Cooks Hill Galleries

Cooks Hill Galleries is a long-established commercial art gallery in Cooks Hill, Newcastle, offering Australian art for viewing, purchase and sale. Established in 1975, it presents work spanning contemporary to colonial practice, with styles including abstract, modern, impressionist, surrealist and traditional art. The gallery also represents emerging artists working in painting and sculpture, giving visitors the chance to see a mix of established and developing voices rather than a single tightly defined style.

The gallery’s collection includes work associated with artists such as Brett Whiteley and Conrad Martens, while its online store features a changing selection of paintings and other artworks. The website also highlights artists and works including Ian Fairweather, Susan Sheridan and James Willebrant. Regular exhibitions take place in the gallery and online, so the programme is worth checking before visiting if you are looking for a particular exhibition or artist.

The gallery is arranged across four exhibition rooms, each with a distinct character. Gallery I is the main exhibition space, with skylights bringing in natural light. Gallery II acts as an additional exhibition room and was added to the original space in 1980–81. Gallery III, the original room, opens towards the front courtyard and street, with French doors leading to an inner courtyard; it is used for smaller and medium-sized works and collectable art. Gallery IV also looks towards the front courtyard and focuses on smaller contemporary works. Together, the rooms offer different settings for viewing both larger displays and more intimate pieces.

Cooks Hill Galleries also provides practical support for people buying, selling or assessing art. Services include valuations, appraisals, assessments, art advice and buying or selling assistance. The gallery can help with selecting art for a space, and the website says artworks may be previewed in a home or office before purchase. Director Mark Widdup has more than four decades of experience dealing in Australian art, and the gallery also accepts applications from artists seeking consideration for representation, exhibitions or catalogue inclusion. Visitors can browse independently, seek one-to-one advice, or explore the gallery’s exhibitions and online offerings. It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, with other visits available by appointment.