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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Sir James McNeill

1980
Sir William Dargie CBE

oil on canvas (frame: 120.0 cm x 95.0 cm)

Sir James McNeill CBE (1916-1987) was chairman of BHP from 1977 to 1984. Educated at Newcastle High School, he joined the company in at the age of 16 as assistant to the secretary of the general manager, holding this position for eleven years before becoming the chief clerk in the Newcastle operation. After gaining accounting qualifications, he moved to the accounts division in Melbourne in 1946, threading his way through the ranks of the financial divisions of the companies before becoming Executive General Manager, Finance, in 1967. He became a managing director in 1971. Amongst his many directorships and consultative positions, McNeill was a president of the Australian Mining Industry Council, a director of ANZ, a member of the council of and chairman of the finance committee of Monash University, and a member of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute financial advisory committee. He was named the first Honorary Citizen of Queensland in 1980, and gained an honorary doctorate from the University of Newcastle in 1981. On his retirement, Sir James observed that he was pleased to have started at the bottom. 'The view from there may be limited,' he said, 'but it is in the right direction.'

Gift of BHP Billiton 2003. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Sir William Dargie CBE (age 68 in 1980)

Sir James McNeill CBE (age 64 in 1980)

Subject professions

Business, trades and industry

Donated by

BHP Billiton (11 portraits)

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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.

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