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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.

Women Make History

In Galleries Seven, Eight and Nine

Well behaved women seldom make history, as the saying goes, and the National Portrait Gallery, consequently, is full of awesome Australian women who refused to conform to narrow ideas about their place and their worth.

More information on Women Make History

Portraits on display

Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown
Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown, 1957 Graham Sutherland. © Estate of Graham Sutherland
Collection display in Gallery Eight, March 2022
Collection display in Gallery Eight, March 2022
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily, 1993 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages
Chrissy Amphlett
Chrissy Amphlett "Temperamental", 1989 Ivan Durrant. © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2024
Lindy Lee
Lindy Lee, 2003 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024
Mirka by Mirka
Mirka by Mirka, 2000 Mirka Mora. © Mirka Mora/Copyright Agency, 2024
Potters' Portrait Pot
Potters' Portrait Pot, 2009 Hermannsburg Potters, Irene Mbitjana Entata, Virginia Mbitjana Rontji, Lindy Panangka Rontji, Rahel Kngwarria Ungwanaka, Rona Panangka Rubuntja, Dawn Ngala Wheeler, Judith Pungarta Inkamala, Anita Ratara Mbitjana, Hayley Panangka Coulthard, Clara Ngala Inkamala. © Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop
Dorothy Porter
Dorothy Porter, 2001-2002 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Dame Judith Anderson
Dame Judith Anderson, 1962 Don Bachardy. © Don Bachardy
Robyn Archer
Robyn Archer, 1990 George Gittoes AM. © George Gittoes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Annette Kellerman
Annette Kellerman, c. 1907 (printed 2003) H. Walter Barnett
Nancy Wake - The White Mouse
Nancy Wake - The White Mouse, 2001 Melissa Beowulf. © Melissa Beowulf/Copyright Agency, 2024
The sitter (Drusilla Modjeska)
The sitter (Drusilla Modjeska), 2001 Jo Bertini. © Jo Bertini
Joan Croll
Joan Croll, 1976 John Brack. © Helen Brack
image not online
Elizabeth Reid, 1989 Jenny Darling
Dame Elizabeth Couchman
Dame Elizabeth Couchman, n.d. Aileen Dent. © Estate of Aileen Dent
The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC, 2018 Yvonne East. © Yvonne East/Copyright Agency, 2024
Carlotta, Kings Cross (Les Girls)
Carlotta, Kings Cross (Les Girls), 1970-1971 Rennie Ellis. © Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au
Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett
Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett, c. 1905 Florence Ada Fuller
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton, 2013 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith)
Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith), 1988 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Portrait of Jill Neville
Portrait of Jill Neville, 1967 (completed 1997) Reginald Gray. © Reginald Gray
Senator Nancy Buttfield
Senator Nancy Buttfield, 1958 Sir Ivor Hele. © Estate of Ivor Hele
Portrait of Anne Summers
Portrait of Anne Summers, 1974 Carol Jerrems. © Ken Jerrems and the Estate of Lance Jerrems
Portrait of Anne Summers
Portrait of Anne Summers, 1974 Carol Jerrems. © The Estate of Carol Jerrems
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2024
Margaret Fink
Margaret Fink, 1989 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2024
image not online
NC
Portrait of Dame Roma Mitchell, 1940s Geoffrey Mainwaring
Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett
Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett, c. 1950 (cast 1955-1956) Daphne Mayo MBE. © Estate of Daphne Mayo
Evonne Goolagong
Evonne Goolagong, 1973 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist
Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist, 2011 Andrew Mezei. © Andrew Mezei
Portrait of Susan Crennan
Portrait of Susan Crennan, 2017 Lewis Miller. © Lewis Miller/Copyright Agency, 2024
Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer, 1988 Jacqueline Mitelman. © Jacqueline Mitelman
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NC
Fay Zwicky, c. 1981 (printed 2018) Jacqueline Mitelman
Hilary McPhee
Hilary McPhee, 2015 Jacqueline Mitelman. © Jacqueline Mitelman
Lily Brett
Lily Brett, n.d. (printed 2021) Jacqueline Mitelman. © Jacqueline Mitelman
image not online
NC
Kylie Tennant, early 1980s (printed 2018) Jacqueline Mitelman
Self portrait with Bottlebrush
Self portrait with Bottlebrush, 1991 Margaret Olley AC. © Margaret Olley Art Trust
Michelle Simmons
Michelle Simmons, 2018 Selina Ou. © Selina Ou
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini
Portrait of Patricia Piccinini, 2019 Allissa Oughtred. © Allissa Oughtred
Susan Norrie
Susan Norrie, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2024
Linda and Binni
Linda and Binni, 1984 (printed 2013) Michael Riley. © Michael Riley/Copyright Agency, 2024
Professor Suzanne Cory AC FAA FRS
Professor Suzanne Cory AC FAA FRS, 2016 Raelene Sharp. © Raelene Sharp
Kondelea (Della) Elliott
Kondelea (Della) Elliott, 1979 Ivy Shore. © Estate of Ivy Shore
Social currency (Eva Cox)
