Gympie Regional Gallery celebrate 120 years of School of Arts building

Published on 24 October 2025

One of the region’s most cherished buildings will throw open its doors next month, to celebrate a special milestone.

The iconic School of Arts building on Nash Street is marking its 120th anniversary this year, and the Gallery is marking the occasion with a dedicated tour and community event on Thursday 6 November 2025 from 9am.

Since its opening in 1905, the building designed by renowned architect Hugo Du Rietz, has adapted to meet the needs of the Gympie community, serving at different times as a technical college, municipal library, local history collection and government office space, before becoming home to the Gympie Regional Gallery in the 1990s.

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said the anniversary was an important opportunity to reflect on the town’s history and cultural identity.

“The School of Arts building has stood proudly in the heart of Gympie for 120 years, and this celebration not only honours the vision and talent of its architect, Hugo Du Rietz, but also highlights the value of heritage buildings in connecting us to our past,” Cr Hartwig said.

This historic occasion will begin with a guided walking tour honouring the building’s original architect, Hugo Du Rietz, one of Gympie’s most influential figures in shaping the town’s architectural character. The event invites the community to explore Gympie’s rich structural heritage and learn more about the legacy of this remarkable individual.

The 45-minute tour through the heart of Gympie will be led by Council’s local history expert, offering visitors the opportunity to discover the fascinating details of Du Rietz’s life and achievements. Starting at the Gallery, the tour will take participants to some of Hugo’s most emblematic work like the former Queensland National Bank, The Royal Hotel and the former Atlantic Hotel.

After the tour, guests will return to the Gallery for morning tea and a presentation on the history of the School of Arts, recognising its enduring role in the community.

For more information and to register for the guided tour, contact the Gympie Regional Gallery on (07) 5481 0733 or visit gympie.qld.gov.au/gallery