Maide Hann (1924-2012) was the leading photographic model in Australia for a couple of years after World War II. Having grown up in Bellevue Hill, she was ‘discovered’ by photographer Robert Hillier at the age of sixteen or so. By her early twenties she was very well-known as a mannequin and toured at least as far as Perth to work. Named ‘Miss Anzac’ amongst the finalists in the Miss Australia competition of 1945, she was said to have been photographed every working day of 1946. After marrying Sydney doctor Eric Giblin in December 1947 she gave up modelling to become his receptionist, although in an interview in 1948 she said that he would not have minded if she had kept it up. After the birth of her children, in the early 1950s Maide Hann stepped out of the public eye. In 2013, Sydney newspapers appealed to readers for information about her, describing her as ‘the Miranda Kerr of the 1940s’, yet she remains relatively obscure.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Danina Anderson, daughter of Max Dupain 2017
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Danina Anderson (34 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.
Johanna McMahon revels in history and mystery in pursuit of a suite of unknown portrait subjects.
Gael Newton delves into the life and art of renowned Australian photographer, Max Dupain.
