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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

Towards an Australian Portrait Gallery

In 1988 philanthropists Gordon and Marilyn Darling decided to make an Australian portrait gallery a reality, overseeing the development of the 1992 touring exhibition Uncommon Australians.

More information on Uncommon Australians

Selected images

8 images
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Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir William Dargie CBE Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm 1961 © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Sir Donald Bradman
Bill Leak Sir Donald Bradman 1990 © Estate of Bill Leak
Walter Lindrum OBE
Will Longstaff Walter Lindrum OBE c. 1932
Portrait of Mr Frank Packer
Judy Cassab AO CBE Portrait of Mr Frank Packer 1956 © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2026
Fred Williams - Painter
Rennie Ellis Fred Williams - Painter 1981 © Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive www.RennieEllis.com.au
Young Mo (Roy Rene)
Martin Sharp Young Mo (Roy Rene) 1977 © Martin Sharp/Copyright Agency, 2024
Albert Namatjira
Sir William Dargie CBE Albert Namatjira 1958 © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Sir Hudson Fysh
Sir William Dobell OBE Sir Hudson Fysh 1950 © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
8 images
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Related information

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG
L. Gordon Darling AC CMG
L. Gordon Darling AC CMG
L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

Portrait of a patron

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

A new painting by Jiawei Shen captures the vision and resolve of the Gallery's founder, L. Gordon Darling AC CMG.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency