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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.

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling

This exhibition showcases portraits acquired through the generosity of the National Portrait Gallery’s Founding Patrons, L Gordon Darling AC CMG and Marilyn Darling AC.

More information on Uncommon Australians

Selected images

62 images
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Andy Thomas
Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell
General Cosgrove, Dili, East Timor 1999
General Cosgrove, Dili, East Timor 1999, 2006 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Professor Peter Doherty
Professor Peter Doherty, 2001 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Nick Cave
Nick Cave, 1999 Howard Arkley. © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.
Professor Mandyam Srinivasan
Professor Mandyam Srinivasan, 2014 Sam Leach. © Sam Leach
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop
Dr John Yu
Dr John Yu, 2004 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian
Jack Brabham
Jack Brabham, 2004 Julie Edgar. © Julie Edgar
Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett
Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett, c. 1905 Florence Ada Fuller
Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow
Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow, 1896 Tom Roberts
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira, 1958 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Nancy Wake - The White Mouse
Nancy Wake - The White Mouse, 2001 Melissa Beowulf. © Melissa Beowulf/Copyright Agency, 2024
Self portrait
Self portrait, late 1930s Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3
Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3, 1996 John Citizen. © Gordon Bennett Estate
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries, 1958 Clifton Pugh AO. © Shane Pugh
Sir Donald Bradman
Sir Donald Bradman, 1990 Bill Leak. © Estate of Bill Leak
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton, 2009 Brook Andrew, Trent Walter. © Brook Andrew
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2024
Thomas Keneally
Thomas Keneally, 1987 Bernd Heinrich. © Bernd Heinrich
Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide)
Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide), 2008 Deborah Paauwe. © Deborah Paauwe
Walter Lindrum OBE
Walter Lindrum OBE, c. 1932 Will Longstaff
Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe "A little bit louder now...", 1999 Ivan Durrant. © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2024
Lord Casey
Lord Casey, c. 1932 Charles Wheeler. © Estate of Charles Wheeler
Dame Mary Gilmore
Dame Mary Gilmore, c. 1938 Lyall Trindall. © Estate of Lyall Trindall
Andrew Sayers
Andrew Sayers, 2012 Mark Mohell. © Mark Mohell
Elizabeth Blackburn
Elizabeth Blackburn, 2011 Hugh Hamilton. © Hugh Hamilton/Copyright Agency, 2024
Mick Dodson
Mick Dodson, 2010 Ricky Maynard. © Ricky Maynard
Heather McKay
Heather McKay, 1980 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Evonne Goolagong
Evonne Goolagong, 1973 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Murray Rose, Jon Henricks and John Devitt
Murray Rose, Jon Henricks and John Devitt, 1955 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Russell Drysdale
Russell Drysdale, 1960 Max Dupain OBE. © Max Dupain/Copyright Agency, 2024
Colin Madigan and Robert Hughes, Canberra
Colin Madigan and Robert Hughes, Canberra, 1982 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Bruce Dawe, Melbourne
Bruce Dawe, Melbourne, 1969 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Patrick White, Castle Hill, Sydney
Patrick White, Castle Hill, Sydney, 1963 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Yvonne Audette, Vaucluse, Sydney
Yvonne Audette, Vaucluse, Sydney, 1968 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Ron Castan AM QC
Ron Castan AM QC, 1995 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
Ian Kiernan
Ian Kiernan, 1996 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
Sir Albert Victor Jennings
Sir Albert Victor Jennings, 1984 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
Brian Croser AO
Brian Croser AO, 1998 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
Donald Argus
Donald Argus, 1996 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
Victor Trumper
Victor Trumper, 1905 George Beldam, Sun Electric Engraving Company
Henry (Harry) Donnan (member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)
Henry (Harry) Donnan (member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team) H Parker Rolfe
George Trott (George Henry Stevens (Harry) Trott, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)
George Trott (George Henry Stevens (Harry) Trott, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team) H Parker Rolfe
Frank Iredale (Francis Adams Iredale, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)
Frank Iredale (Francis Adams Iredale, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team) H Parker Rolfe
Syd Gregory (Sydney Edward Gregory, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)
Syd Gregory (Sydney Edward Gregory, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team) H Parker Rolfe
Joe Darling (Joseph Darling, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)
Joe Darling (Joseph Darling, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team) H Parker Rolfe
Clem Hill (member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)
Clem Hill (member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team) H Parker Rolfe
Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies, 1960 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
Portrait of Henry Hopkins
Portrait of Henry Hopkins, c. 1845 Thomas Griffiths Wainewright
Reverend William Bedford junior
Reverend William Bedford junior, c. 1846 Thomas Griffiths Wainewright
Australian Aboriginal Cricketers
Australian Aboriginal Cricketers, 1867 Patrick Dawson
La Pérouse
La Pérouse, c. 1830s N Mague, Blaisot
Jacques Arago
Jacques Arago, c. 1830s Nicolas Maurin, Alexandre Sixdeniers
The Honorable Sir Frederick Darley
The Honorable Sir Frederick Darley, c. 1887 Henry Samuel Sadd
Sir James Martin
Sir James Martin, c. 1880s Henry Samuel Sadd after Freeman Brothers
Study for Portrait of W S Robinson
Study for Portrait of W S Robinson, 1952 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
Sarah Simpson
Sarah Simpson, c. 1866 an unknown artist
image not online
NC
Max Schubert, 1980 David Simpson
Peter Thomson
Peter Thomson, 1970 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Billy Cook and Pride of Egypt
Billy Cook and Pride of Egypt, 1954 Ern McQuillan OAM
Alfred Simpson
Alfred Simpson, c. 1866 an unknown artist
Victor and Loti Smorgon
Victor and Loti Smorgon, 1995 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
62 images
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Related information

Marcia Langton
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Marcia Langton

Portrait Quest!

Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)

9:15am, Tue 29 Jul

Join us for an interactive, curriculum-aligned program that explores the lives and contributions of significant Australians.
Dr John Yu
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Portrait Exploration: Art and Identity

Visual Arts (upper primary)

9:15am, Tue 26 Aug

Join us for an engaging and interactive program tailored for upper primary students, where they’ll develop the confidence and critical thinking skills to interpret portraits.

Gordon Darling

by Jiawei Shen

Portrait story

Gordon Darling talks about how Jiawei Shen came to paint his portrait.
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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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