The surname of one Victoria's richest families will emblazon more than just trucks as a new $1.7 billion contemporary art gallery will be named in their honour.
Logistics magnates Lindsay and Paula Fox will donate $100 million towards the Southbank building, which will be known as The Fox: NGV Contemporary when it opens.
The gallery will be built within the transformed Melbourne Arts Precinct and showcase contemporary art, design, fashion and architecture of local, national and international significance.
Designed by Angelo Candalepas and Associates, it will feature a 13,000 square metres of display space, a rooftop sculpture terrace and restaurant.
Ms Fox, a National Gallery of Victoria Foundation board member, was the brainchild of the donation - the biggest in the gallery's history.
"How could I say no after being married 62 years," Mr Fox told reporters on Tuesday, which is also his 85th birthday.
"She said I want some money to give the gallery, then she told me how much. But it was too late. I'd signed the cheque."
Ms Fox was "thrilled" the family name would adorn the gallery and said the gift was the culmination of years of support for the NGV.
"We hope that the donation will inspire others in supporting the program to make this an icon for the future," she said.
NGV director Tony Ellwood said the title was bestowed by the gallery and the Victorian government to recognise the family's contribution.
He said it was the "perfect kickstart" to their philanthropic campaign, although the gallery isn't chasing a set donations figure at this stage.
The donation adds to a previously announced $20 million pledge from the Ian Potter Foundation and means the government won't have to dig as deep into its coffers to build the $1.7 billion project.
NGV Contemporary is due to open in 2028, with initial construction works set to get under way in the next 12 months.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said the Fox family's contribution was the largest ever made by a living donor to an arts gallery-related capital project.
"Many of us grew up seeing the bumper sticker saying 'You're passing another Fox'. This investment today means for generations to come, people will be coming to The Fox," he said.
It comes after the family, which has close ties to Premier Daniel Andrews, failed in their attempt to have a purpose-built quarantine facility built at their Avalon Airport.
The billionaire trucking magnate also publicly backed the premier through the pandemic and COVID-19 lockdowns.
