The Gallery holds one of the largest collections of works by the 18th century English artist Paul Sandby complementing similar collections at Windsor Castle and the Yale Centre for British Art. There are also groups of 19th century European watercolours and 20th century Australian watercolours in the collection as well as a group of works on paper formed when the Ansett Art Award was being held (1976-1994).

The Australian collection of oils spans from Colonial times through to contemporary with a particularly strong holding of colonial views of Western Victoria within which Hamilton is situated. Among these colonial views we have recently acquired a view of the Wannon Falls by Thomas Clark and a view of Mt Abrupt by Nicholas Chevalier, both from the 1860s.

The 20th century collection of paintings is broad with highlights being Sidney Nolan’s Crucifixion from 1956, Justin O’Brien’s Baptism of Christ c.1970, and watercolorist JJ Hilder’s Fisherman on Dora Creek from 1909. These are exhibited in the Taylor Gallery and are rotated every six months or so.