The Art Gallery was originally housed in the Jubilee Building with the State Museum and Library.

[1] The foundation stone was laid for the Art Gallery in July 1901 by the Duke of Cornwall and York, shortly after the federation of Australia.

[1] Sir James Dromgole Linton recommended purchases for the State Art Collection.

Western Australia was also placing more importance on cultural institutions, and the government was inspired by the upcoming 150th anniversary of federation in 1979.

[5] The architect of the main gallery building was Charles Sierakowski from the Public Works Department, who worked with engineer Philip Nadebaum and architectural company, Summerhayes and Associates.It was designed in the Bauhaus method with a Brutalist exterior, which was popular in European design.

The slab and shear head column system was an innovative architectural feature in Western Australia at the time.

In the same year, "Six Seasons", a high-profile project to increase the focus on AGWA's Indigenous art, was initiated, with a new dedicated permanent Indigenous gallery inaugurated alongside "Plain Speak", a special exhibit for the Perth International Arts Festival.

The acquisitive prize was worth A$15,000 in 2022, when it celebrated its 20th year,[20] and increased to A$15,000 in 2023, when the shortlisted entries were presented in a new venue, at Linton and Kay Galleries in The Pickle District of West Perth.