Gairloch Gardens, and the adjoining grounds, was a private estate that was bequeathed to the Town of Oakville in 1971 by James Gairdner. Of Scottish parentage, Gairdner named the estate "Gairloch" after a small village in Scotland whose name—when literally translated from the Gaelic—means "short lake." In his will Gairdner requested that the residence be used "as an art gallery for the display of works of art by contemporary artists and the remaining land become a public park." In January 1972, the Town of Oakville acquired the eleven-acre estate and through the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers, the residence began to function as an art gallery in 1974, known initially as Gairloch Gallery.
In recognition of its historical and architectural significance, Gairloch Gardens was designated a historic property under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1986.
In 1967, the Town of Oakville developed and implemented an initiative to house a public library and art gallery in one complex in downtown Oakville. Centennial Gallery, as it was then known, initially operated as a joint initiative between the Centennial Gallery Board and the Oakville Public Library Board.
Today, Oakville Galleries is a leading Canadian contemporary art museum. We curate exhibitions with esteemed artists from Canada and around the world. We have developed a reputation for sharing visionary work by 1,500 artists in over 300 exhibitions and welcome an average of 15,000 visitors annually at Gairloch Gardens and Centennial Square. As we celebrate our fiftieth year, Oakville Galleries is ready to redefine our relationship with the community by means of a dynamic new museum.
