In mid 2010 Neil Balnaves AO made an extremely generous pledge to donate a million dollars worth of paintings from his personal art collection to the Mosman Art Gallery and municipality. This has now been realized through a donation of 16 Australian Impressionist and early twentieth century artworks significant to the Mosman area. This is unquestionably the most important donation ever to be received by Mosman Council.

The Balnaves Gift includes several key works by Arthur Streeton, Conrad Martens, Will Ashton, Henry Fullwood, Elioth Gruner, George Halstead, James Ranalph Jackson, Matthew Charles Meere, Adelaide Elizabeth Perry, Sydney Long, Ethel Carrick Fox and Margaret Preston. Together these works will form a substantial historical addition to the Mosman Art Collection, and will have particular emphasis and value for our education program. The exhibition is presented as the key visual art exhibition in the 2011 Festival of Mosman.

Neil Balnaves AO is a long term Mosman resident, who has forged a long and distinguished career in Australian business. In 2010 he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for his philanthropic support of the visual arts as well as his contributions toward conservation, medical and research projects.

Part of the 2011 Festival of Mosman.