 The gallery was the notable home of the original Eureka Flag (the Gallery has since lent the flag to the Eureka Centre - Home of the Eureka Flag at 102 Stawell Street South, Ballarat) and houses major collections covering the history of Australian art from the early colonial period to the present day.For the first five years of the gallery's life, the Association rented the large supper room of the Ballarat Academy of Music, now Her Majesty's Theatre, which was made available by Sir William Clarke, 1st Baronet.The Association then worked to secure land on the site of the Government Camp and to raise funds for a permanent home for its collection.