Skip to main content
Menu

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.

George Reid paperweight

Some prime ministers

General content

Sarah Engledow explores the history of the prime ministers and artists featured in the exhibition.

Bob Hawke

Primed

Some Prime Ministers
Previous exhibition, 2019

Seventeen of Australia’s thirty prime ministers to date are represented in the contrasting sizes, moods and mediums of these portraits.

The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen KGAK GCMG GCVO KBE QC, 2006 by Rick Amor

Prima facie

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2019

Sarah Engledow casts a judicious eye over portraits in the Victorian Bar’s Peter O’Callaghan QC Portrait Gallery.

Tilman Ruff
Tilman Ruff
Tilman Ruff

Tilman Ruff, 2019

Nikki Toole
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Purchased 2019

Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke
Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke
Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke

Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke, c. 1976 (printed 2017)

Robert McFarlane
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2017

Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser

Malcolm Fraser, n.d.

Louis Kahan AO
Portrait, fibre-tipped pen on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2017
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Peter Wilmoth, age 12, with copies of Our World 1974 Courtesy of the author

Paper, boy

Magazine article by Peter Wilmoth, 2016

Peter Wilmoth’s boy-journalist toolkit for antagonising an Australian political giant.

Recollections of a sinologist sitter

Magazine article by Professor Stephen FitzGerald AO, 2016

Professor Stephen Fitzgerald, Australia’s first Ambassador to China, traces the historical course from sino-australian cultural engagement to a maturing Australian identity.

Malcolm Fraser

Country man

Magazine article by Angus Trumble, 2015

Angus Trumble’s tribute to the late Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser.

Malcolm Fraser

The Right Hon. Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH

About Face article

The Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH, who died in Melbourne on 20 March, was the last surviving prime minister of Australia to have been sworn of H.M. Privy Council (in 1976)—hence the “Right Honourable”.

Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory
Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory
Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory

Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory, 1988 (printed 2015)

Sue Ford
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Purchased 2015

First study for portrait of Malcolm Fraser
First study for portrait of Malcolm Fraser
First study for portrait of Malcolm Fraser

First study for portrait of Malcolm Fraser, 1981

Bryan Westwood
Portrait, oil on canvas laid on board

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2012

image not online

Malcolm Fraser, Randwick Racecourse, 1975 (printed 2002)

Roger Scott
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper

Purchased 2012

Zelman Cowen
Zelman Cowen
Zelman Cowen

Zelman Cowen, c. 1977

Ray Crooke AM
Portrait, pencil and oil on canvas laid on chipboard

Gift of David Crooke 2011. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Sir Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen, 1982

Andrew Sibley
Portrait, pencil, brush and ink on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2010
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser

Malcolm Fraser, 1990 (printed 2010)

Bill McAuley
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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