After two years drawing crowds to Tweed Regional Gallery, Claude Monet's masterpiece Meules, milieu du jour [Haystacks, midday], 1890 will go on display at Geelong Gallery in November 2025 thanks to the Albanese Labor Government's Sharing the National Collection program.
Being the first and most valuable artwork to be loaned through the program, the Tweed Regional Gallery has reported more than 210,000 visitors since the Monet went on display in November 2023.
The work will now travel to Geelong Gallery in Victoria, one of Australia's oldest regional galleries, and be displayed 'in conversation' with their own major work Fredrick McCubbin's, A bush burial, painted in Australia in the same year: 1890.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said it was a full-circle moment for the program as Haystacks travels to Geelong.
"Our Sharing the National Collection program has given regional audiences a chance to see things that normally don't make it out beyond our major cities.
"The national collection belongs to the entire nation, not just to Canberra."
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio, Richard Marles said the loan of such a significant work would be a major draw card for Geelong and the surrounding area.
"Monet's Meules, milieu du jour will be a fantastic loan to the Geelong Gallery, giving families, students and visitors a unique opportunity to see this artwork so close to home.
"The Geelong Gallery is an historic institution, and I am so pleased that through it, our entire community will be able to enjoy the benefits of the Sharing the National Collection program."
Director of the National Gallery, Dr Nick Mitzevich, said it was exciting to see Monet's painting shared with a new community in regional Victoria.
"Following its highly successful display at Tweed Regional Gallery, the National Gallery is excited to now bring one of Claude Monet's most iconic works to the Geelong community.
"Monet's Haystacks is one of the most significant works in the national collection, we are delighted to be sharing it with Geelong Gallery over the next two years."
Director and CEO of Geelong Gallery, Humphrey Clegg said it was an exciting occasion for the region.
"Impressionism has played a major role in the history of Geelong Gallery, with our community founding the Gallery's Collection through the purchase of a much-loved and now nationally significant Australian Impressionist painting, Frederick McCubbin's A Bush Burial 1890.
"As we celebrate our 130th anniversary in 2026, we are delighted to be able to loan Claude Monet's famous Meules, milieu du jour 1890 from the National Gallery and we warmly thank Federal Minister for the Arts, The Hon Tony Burke MP and the Australian Government, alongside Dr Nick Mitzevich, Director of the National Gallery of Australia, for making this loan possible."
Sharing the National Collection is part of Revive, Australia's national cultural policy.
The program has provided $11.8 million over four years to fund the costs of transporting, installing and insuring works in the national art collection so that they can be seen right across the country.
Regional and suburban galleries can register their interest in the loan program here.
Images of the work and the correct attributions can be found here.
