cudgegong Shire Chambers is complemented by a contrasting contemporary development. Positioned at a 45-degree angle, the gallery deliberately contrasts with the traditional form of its Victorian neighbour. Respectfully, the roof is set two to three metres below the double-storey heritage building, allowing it to preserve its primary view of Market Street. It adopts a dramatic, fragmented form, sailing in opposing directions. Skylights project from the roof in a sculptural manner, echoing the nearby Victorian chimneys. While diffusing natural light, the feature louvred openings also provide ventilation.

The bold, distinctive, and earthy red exterior, made from fibre cement panels, harmonises with the natural tones of the brickwork from the adjoining building. This material warmth extends inside, further enhancing the original Chambers with a natural-toned colour palette. Inside the gallery, large-format grey tiles and white walls contrast with timber ceilings, adding texture and a sense of calm.

Catering to various exhibition formats, the lighting design offers flexible layouts enabled by operable display walls and ceiling tracks with adjustable fittings. A stepped ceiling subtly defines different zones within the gallery.

Outside, the art experience continues with a pathway leading to the gardens, inviting visitors to explore and appreciate the sculptures situated throughout the grounds and in the entry forecourt. With projecting bays of deep red, the gallery appears as a sculpture within the landscape, serving as both a contemporary icon and a tribute to Australian natural and cultural history.