These five men, of whom two – Broughton and Timbery – are described in the historical record, were sketched by French artist Jacques Arago in Sydney in 1819. Broughton (bottom left) (1798–c. 1850) was the name given by surgeon and explorer Charles Throsby to Toodood (also Toodwick and Toodwit), a Dharawal man who acted as a guide and interpreter to Throsby and others in their explorations of south-east New South Wales. Born near present-day Berry, Broughton accompanied Throsby on various journeys during 1818 and 1819. In 1822 Throsby recommended Broughton to Alexander Berry, writing that ‘he is well acquainted with every inch of that part of the country, speaks good English, and I think may be useful to you’. Broughton, consequently, was among the party who sailed with Berry from Sydney in June 1822 and then assisted in the surveying of a land grant near the mouth of the Shoalhaven River. Berry considered Broughton ‘a steady discerning individual’, awarding him and two other local men breastplates for their loyalty and service. In the 1830s Broughton was described as the ‘Constable of Shoalhaven’, and by 1842 Berry had come to consider him ‘the virtual Head of the Shoalhaven Aboriginal Aristocracy’. His breastplate is held in the Australian Museum’s collection.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2015
Jacques Etienne Victor Arago (age 35 in 1825)
Timbere (age 41 in 1825)
Broughton (age 27 in 1825)
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.
Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
