Ticketed entry is in place to safely manage your visit so please book ahead. Need to cancel or rejig? Email bookings@npg.gov.au
Hon Joh Bjelke-Petersen KCMG (b. 1911), former Premier of Queensland, was a beef and peanut farmer before he entered politics in 1947. From 1950 until he resigned in 1987 he held the seat of Barambah for the National Party. Meanwhile, he became Premier in 1968. His style, encapsulated in his famous phrase 'don't you worry about that' was both aggressively conservative and individualistic; his premiership was marked by rapid economic and population growth in Queensland. In 1986 he emerged as a possible prime minister, but the 'Joh for PM' roadshow crashed when Bob Hawke called an early election in June 1987. Bjelke-Petersen resigned later that year. The ensuing Fitzgerald Enquiry into corruption in Queensland led to the laying of charges against several of his former ministers. He himself was charged on several counts, but tried only for perjury. The charge was dropped when the jury failed to reach a verdict.
Noel Stapleton, commercial artist, began his career in Brisbane in 1944. At the age of 22 he turned freelance and moved to Sydney, where he has worked ever since, achieving considerable success in advertising and other promotional work. Stapleton painted this portrait to serve as a fund-raiser for the 'Joh for PM' campaign. The work travelled widely around the country as a centrepiece for the campaign, and many autographed copies of it were sold. Stapleton was asked to appear on 'The Mid-day Show' to promote sales, but refused, stating that as an ex-Queenslander he was happy to take Joh's money for doing the work but wanted nothing to do with the campaign. When the campaign folded in 1987 he requested the return of this original, and it came back to him in its travelling case.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds from the Basil Bressler Bequest 2003
© Estate of Noel Stapleton
Accession number: 2003.130
Copyright image request form
Request a digital copy of an image for publication
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.
The exhibition will include works of art from the NPG Canberra's permanent collection with some inward loans and aims to highlight the achievements of notable Australians.
Explore portraiture and come face to face with Australian identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.
Timed ticketing, location, accessibility and amenities