S. H. Ervin Gallery

The hidden gem of the Sydney art scene. Undiscovered but offering so much, including great food and coffee.

I always find the exhibitions here to be fascinating and the staff to be most welcoming.
There is also a very pleasant restaurant on site with a good range of home cooked meals.
I pa to enjoyed my lunch there today.
There is a small admission charge for exhibitions and they do not, at the time of writing, accept cash payments although the restaurant asked that we paid cash for our meal if possible.
Looking forward to my next visit

Lovely national trust building near the observatory. Regular exhibitions including the annual Salon des Refuses from the Archibald prize rejections and the wonderful Portia Geacht prize.

Cup of tea with lactose free milk and one sugar for Josie hayes and lunch small sixe salad not do much

Great little hidden gem of a gallery on Observatory Hill. Was a good collection of Aboriginal bark paintings when we visited. Fabulous ochres.

Went to the S. H. Ervin gallery to see the Archibald portraits that missed being shown at the NSW art gallery at the S. H. Ervin gallery. Very pleasant, intimate environment.
And a visit to their cafe/ restaurant is a nice way to finish your visit.

A modest art gallery atop Observatory Hill. Its standout annual exhibition is the Salon de Refuses, for rejected entries to the Archibald Prize.

Many great exhibitions on display, with talks from curators and artists. In a one of a kind position at observatory Hill, the S. H. Ervin Gallery is a must see.

The Tree of Life exhibition complements last year's wonderful exhibition on the threats to the Darling-Barka River system. The paintings in this year's collection are often big and bold and draw you in. None more so than this painting by Nicholas Harding. There is also sculpture, photography and film.

Worth dropping by if you’re at the observatory, but it seems that hardly anyone visits here. It’s pretty hard to locate (you need to go up towards the observatory then follow the road) and there’s a $12 entry fee. Might be worthwhile thinking of ways to make the place more accessible from the city end

Arrived from the rain and met a man from the book store entrance who wasn't impressed that I wanted to pay cash and his tone was trying to make me feel I was a baffoon for even trying to pay the fee of $12 in cash so I left not seeing the exhibitions there at all.

Went for the Peter Kingston exhibition. The exhibition was good but that was the only positive. The volunteers who run the gallery were rude and treat you like you are invisible. I won't be going again.

Incredibly, the cafe was even worse! Lousy coffee (the milk in my cappuccino had that nasty burnt taste), over priced cakes and dictatorial staff. Give it a miss. There are plenty of good coffee shops in the area.

Excellent gallery.
"Quote"
The S. H. Ervin Gallery is a major public art institution housed in the historic National Trust Centre in Observatory Park, Sydney. "The gallery's exhibition programme is designed to explore the richness and diversity of Australian art, both historical and contemporary, and present it in new contexts. ".
"Unquote"

Lovely national trust building near the observatory. Regular exhibitions include the Salon des Refuses.

This is a beautiful 19th century building on the highest point close the centre of the Sydney, city. The gallery gives discounts to National Trust members. It has a nice restaurant and small art bookshop. The gallery has ever changing exhibitions.

Fantastic exhibition of works Margaret Olley donated to Australian galleries. Many of her own paintings and many international artists.

My second home for 6 years! The " old girl" stilĺ looking as good as when i first saw her in 1967! Food in the cafe was ok too!

Wonderful exhibition Margaret Olley was a great philanthropist. This is just some of her collection an eclectic mix of artists donated over the years

If your into art or just looking for some light refreshments, a relaxing place with interested staff.

A small but interesting gallery. The surrounding grounds offer amazing views of Sydney harbour and easy access to the harbour bridge and the rocks.