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
Port of Victoria (Seychelles) industry. One of the largest bridges in Victoria was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Victoria proper is composed of parts of three Districts of Seychelles: Greater Victoria encompasses these three, and five more of the 25 Districts of Seychelles as follows: Although it is the capital of the Seychelles, Victoria on Mahe island is not a large city. It was originally settled in 1778 by the French but was eventually named after Queen Victoria. There is an old part of town with narrow streets and dilapidated colonial buildings, and a new part of the city with wider avenues