The NGV International building, designed by Sir Roy Grounds, opened in 1968, and was redeveloped by Mario Bellini before reopening in 2003. It houses the gallery’s international art collection and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, designed by Lab Architecture Studio, opened in 2002 and houses the gallery’s Australian art collection. The NGV’s Australian art collection encompasses Indigenous (Australian Aboriginal) art and artefacts, Australian colonial art, Australian Impressionist art, 20th century, modern and contemporary art. The first curator of Australian Art was Brian Finemore, from 1960 until his death in 1975.

The NGV’s Asian art collection began in 1862, one year after the gallery’s founding, when Frederick Dalgety donated two Chinese plates. The Asian collection has since grown to include significant works from across the continent.