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Walter Liberty Vernon designed the striking colonnaded entrance and ornamented walls of this stucture in the Classical style.

These rooms contain the oldest works at AGNSW, for the largely British art displayed here was initially the gallery’s focus. The lovely rooms complement the many noteworthy works.

Dedicated to Aboriginal art and culture, the works here range from bark paintings and traditional designs on canvas to works by contemporary Aboriginal artists such as Lin Onus.

Lit up like a Chinese lantern at night, this 2003 gallery highlights the different traditions, periods and cultures of Asia. The artworks are accompanied by fact cards providing historical and cultural backgrounds.

Featuring major names in Australian art, this collection displays works by luminaries such as Sidney Nolan, Grace Cossington-Smith, Brett Whiteley and Arthur Boyd. There are many works by local Sydney artists (see Top 10 Sydney Artists) and several great images of the city.

From Muybridge’s first experimentation with photographs to artists such as Cindy Sherman, Tracey Moffat and Hans Hasenpflug, the world’s most significant names in photography are well represented here.

Several spaces at AGNSW are dedicated to temporary exhibitions. While some display contemporary art, others are retrospectives spanning a movement or an artist’s career. Entry can entail a minor fee.

On Wednesday nights until 9pm, the gallery draws a keen after-work crowd with its free film screenings, celebrity talks, jazz and access to all exhibitions.

The annual Archibald prize is for portraiture, the Sulman for genre painting and the Wynne for landscape painting.

The AGNSW café is a great spot to take a break. It serves good coffee, lunch and snacks, as well as wine and beer, and has a gorgeous view of the harbour and Woolloomooloo. The swish restaurant has a similar view and an extensive menu.