Social currency (Eva Cox), 1999 Kim Spooner. © Kim Spooner
Gaby Kennard
Gaby Kennard, 2020 Lisa Tomasetti. © Lisa Tomasetti
Dame Mary Gilmore
Dame Mary Gilmore, c. 1938 Lyall Trindall. © Estate of Lyall Trindall
Dame Enid Lyons
Dame Enid Lyons, c. 1943 Justine Kong Sing
Mary Windeyer
Mary Windeyer, 1850s an unknown artist
Margaret Anderson
Margaret Anderson, 1942 Napier Waller CMG OBE. © Estate of Napier Waller
Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best
Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best, 1943-1944 Charles Wheeler. © Estate of Charles Wheeler
Judy Davis
Judy Davis, 1981 William Yang. © William Yang
Louise Sauvage
Louise Sauvage, 1996 (printed 1999) Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell
Tan Le
Tan Le, 2018 John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis
Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard, 1966 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Dr Stella Cornelius AO OBE
Dr Stella Cornelius AO OBE, 1989 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Self portrait
Self portrait, 2006 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Nancy Bird Walton
Nancy Bird Walton, c. 1973 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones
Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones, 1970 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (future Queen Elizabeth II)
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (future Queen Elizabeth II), 1942-1943 Charles Wheeler. © Estate of Charles Wheeler
Gwyn Hanssen Pigott
Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, 2013 (cast 2016) Willow Legge. © Willow Legge
image not online
NC
Kylie Minogue 2, 2018 (printed 2020) Nicole Bentley
Kate (Kate Grenville)
Kate (Kate Grenville), 2012 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages
True Stories - Helen Garner
True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages
Betsy Napangardi Lewis
Betsy Napangardi Lewis, 2007 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024
Rosalie Gascoigne
Rosalie Gascoigne, 1993 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024
Dorothy Robinson Napangardi
Dorothy Robinson Napangardi, 2010 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024
Carla Zampatti
Carla Zampatti, 2015 Georges Antoni. © Georges Antoni
Maggie Tabberer
Maggie Tabberer, 2015 Alana Landsberry. © Bauer Media Pty Ltd
Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal Tribe
Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal Tribe, 1992 (printed 2009) George Fetting. © George Fetting/Copyright Agency, 2024
Missy Higgins
Missy Higgins, 2004 Julian Kingma. © Julian Kingma
Portrait sketch of Nellie Melba
Portrait sketch of Nellie Melba, 1902 Hugh Ramsay
Frances Alda
Frances Alda, 1918 Herman Mishkin
Dame Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Sutherland, c. 1977 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2024
Florence Austral
Florence Austral, c. 1930 Howard Barron. © Estate of Howard Barron
Florrie Forde the Original Singer of
Florrie Forde the Original Singer of "Tipperary", c. 1910 an unknown artist
Portrait of Ruth Cracknell as the Sibyl
Portrait of Ruth Cracknell as the Sibyl, 1995 Rosemary Valadon. © Rosemary Valadon
Shahleena Musk
Shahleena Musk, c. 2000 Penny Tweedie. © Estate of Penny Tweedie
Jacki Weaver
Jacki Weaver, 2018 John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis
Pam Burridge
Pam Burridge, c. 1985 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham
Faith Bandler
Faith Bandler, 2006 Julie Edgar. © Julie Edgar
Fiona Stanley
Fiona Stanley, 2011 Mary Moore. © Mary Moore
Self Portrait in a Brown Coat
Self Portrait in a Brown Coat, 1936 Christine A. Pecket
Study for self portrait
Study for self portrait, c. 1965 Jean Appleton. © Estate of Jean Appleton
Self portrait
Self portrait, 1948 Grace Cossington Smith OBE. © Estate of Grace Cossington Smith
After Jack
After Jack, 2012 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages
Rosie Batty
Rosie Batty, 2017 Nikki Toole. © Nikki Toole
Bonita Mabo
Bonita Mabo, 1994 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham
Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE
Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE, 2006 Avril Thomas. © Commonwealth of Australia
Kay Cottee
Kay Cottee, 1993 Pamela Thalben-Ball
Dawn Fraser
Dawn Fraser, 1998 (printed 2001) Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan
Lee Lin Chin
Lee Lin Chin, 2004 (printed 2021) George Fetting. © George Fetting/Copyright Agency, 2024
Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide)
Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide), 2008 Deborah Paauwe. © Deborah Paauwe
Portrait of a lady (Sonia McMahon)
Portrait of a lady (Sonia McMahon), 1999 Esther Erlich. © Esther Erlich
Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley, 1909 Violet Teague
Jill Ker Conway
Jill Ker Conway, 1987 Sarah Belchetz-Swenson. © Estate of Sarah Belchetz-Swenson
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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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.

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