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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

First Ladies

Significant Australian Women 1913–2013

First Ladies profiles women who have achieved noteworthy firsts over the past 100 years.

More information on First Ladies

Selected images

23 images
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Jessie Street
Reginald Jerrold-Nathan Jessie Street 1929 © Estate of Reginald Jerrold-Nathan
Great Suffragette demonstration in London
Rose Stereograph Company Great Suffragette demonstration in London 1911
Self portrait
Nora Heysen AM Self portrait 1934 - 1935 © Lou Klepac
June Dally-Watkins
Max Dupain OBE June Dally-Watkins 1949 (printed 2008)
Dame Jean Macnamara
Donovan Dame Jean Macnamara c. 1930
Margaret Anderson
Napier Waller CMG OBE Margaret Anderson 1942 © Estate of Napier Waller
Senator Nancy Buttfield
Sir Ivor Hele Senator Nancy Buttfield 1958 © Estate of Ivor Hele
Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong
Ern McQuillan OAM Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong c. 1971 © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Portrait of Marjorie Cotton
Jean Isherwood OAM Portrait of Marjorie Cotton 1969
Evonne Goolagong
Ern McQuillan OAM Evonne Goolagong 1973 © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Ita Buttrose
John Williams Ita Buttrose 1981 © Estate of John Williams
Marcia Langton
Juno Gemes Marcia Langton 1982 © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Cathy Freeman
Montalbetti + Campbell Cathy Freeman 1994 © Montalbetti & Campbell
Dame Roma Mitchell
Jessica Hromas Dame Roma Mitchell 1998 © Jessica Hromas
Imelda Roche
Paul Newton Imelda Roche 2003 © Paul Newton
Quentin Bryce
Lorrie Graham Quentin Bryce 2002 (printed 2011) © Lorrie Graham
Nicole Kidman
Karin Catt Nicole Kidman 2002 (printed 2004) © Karin Catt
Rose Scott
Annie May Moore Rose Scott 1913
Gladys Moncrieff
Ruskin Gladys Moncrieff 1920s
Mrs Bonney flying from Australia to South Africa via Siam. Singapore 1937 (full length portrait)
an unknown artist Mrs Bonney flying from Australia to South Africa via Siam. Singapore 1937 (full length portrait)
Nancy Bird Walton
Judy Cassab AO CBE Nancy Bird Walton c. 1973 © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2026
Jill Ker Conway
Sarah Belchetz-Swenson Jill Ker Conway 1987 © Estate of Sarah Belchetz-Swenson
Elizabeth Blackburn
Hugh Hamilton Elizabeth Blackburn 2011 © Hugh Hamilton/Copyright Agency, 2024
23 images
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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