In their own words is an audio-guide with a difference. We let the portraits of these remarkable Australians speak for themselves. Be intrigued and inspired by two-minute personal stories told by the subjects and the artists as you encounter them.
- During your visit to the National Portrait Gallery, look for a portrait with the app symbol. This means it’s one with a story to tell.
- Open the app, tap the
'scan' icon and hold your device up to recognise the portrait. Then hear the subject or artist in their own words! - If you are using the app away from the Gallery, tap the
'subject' or 
'portrait' icons to browse and hear the stories.
Audio from In their own words can also be found listed online or when viewing related portraits from the collection.
About the project
Voice and personal histories are both precious and intimate. Layers of personality, presence and identity are conveyed through voice and personal narrative. These stories of key biographical moments have been edited from oral histories, audio recordings, and, for subjects who lived before audio recording was possible, actors voicing their words. Visitors to our Gallery or website can hear over 160 voices. More will be added over time.
In their own words began in 2018 as a ground-breaking collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery and the National Library of Australia. The project drew on Hazel de Berg’s extraordinary audio recordings of Australian achievers held in the Library’s Oral History and Folklore Collection. Over 27 years, de Berg recorded 1290 Australians born between 1865 and 1953 who had made a mark in their fields of endeavour. She began donating her tapes to the Library in 1960. For more information about the interviews and to hear many of the complete recordings, please visit the National Library of Australia.
