David Roche Gallery

Last week, we celebrated David Roche Gallery’s 10th birthday with the official opening of 'Making Old New: DRG 10th Anniversary' – SA Craft & Design Reimagine the Collection.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and a special thank you to Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC and guest speaker Brian Parkes, Chief Executive Officer of JamFactory, for helping make this a memorable evening.

'Making Old New' is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm. Experience the inspiring works of twenty South Australian artists, each responding to a piece from the David Roche Collection in their own unique way. Free entry, exhibition runs until 1 August.

Images:

David Roche Gallery turns 10 today! 🎉 Let's take a look back at some some of the highlights.

Today marks 10 years since David Roche Gallery officially opened its doors to the public, sharing David Roche’s remarkable collection of art and antiques with local, national and international audiences. Over the past decade, more than 70,000 visitors have experienced our exhibitions and guided tours of Fermoy House, discovering the rich diversity of cultures, histories and stories embedded within the House that David Roche left for all to enjoy. The Gallery has also presented more than forty exhibitions, including Arthur Boyd’s astonishingly beautiful St Francis of Assisi tapestries from the National Gallery of Australia, the exquisite botanical drawings of Ellis Rowan and Rosa Fiveash, and the comprehensive Wedgwood: Master Potter to the Universe survey of Wedgwood in Australia. We even established our own Best in Show: Australian Photographic Dog Prize to commemorate David’s extraordinary canine feats.

Thank you to our membership group and everyone who has supported the Gallery over the past ten years and helped continue DRG's vision.

To celebrate this important milestone, 'Making Old New: DRG 10th Anniversary' brings together works of art from the David Roche collection selected by 20 emerging, mid-career, and senior South Australian artists associated with the and their inspired responses. We hope this special exhibition continues to inspire and engage audiences, just as David intended. Come and celebrate with us, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4 pm. Free entry.

'Making Old New: DRG 10th Anniversary' celebrates the intimate relationship between makers both past and present, their materials and their handmade techniques, and offers the possibility of new insights and dialogues between the work of contemporary artists and historical works held in the Gallery. Ten eminent South Australian artists and ten JamFactory alumni from 2016-2026 were invited to select works from the David Roche collection as a departure point to create inspiring new works. The artists had the freedom to assess, discuss, and study works that interested them. Spanning ceramics, glass, jewellery, furniture, and sculpture, the 20 reimagined pieces respond to a variety of collection items. Some artists selected iconic works from the collection, while others were drawn to more humble pieces, all resonating with their own values and passions for creating. See these incredibly talented artists work up close and many more. 'Making Old New' open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Free entry.

Images:
Takeshi Iue, designer, Stephen Bowers, decorator, Chess casket, 2026
Germany, Games table, 1835, David Roche Collection
Lotte Schwerdtfeger, Nerikomi Urn I, Nerikomi Urn III, Nerikomi Urn II, 2026.
Britain, Blue John vase, c.1800, David Roche Collection.
Emma Young, Cheetah poche (one of two) 2026
France, Vide poche torcheres (one of two), 1780-90, David Roche Collection

Images:

Happy National Volunteers Week!

This week we celebrate the remarkable volunteers who are such an integral part of David Roche Gallery. Our volunteers bring such a wide variety of skills, knowledge, experience, and joy to the gallery, for which we are very lucky and grateful. As we approach our 10th Anniversary, we thank you for your continued support and commitment which enables DRG to fulfil its vision and uphold its values.