In June 1884, the prominent Ballarat benefactor James Oddie (1824–1911) funded and lent paintings for a public exhibition at the city hall. Soon after, a group of interested citizens held a meeting and decided that a permanent art gallery should be established.
In June 1884, the affluent Ballarat benefactor James Oddie (1824–1911) funded and lent artworks for a public display at the city hall, which led to a group of concerned citizens deciding to establish a lasting institution for the arts.