National Gallery of Victoria Victorian Heritage Register. Designed by Lab Architecture Studio, the Ian Potter Centre opened in 2002 and houses the gallery's Australian art collection. Victoria gained independence from New South Wales in 1850 (effective 1 July 1851). In the wake of the Victorian gold rush that began in (August) 1851, it became Australia's richest colony, and Melbourne, its capital, the largest and wealthiest city in Australia. With Melbourne's rapid growth came calls for the establishment of a public art gallery, and in 1859, the Government of Victoria pledged £2000 for the acquisition of plaster casts of sculpture. These works were displayed in
Victoria State Emergency Service of the largest in the world. VICSES also provides assistance to other emergency services such as Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and to municipal councils in planning and auditing their emergency management plans. There are more than 5600 (43,000 nationwide) committed and dedicated volunteers around the state who provide these services 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every day of the year in Victoria. Victoria State Emergency Service Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer based organisation responding to natural disasters and working to ensure the safety of communities around Victoria, Australia.