The QUT Art Collection began in 1945, predating the Museum by 55 years. It originated from the varied collecting practices of Brisbane's technical and vocational education institutions, with acquisitions often reflecting the judgments and tastes of seminal staff members like Betty Churcher, Mervyn Muhling and William Robinson. These early efforts, shaped by the limitations and needs of small teaching institutions, were consolidated in the early 1980s after institutional mergers, and formally unified under QUT's stewardship in 1990. The QUT Art Museum officially opened in 2000. Comprising more than 3000 objects, the Museum's collection includes paintings, ceramics, sculpture, and works on paper, chiefly by Australian artists. A focus area of the Collection is the William Robinson collection of works that numbers over 320 objects. Other major strengths are: Early Twentieth Century Australian Art, Queensland Art, Contemporary Australian Prints, Oodgeroo Collection of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Contemporary Australian Ceramics & International Prints.