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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.

Dream date delivers destiny

Australian Love Stories online
 

55 years ago, after his first date with Angelika Pfannenburg, nineteen year-old John Newcombe woke his hotel room-mate to say he’d just been out with the girl he would marry. As it turned out, he was right.

John Newcombe and family
John Newcombe and family, 1973 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

‘She had to sacrifice a lot for me … trying to be the best tennis player I could become’, Newcombe reflected of his marriage to Pfannenburg. Partly influenced by her unstable childhood in war-torn Germany, Angelika put her own blossoming tennis career on hold to ensure that stability was central in the upbringing of the pair’s three children, while John worked to become one of the most successful players of his era, winning seven grand slam singles titles. This portrait is evidence of the shifting style of photographer Lewis Morley in the 1970s, with the intimate glimpse into Australian family life a contrast to his portraits of celebrity high-life in 1960s London.

Deep breath! You are just 1 story away from seeing your love score...

Choose your next love story

Convict love token from J. Waldon, 1832
Convict love token from J. Waldon, 1832
Convict love token from J. Waldon, 1832
Convict love token from J. Waldon, 1832

A penny for their thoughts

Eugene Goossens
Eugene Goossens
Eugene Goossens
Eugene Goossens

‘Scandalous conduct’

Her Majesty seated
Her Majesty seated
Her Majesty seated
Her Majesty seated

Truly, madly, deeply

Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC
Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC
Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC
Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC

A bromance in banter

Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry

Royal romps: illicit liaisons

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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.

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