Over 300,000 people came to the Gallery during March and April 1906 to see Holman Hunt's painting The Light of the World.
In 1921, the inaugural Archibald Prize was awarded to W.B. McInnes for his portrait of architect Desbrowe Annear.
The equestrian statues The offerings of peace and The offerings of war by Gilbert Bayes were installed in front of the main facade in 1926.
James Stuart MacDonald was appointed director and secretary in 1929.
In 1936 the inaugural Sulman Prize was awarded to Henry Hanke for La Gitana.
John William Ashton was appointed director and secretary in 1937.

The first woman to win the Archibald Prize was Nora Heysen in 1938 with her portrait Mme Elink Schuurman, the wife of the Consul General for the Netherlands.
The same year electric light was temporarily installed at the Gallery to remain open at night for the first time.
In 1943 William Dobell won the Archibald Prize for Joshua Smith, causing considerable controversy.
Hal Missingham was appointed director and secretary in 1945.

In 1958 the Art Gallery of New South Wales Act was amended and the Gallery’s name reverted to "The Art Gallery of New South Wales".

In 1969 construction began on the Captain Cook wing to celebrate the bicentenary of Cook's landing in Botany Bay.
The new wing opened in May 1972, following the retirement of Missingham and the appointment of Peter Phillip Laverty as director in 1971.

The first of the modern blockbusters to be held at the Gallery was Modern masters: Monet to Matisse in 1975.
It attracted 180,000 people over 29 days.
The 1976 the Biennale of Sydney was held at the Gallery for the first time.
The Sydney Opera House had been the location for the inaugural Biennale in 1973.
1977 saw an exhibition "A selection of recent archaeological finds of the People's Republic of China."
Edmund Capon was appointed director in 1978 and in 1980 The Art Gallery of New South Wales Act (1980) established the "Art Gallery of New South Wales Trust".
It reduced the number of trustees to nine and stipulated that "at least two" members "shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the visual arts".

With the support of then Premier Neville Wran a major extension of the Gallery became a Bicennential project.
Opened just in time in December 1988, the extensions doubled the floor space of the Gallery.
In 1993 Kevin Connor won the inaugural Dobell Prize for Drawing for Pyrmont and city.
In 1994, the Yiribana Gallery, dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, was opened.
Over 300,000 people came to the Gallery during March and April 1906 to see Holman Hunt's painting The Light of the World. In 1921, the inaugural Archibald Prize was awarded to W.B. McInnes for his portrait of architect Desbrowe Annear. The equestrian statues The offerings of peace and The offerings of war by Gilbert Bayes were installed in front of the main facade in 1926. James Stuart MacDonald was appointed director and secretary in 1929. In 1936 the inaugural Sulman Prize was awarded to Henry Hanke for La Gitana. John William Ashton was appointed director and secretary in 1937.
The first woman to win the Archibald Prize was Nora Heysen in 1938 with her portrait Mme Elink Schuurman, the wife of the Consul General for the Netherlands. The same year electric light was temporarily installed at the Gallery to remain open at night for the first time. In 1943 William Dobell won the Archibald Prize for Joshua Smith, causing considerable controversy. Hal Missingham was appointed director and secretary in 1945.
In 1958 the Art Gallery of New South Wales Act was amended and the Gallery’s name reverted to "The Art Gallery of New South Wales".
In 1969 construction began on the Captain Cook wing to celebrate the bicentenary of Cook's landing in Botany Bay. The new wing opened in May 1972, following the retirement of Missingham and the appointment of Peter Phillip Laverty as director in 1971.
The first of the modern blockbusters to be held at the Gallery was Modern masters: Monet to Matisse in 1975. It attracted 180,000 people over 29 days. The 1976 the Biennale of Sydney was held at the Gallery for the first time. The Sydney Opera House had been the location for the inaugural Biennale in 1973. 1977 saw an exhibition "A selection of recent archaeological finds of the People's Republic of China." Edmund Capon was appointed director in 1978 and in 1980 The Art Gallery of New South Wales Act (1980) established the "Art Gallery of New South Wales Trust". It reduced the number of trustees to nine and stipulated that "at least two" members "shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the visual arts".
With the support of then Premier Neville Wran a major extension of the Gallery became a Bicennential project. Opened just in time in December 1988, the extensions doubled the floor space of the Gallery. In 1993 Kevin Connor won the inaugural Dobell Prize for Drawing for Pyrmont and city. In 1994, the Yiribana Gallery, dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, was opened.
Art Gallery of New South Wales