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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.

Thomas Wentworth Wills

Thomas Wentworth Wills

In their own words
In their own words
Horatio Spencer Wills
Horatio Spencer Wills
Horatio Spencer Wills

Horatio Spencer Wills, c. 1855

an unknown artist
Portrait, 1/6 plate daguerreotype with applied colour in a brass matt in leather case

Gift of T S Wills Cooke 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Emily Spencer Wills
Emily Spencer Wills
Emily Spencer Wills

Emily Spencer Wills, c. 1855

an unknown artist
Portrait, 1/6 plate daguerreotype with applied colour in al brass matt (without original leather case)

Gift of T S Wills Cooke 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

William John Wills
William John Wills
William John Wills

William John Wills, c. 1861

De Gruchy & Leigh
Portrait, lithograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2009

Tom Wills
Tom Wills
Tom Wills

Tom Wills, c. 1857 (printed c. 1905-1910)

an unknown artist
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on grey paper on card

Gift of T S Wills Cooke 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Thomas Wentworth Wills
Thomas Wentworth Wills
Thomas Wentworth Wills

Thomas Wentworth Wills, c. 1859

an unknown artist
Portrait, 1/2 plate ambrotype with applied colour in a double elliptical brass matt in a leather case

Gift of T S Wills Cooke 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Charles Summers

The importance of being bearded

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2012

Joanna Gilmour discovers that the beards of the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills were as epic as their expedition to traverse Australia from south to north.

The Burke and Wills Monument
The Burke and Wills Monument
The Burke and Wills Monument

The Burke and Wills Monument, 1869

Thomas Foster Chuck
Portrait, albumen paper photograph on carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2001

William John Wills, 2nd in command of the Victorian Expedition
William John Wills, 2nd in command of the Victorian Expedition
William John Wills, 2nd in command of the Victorian Expedition

William John Wills, 2nd in command of the Victorian Expedition, 1860-1861

Henry Samuel Sadd, Fergusson & Mitchell, Melbourne after Thomas Adams Hill
Portrait, mezzotint on paper

Purchased with funds provided by Ross A Field 2007

Julia Matthews

Of Burke, Wills ... and wills

It's Complicated

Infatuation and (ill-fated) exploration

R O'Hara Burke
R O'Hara Burke
R O'Hara Burke

R O'Hara Burke, c. 1861

De Gruchy & Leigh
Portrait, lithograph on paper

Purchased 2009

Portrait 49

Winter 2015
Magazine

This issue features Jude Rae, Arthur Boyd, Darren McDonald, John Singer Sargent, Tom Wills the 'inventor' of Australian Rules Football and more.

Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke

Robert O'Hara Burke, c. 1860

Melbourne and Sydney Photographic Co
Portrait, albumen paper carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2001

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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