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Potter Museum of Art Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the gum tree open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Closing 21 November 2026.

With one month until Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree closes, we thought we’d take a closer look at the ways artists h...
21/10/2026

With one month until Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree closes, we thought we’d take a closer look at the ways artists have drawn inspiration from the gum tree to create jewellery.

Here, necklaces crafted from eucalyptus materials and forms explore memory, identity, adornment and our enduring connection to place.

Take a look at these wearable art pieces as part of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

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Image 1: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Jess Dare, No More Time 2026, courtesy of the artist. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Image 2: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Nikki Browne, STOP KILLING COUNTRY 2022, courtesy of the artist. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Image 3: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Peter Tully, Gumnut necklace c.1981. Powerhouse collection. Gift of David McDiarmid, 1995. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Image 4: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Maree Clarke, Gumnut necklace c. 1988; Gumnut necklace c. 1993; Gum necklace c. 1988. Koorie Heritage Trust, Narrm / Melbourne. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Meet Conservator Peter Mitchelson, whose work focuses on the conservation of paper.Here, he takes us behind the scenes ...
20/10/2026

Meet Conservator Peter Mitchelson, whose work focuses on the conservation of paper.

Here, he takes us behind the scenes of preparing rare and historic books for our latest exhibition Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree.

Unlike flat works on paper, books are functional objects with moving parts. Their conservation requires careful structural decisions, balancing the need to make them safe for handling and display with the importance of preserving their original materials.

In this case, Peter found that the cords holding the front cover to the book had deteriorated. He carefully inserted new cords without disturbing the original sewing, then used them to reattach the covers.

“I usually only wear gloves when I’m dealing with mould or using solvents, dyes and pigments. Otherwise, I lose tactile sensations in my fingers and can’t perform the delicate work that is often required.”

Swipe to see the process, including some of the specialist tools Peter uses in his work ➡️

📷: and Peter Mitchelson

20/10/2026

What can an exhibition open up for students?

Students from Eltham High School recently visited our exhibition Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the Gum Tree as part of their VCE Art Making and Exhibiting studies, describing it as impactful, welcoming and truthful.

Now, we’re inviting secondary teachers to the Potter to discover how exhibitions can enrich students’ learning and spark new perspectives.

Get a first look at our upcoming exhibitions and learning programs, take part in a hands-on art workshop and connect with fellow educators.

📅 Tuesday 10 November
🕑 4pm to 6pm
🔗 Free to register at: https://events.humanitix.com/2027-program-launch-art-museums

19/10/2026

"No matter where you are in this country, you’re really never far from a gum tree.” — Sophie Gerhard, Curator.

They’re everywhere. Woven into our landscapes, our memories and our everyday lives—often without us even noticing.

Sometimes, all it takes is looking a little closer.

🌿 Is there a gum tree that’s special to you? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Eucalypts are indigenous to Australia, with over 900 identified species and subspecies – from towering giants and gnarle...
15/10/2026

Eucalypts are indigenous to Australia, with over 900 identified species and subspecies – from towering giants and gnarled ancients to delicate multi-trunked mallees and hardy shrubs.

And yet, one quarter of all gum tree species are threatened with extinction.

The works in this room speak to this crisis.

Some allude to its causes, while others capture the aftermath of disaster, with fire-scarred forests and drowned trees, giants felled by forces beyond their endurance.

Explore as part of our latest exhibition Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

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Image 1: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Mary Tonkin, A scream, Kalorama 2023, courtesy of the artist and Australian Galleries; Nikki Browne, STOP KILLING COUNTRY 2022, courtesy of the artist. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Image 2: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Nici Cumpston, Ringbarked II, Nookamka Lake 2011/2016, courtesy of Michael Reid. Photography by Potter team.

Image 3: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Russell Drysdale, Walls of China 1945, courtesy of Art Gallery of NSW. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Image 4: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Robert Campbell Junior, Dorrigo Falls 1989, courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Photography by Potter team.

Many Australians will be familiar with May Gibbs’ beloved Gumnut Babies, who live in the Australian bush in the fabled G...
13/10/2026

Many Australians will be familiar with May Gibbs’ beloved Gumnut Babies, who live in the Australian bush in the fabled Gumnut Land. Behind their image is a much more complex picture.

Visit Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

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Image 1: Volume 01/i: Illustrations for Gum-nut Babies / by May Gibbs, Call no. PXD 304/vol. 1/no.1, Digital order no. FL374378. Supplied: State Library NSW.

Image 3 and 5: Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring May Gibbs, Nuttybub and Nittersing 1923, courtesy of University of Melbourne, Rare Books Collection and Archives and Special Collections. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Visit our latest exhibition Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the gum tree. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.
08/10/2026

Visit our latest exhibition Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the gum tree.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

What does the Australian bush mean to you?
For some people around the turn of the century, the bush was imagined as a pl...
05/10/2026

What does the Australian bush mean to you?

For some people around the turn of the century, the bush was imagined as a place of danger, shaped by fears of white children going missing.

For others, particularly during the Stolen Generation, the bush offered refuge and protection from the threat of ‘welfare’ officials.

Hear the many stories held within the gum trees as part of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

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Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Frederick McCubbin, Lost 1886, courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria, Felton Bequest 1940. Photography by Christian Capurro.
 
Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Dianne Jones, The hidden 2011, courtesy of the artist. Photography by Christian Capurro.

01/10/2026

Gum trees help us breathe.

That idea is at the heart of Ngarn Wa’ngal, meaning 'breathing for us' in Wurundjeri Woi wurrung language.

Gum trees are deeply connected to Wurundjeri people, with wurun, meaning manna gum, woven into the name itself.

Visit Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

This isn’t the first time the Potter has brought together works by Albert Namatjira and his great-grandson, Vincent Nama...
28/09/2026

This isn’t the first time the Potter has brought together works by Albert Namatjira and his great-grandson, Vincent Namatjira.

In 2025, our landmark exhibition 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art placed works by the two artists side-by-side.

Now, two ghost gum paintings by the great-grandfather and great-grandson are united, offering a striking glimpse of how two generations have depicted their shared Western Aranda Country.

Visit Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

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Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Albert Namatjira, Ghost gum 1942-45, donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Dr Beverley and Mr Alan Castleman from the Dr Beverley Castleman Collection. Photography by Christian Capurro.
 
Installation view of Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree, Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, 2026. Featuring Vincent Namatjira, King Dingo (salute) 2024, courtesy of Private Collection, Melbourne. Photography by Christian Capurro.

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Parkville, VIC

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Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

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