Sarjeant Gallery

Henry Sarjeant, a Whanganui farmer and businessman, left money in 1912 for a public art gallery, and the building that opened in 1919 on the crown of Queens Park is a domed neoclassical structure in Oamaru stone, designed by a young architect who won an open competition - unusually ambitious for a provincial town of that size, which is part of why the collection grew to be one of the more significant public holdings in the country, particularly in photography and works on paper. The building was closed in 2014 as earthquake-prone and stayed shut for the better part of a decade while an extensive redevelopment added a new wing and strengthened the original; it reopened in late 2024. Whanganui itself has a long artistic association, including a substantial glass-blowing community, and the town's river history runs through the collection. Entry is free.

What you actually see

• The 1919 domed building - neoclassical Oamaru stone on the hill.
• The collection - strong in photography and works on paper.
• The new wing - added during the decade-long redevelopment.
• Queens Park - the hilltop setting above the town.

When to go

Any season - indoors and free. Check current exhibitions and opening days, since the programme changed with the reopening.

Honest expectations

The building reopened only recently after a very long closure, so older guidance about it is out of date. It is a provincial gallery - the collection is good but the shows are modest in scale.

Nearby

The Whanganui Regional Museum is in the same park; the river and Durie Hill are below.