Sir James Balderstone (1921-2014) was chairman of BHP from 1984 to 1989. Born in Melbourne, he was educated at Scotch College and served in the navy during World War II. A grazier by profession, he became Australian general manager of the meat exporting company Thomas Borthwick and Sons in 1953. While manager of the Stanbroke Pastoral Company, in 1963 he became the foundation chairman of the Australian Meat Exporters Federal Council. In 1976 he became a director of Woodside Petroleum, and into the 1980s he served on a number of boards including those of AMP, Westpac and Chase-AMP Bank. From 1981 to 1982 he was chairman of the Commonwealth Government Working Group on Agricultural Policy, and he was President of the Victorian Institute of Public Affairs from 1981 to 1984. After serving as chairman of BHP, during which period he was also chairman of the Victorian board of directors of AMP, he became chairman of Chase-AMP Bank. He received his knighthood in 1983 for services to primary industry and commerce.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of BHP Billiton 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
BHP Billiton (11 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Scientists tend to conjure up images of men in white coats in labs but this is just one stereotype in an evolving history of how we have perceived scientists, and how their profession has been understood over the years.
Sir William Dargie, painter and eight times winner of the Archibald Prize for portraiture, died in Melbourne on July 26, 2003, aged 91.
